Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(46)

I began to laugh along with her. When she put it that way, it was rather amusing.

“Come on. Let’s get ready for dinner. I’ll order extra champagne. We have to toast the baby!”

Speaking to Cynder was going to have to wait.





The Pumpkin Carriage


The week between interviews flew by at such a pace, it was the day before the next one before I knew it. As I had the last time, I was expected to go on dates with both men and report back. In truth, I’d been keeping my distance from both men all week. Confusion filled me whenever I thought about either of them. I’d avoided Luca because I just wasn’t sure how to deal with him. And if I spoke to Cynder, I’d have to ask about his wife, and I wasn’t ready for that yet. I’d spoken to Leo to see if he’d found out anything else, but his informant hadn’t come back to him yet. I knew I needed to broach the subject to him, but no matter how I put it in my head, it sounded wrong.

When the time came round for our official date, I’d still not spoken to him about it.

I decided to hold our date in the bowling alley on the ground floor of the palace. I’d had a date down there before with Daniel and enjoyed it, although that might have been because he’d gotten me drunk on mojitos and other cocktails. As it was so far out of the way from any of the other rooms in the palace, I knew we’d be able to talk without being overheard. I wasn’t sure if I wanted anyone else to know he already had a wife yet. Leo had promised me he’d keep it a secret for now while I decided what to do. Once Cynder came clean about the whole thing, I’d have to make a decision whether to tell the public now or later. I’d also have to tell Luca who was sure to be happy about the whole thing.

I headed out of the palace to Cynder’s guest house. I felt the nerves creeping up on me as I neared his door. It dawned on me that this would be our first real date. An official date! It felt strange after everything we’d already been through together. It felt stranger knowing he already had a wife out there somewhere. I was ready to hammer on his door angrily. The tension had been building up in me all week and had now reached a crescendo.

I marched right past the guest house that Luca was staying in and headed to Cynder’s door. There was a small envelope pinned to the door. It had my name on it. I looked around to see if anyone was watching me, then pulled it down. It was one of the palace’s official envelopes. He must have asked my mother if he could have one. I fingered the royal crest before ripping it open. Inside was one sheet of paper—another bit of palace stationery.

In neat handwriting were the words “My Lucky Charm. I still remember where we danced. 7pm.”

I looked at my watch. It was only 4pm.

Where we had danced? The only place I could think about was the palace kitchen, but back then it had been late. At 7pm, the kitchen would be bustling with staff, getting dinner ready.

He surely didn’t want to meet me there?

I walked back to the palace slowly, feeling perplexed. As I had a few hours to kill, I decided to take a walk around the grounds. The grass was wet with rain, but the skies had cleared, and it was unseasonably warm. As I walked around the palace, a thought occurred to me. There had been one other place we had danced. I let my eyes gaze up at the apartment that used to belong to Cynder’s parents. It was still light out, so there was no illumination coming from the window, and yet, I knew I was right. Cynder was meeting me outside the palace. It was risky, but nothing compared to the last time. I’d managed to sneak out of the palace and meet him there twice last year. He’d been on the run from the police then. This time, I’d only have to worry about paparazzi spotting me.

Excitement flooded through me. The brief time I’d spent in his apartment classified as the happiest in my life.

He’s married, you idiot!

Damn that little voice in my head!

I ran back inside and up to the dressing room. Xavi was ready and waiting for me. My guess was that she’d been waiting all day in the faint hope I’d show up, but not really expecting it. A broad smile passed her lips as she realized she’d have her chance to make me up after all.

My plan was to ask her to find me a nice, but understated, dress. Something simple.

“Before you say anything,” said Xavi as I walked through the door I’ve already got a dress picked out for you.”

I wanted to argue, but I was intrigued.

“Why have you picked me a dress? You don’t even know what I’m doing for my date. I could have been going to the swimming pool.”

“Cynder came up earlier and picked one out for you,” she said, clicking her fingers. Immediately two of her helpers ran into the huge closet at the back.

“Cynder picked a dress?” I asked, a small smile on my lips.

“Not quite.” Xavi was obviously enjoying teasing me.

“So did he or didn’t he?”

“He asked us to order it in. It came this morning.”

The girls came back with a dress bag on a hanger. I watched as they unzipped and pulled it carefully out of the bag. The top half was a jeweled bodice with a thousand diamonds clustered around the prettiest purple stones. The bodice tapered off in a V shape at the back to a long flowing skirt. The second girl presented me with a pair of matching shoes. They were simply the most stunning shoes I’d ever seen with heels that defied gravity.