condition it was important that everyone in the family stay healthy—but she relished this time alone with him.
“You’re cold,” he said.
“A little,” she admitted, sure that he would suggest they head back in, but instead he removed his tux jacket and draped it over her shoulders, surrounding her in the toasty warmth of his body and the spicy sent of his cologne. What she really wanted, what she longed for, was for him to pull her into his arms and kiss her. She already knew that his lips would be firm but gentle, his mouth delicious. Heaven knows she had played the scene over in her mind a million times since adolescence, what the perfect kiss would be like, yet no man had ever measured up to the fantasy. Garrett would, she was sure of it. Even if she had to make the first move.
She was contemplating doing just that when a figure appeared in the open doorway. She turned to find that, watching them, with a stern look on his face, was her oldest brother, Chris.
“Mr. Sutherland,” he said. “I’m so pleased to see that you’ve finally accepted an invitation to celebrate with us.”
Garrett bowed his head and said, “Your Highness.”
Chris stepped forward and shook his hand, but there was an undertone of tension in his voice, in his stance. Did he dislike Garrett? Mistrust him? Or maybe he was just being his usual protective self.
“I see you’ve met the Princess,” he said.
“She’s a lovely woman,” Garrett replied. “Although I fear I may have monopolized her time.”
Chris shot her a sharp look. “She does have duties.”
As princess it was her responsibility to socialize with all the guests, especially in her parents’ absence, and duty was duty.
Another time and place. Definitely.
“Give me a minute, please,” she asked her brother.
He grudgingly nodded and told Mr. Sutherland, “Enjoy your evening.” Then he walked away.
Louisa smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry if he seemed rude. He’s a little protective of me. My entire family is.”
His smile was understanding. “If I had a sister so lovely, I would be, too.”
“I suppose I should go back inside and mingle with the other guests.”
His look said he shared her disappointment. “I understand, Your Highness.”
She took off his jacket and handed it back to him. “I was wondering if you might like to be my guest for dinner at the castle.”
A smile spread across his beautiful mouth. “I would like that very much.”
“Are you free this coming Friday?”
“If not, I’ll clear my schedule.”
“We dine at seven sharp, but you can come a little early. Say, six-thirty?”
“I’ll be there.” He reached for her hand, brushing another gentle kiss across her bare skin. “Good night, Your Highness.”
He flashed her one last sizzling grin, then turned and walked back inside. She watched him go until he was swallowed up by the crowd, knowing that the next six days, until she saw him again, when she could gaze into the dark and hypnotizing depths of his eyes, would be the longest in her life.
Two
Garrett sipped champagne and strolled the perimeter of the ballroom, eyes on the object of his latest fascination. Everything was going exactly as planned.
“That was quite a performance,” someone said from behind him, and he turned to see Weston Banes, his best friend and business manager, smiling wryly.
He pasted on an innocent look. “Who said it was a performance?”
Wes shot him a knowing look. He had worked with Garrett since he bought his first parcel of land ten years ago. He knew better than anyone that Garrett would have never attended the ball without some ulterior motive.
“I’ve hit a brick wall,” Garrett told him.
Wes frowned. “I don’t follow you.”
“I now own every available parcel of commercial land that doesn’t belong to the royal family, so there’s only one thing left for me to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Take control of the royal family’s land, as well.”
A slow smile spread across Wes’s face. “And the only way to do that is to marry into the family.”
“Exactly.” He had two choices, Princess Anne, who he’d commonly heard referred to as The Shrew, or Princess Louisa, the sweet, innocent and gullible twin. It was pretty much a no-brainer. Although, considering the way she’d looked at him, as responsive as she was to his touch, he wondered if she wasn’t as sweet and innocent as her reputation claimed.
Wes shook his head. “This is ruthless, even for you. Anything to pad the portfolio, I guess.”
This wasn’t about money. He already had more than he could ever spend. This was about power and control. To marry the Princess, the monarchy would first have to assign him a title—most likely Duke—then he would be considered royalty. The son of a farmer and a seamstress becoming one of the most powerful men in the country. Who would have imagined? If he played his cards right, which he always did, someday he would control the entire island.
“We can discuss the details later,” Garrett told him. “I wouldn’t mind your input, seeing how this involves you, as well.”
“This is really something coming from the man who swore he would never get married or have children,” Wes said.
Garrett shrugged. “Sometimes a man has to make sacrifices.”
“So, how did it go?”
“Quite well.”
“If that’s true, then why are you here, and she’s way over there?”
His smile was a smug one. “Because I already got what I came for.”
“I’m afraid to ask what that was.”
Garrett chuckled. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about an invitation to dinner at the castle.”
His brows rose. “Seriously?”
“This Friday at six-thirty.”
“Damn.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You’re good.”
He shrugged. “It’s a gift. Women can’t resist my charm. Just ask your wife.”
Wes turned to see Tia, his wife of five years, standing with a throng of society women near the bar. “I should probably intervene before
