A Princess Next Door (Rothman Royals Book 1) by Noelle Adams Page B

the main
stairs up to the palace. A small crowd had gathered—mostly palace staff and a
few friends of the family.
    “Whoa,” Jack said, seeing what was waiting for him.
    “I’m sorry. This is what they do.”
    “Every time someone comes home?”
    “Only if you’ve been gone as long as I have.”
    He swallowed hard and reached to open the limo door. “Okay.
Let’s do this.”
    Jack hated to be the center of attention. I knew this about
him. He also hated a lot of fuss and hoopla, as he called it. He was bombarded
with all of it now, as we got out of the car and were greeted by my parents.
    My mother was always formal when other people were around,
so she simply kissed my cheek and took Jack’s hand as she introduced herself.
My father hugged me and gave Jack a pat on the shoulders, smiling warmly.
    My father was genuinely glad to see me. I was sure my mother
was too, although you couldn’t tell so from her behavior or expression. Jack
was trying to be polite as he said hello, but he looked trapped and
uncomfortable. He’d rather have been anywhere else right now.
    We had to greet a few other people before we were allowed to
make it into the huge entrance doors. My mother wanted to take us right into
the parlour for tea, but I pleaded fatigue and the need for a shower so I could
get Jack up to his room to recover a little.
    We were put in separate rooms, as I’d known we would be, but
at least we were on the same floor in the same wing, so there was just a hall
between us. I managed to get rid of Madame Giselle, our long-time housekeeper,
and the two footman who had carried our luggage, and then Jack and I were
finally alone in his suite of rooms.
    I was relieved they’d given him one of the best guest
suites—on the corner with a private balcony, a large updated bathroom, and some
very good, not-to-feminine antique furniture.
    “Wow,” Jack said, staring at the closed door. His face
looked a little strained. “That was…a lot.”
    “I did warn you.”
    “Yes, you did.” He smiled, looking more like himself, and
reached out to pull me against him, his arms wrapping around me. “The worst is
over. It’s going to be fine.”
    I wasn’t at all confident that the worst was over, but I
liked the tone of his voice so I didn’t argue too vehemently. “I told you
they’re having a dinner party tonight, didn’t I?”
    “Yes. I’m fine with that. I’m usually good with people, you
know.”
    “I know. But this won’t be pizza in the living room.”
    “I won’t embarrass you.”
    I looked up at his face. “That’s not what I’m worried about.
I’m quite sure my family is going to embarrass me.”
    He leaned down to kiss me gently on the lips. “I’m pretty
tough. I can take whatever they dish out.”
    I sighed and tightened my arms around him, but I had a sick
feeling in my gut.
    Jack hadn’t seen anything my family could throw at him yet.

Six
     
    That evening, I was zipping up my
evening gown when there was a knock on my door.
    My mother had probably sent one of the lady’s maids to help
me. I’d always preferred to get dressed on my own, but on special occasions she
liked for me to have a second pair of hands.
    “Come in,” I called out, still working on my zipper. Another
pair of hands would actually be convenient at the moment.
    A few seconds later, I heard a husky male voice saying, “Now
that is not at all what I expected to be greeted with.”
    I gasped and whirled around to see Jack closing the door
behind him, looking incredibly handsome in a tuxedo the staff had found for
him. “I didn’t know it was you!”
    “Would you have zipped up if you’d known I was coming?”
    “Probably.”
    “Then I made the right decision by not warning you.” His
eyes raked up and down my body with a possessive look that made me shiver. “You
look good enough to eat.”
    I was wearing a deep red sleeveless gown that clung to my
body. The material was thick and lush enough for my mother to