Snowbound with the Prince by Cara Colter

Author:Cara Colter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-26T19:01:38+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

VALENTINO GRINNED AT Erin. It made him, dangerously, her Valentino and not a world figure of considerable fame and fortune.

“As I said, I considered uncorking the wine with a sword, but I couldn’t find one on such short notice. Someone neglected to pack my ceremonial one.”

That, all kidding aside, meant two things: someone packed for him and he actually had a ceremonial sword.

“All things considered, that is probably a good thing,” she said solemnly and lifted the glass he had poured for her. “I propose a toast.”

He lifted his glass.

To surprises, she thought. But out loud she said, “To keeping all your digits.”

He wiggled his newly bandaged finger at her. And just like that, the laughter bubbled up between them as effervescent as the wine. Her discomfort eased, but then came back as the swinging door to the kitchen opened and a white-uniformed staff member came through. A royal crest had been tastefully embroidered in gold thread on the breast of his uniform. He was bearing platters of food.

“Your Highness,” he said. “Miss.”

As he set down the food, did he slide her a look that was ever so faintly disapproving? She shot Valentino a glance to see if he had noticed, but he did not appear to have. Surely, she was being overly sensitive and had imagined it?

“May I bring you anything else, sir?”

“No, Milo, thank you.”

Did Milo give her another look before sliding silently from the room?

“I wanted you to have a taste of my country,” Valentino said and served them both from the platters.

She took the snowy-white napkin from beside her setting and put it on her lap. She regarded the array of cutlery with a bit of hesitation. Her lifestyle had rarely required she knew which fork to use! In this new setting, the passionate, carefree, confident woman Valentino had coaxed to the surface mere hours ago seemed to be fading with alarming quickness.

Erin watched how Valentino addressed the feast that had been prepared for them, and she did what he did. She was aware that he was as much at home in this world of amazing food, impeccable manners and culinary rituals as she was a foreigner in it.

Her disquiet lessened when he shifted his chair over closer to hers. He plucked a tiny tomato out of a glorious salad with his fork.

He held the fork to her lips. “Try this.”

Her lips closed over his fork and flavors exploded in her mouth, possibly made more intense by his closeness, by his fork being in her mouth.

“Delicious?” he asked her.

“Unbelievable.” Did that kitchen door squeak open and then shut again? “Somehow I don’t think you picked that up at the Snowbound Groceteria.”

He laughed. “It was developed by our palace horticulturalist. Its name translates to Tiny Tornado Tomato. We export them around the world now, to upscale markets.”

“You travel with your own food?”

“My chef would never chance being able to find the quality or specialty ingredients he likes locally, I’m afraid. When we travel, he brings everything with him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.