The Park's Empire: Handsome Strangers...: The Prince's Bride. GINA WILKINS

smile faded. “I wanted to talk with you privately about the wedding, Emily.”

      Emily managed not to wince, but just barely.

      “I know my son can be very persuasive and difficult to refuse when he wants something,” Caroline continued, “but if he’s pressured you, in any way, to convince you to marry quickly, you must tell me and I’ll talk to him. A woman’s wedding day is very important and you should have the day you’ve always dreamed of—you shouldn’t be so rushed that your big moment is spoiled.”

      Emily had braced herself to hear the queen demand an explanation of the lies she and Lazhar had told her about their pretend engagement and marriage. She was so surprised by the queen’s offer to intercede on her behalf, that she was at a loss for words. “I don’t know what to say,” she managed finally.

      “Just tell me what’s in your heart,” Caroline said encouragingly.

      Emily remained silent, frantically trying to think of a way to explain without telling further lies.

      When she didn’t speak, Caroline lifted her cup and sipped, eyeing Emily over the rim. “Marrying into the royal family can be an overwhelming prospect. Believe me, I had concerns before I said yes to Abbar, and they didn’t all go away before the wedding, nor even immediately after,” she added, returning the delicate cup to its saucer. “Let me be frank, Emily. I know my son well and I have no concerns about his desire for this marriage. However, I have the feeling that you may be having second thoughts about the wedding.”

      “No.” Emily didn’t have to lie about this—all of the reasons she’d agreed to marry Lazhar were still valid. She understood his driving need to grant what may well turn out to be his father’s last wish.

      “Then you do love my son?” Caroline asked gently.

      She should immediately say “yes.” She knew she should. Not only was it what Caroline needed to hear, but it was also the first truth in all the lies she’d been mouthing since she’d agreed to cooperate with Lazhar’s plan.

      But for her heart’s sake, Emily knew she should say no. She should deny loving Lazhar, both to Caroline, and to the prince himself.

      He’s going to break my heart, she thought, acknowledging the fear that had subconsciously tormented her ever since she’d agreed to marry him.

      Falling in love with a royal prince who only wanted a temporary wife was emotional suicide. How could she have let this happen, she thought wildly. Now that the date was set and they were publicly committed to the wedding, she realized that she desperately wanted a real marriage with Lazhar. And there was absolutely no hope of that ever happening.

      “Emily?” Caroline’s concerned voice drew Emily out of her thoughts and she realized that the queen was watching her, concern written on her patrician features.

      “I’m sorry.” She managed a small smile of apology. “I was distracted.” Her gaze met Caroline’s. “I love Lazhar more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone.”

      Her voice rang with conviction and her sincerity brought an instant smile of relief and delight to Caroline’s face.

      “Well, that answers that,” she said. “And you’re positive you don’t feel pressured to marry sooner than you would like?”

      “No, not at all.” And it was true. Emily didn’t mind having the wedding quickly. The sooner begun, the sooner done, she thought. If she focused on the practical aspects of what she was doing, then perhaps she could forget that this wasn’t to be a normal marriage, but a marriage in name only.

      “Very well.” Caroline nodded decisively. “Then it’s settled. We can proceed with the arrangements.” She opened a folder lying to the left of her teacup, scanning the top sheet before handing it to Emily. “This is your schedule for the day. A rather full one, I’m afraid, but we’ve much to accomplish if you’re to be married in less than two weeks.”

      Emily nodded. The list divided the day into fifteen-minute increments and was booked so completely that she would have little time to spend with Lazhar, and virtually no time to be alone with him. Given the scorching kisses they’d shared, the lack of privacy between them was a good thing, Emily thought, because she wasn’t at all sure she could resist him. And the more physical intimacy between them, the harder it would be to leave him when she had to go back to San Francisco alone.

      But as determined as Emily was to keep distance between them, Lazhar was equally determined to have her as close as possible.

      He joined Emily, Jenna and Caroline for lunch, only to have his mother whisk Emily away to a meeting with the palace staff, followed by a fitting for her wedding gown. Frustrated, Lazhar bided his time. Before dinner, he leaned against the wall outside the door to her suite, waiting.

      His patience was rewarded when Emily opened the door and stepped into the hall, closing it behind her before she turned and saw him. She gasped, her hand flying to the black lace bodice of her gown, to press just over her heart. “Lazhar! You startled me.”

      “Sorry.” He threaded his fingers through hers and tucked her arm beneath his, keeping her close as they walked down the hall. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I wanted a few moments alone with you to ask how you’re coping with my family and the wedding plans.”

      Emily’s fingers tightened on his. “Your mother asked some very pointed questions at breakfast but I think my answers satisfied her.”

      “What did she want to know?”

      “She was concerned that rushing the marriage wouldn’t give me the wedding I may have dreamed of having. She was very sweet, actually.” Emily glanced sideways, her gaze meeting his for a moment before her lashes lowered and she looked away, facing forward so that he saw her profile and couldn’t read her eyes. “She volunteered to talk to you and stop the wedding, if I wanted.”

      Lazhar tensed. “And what did you tell her?”

      “I assured her you hadn’t pressed me to choose an early wedding date.”

      “But I did, didn’t I.” Regret flooded him. “I was so focused on marrying you that I didn’t give enough thought to what this might do to your dream of the perfect wedding.” He bit off a curse, impatient with himself for having been so dense. He’d been thinking of their days together as man and wife, and that he could give her the children and home she’d told Brenda she wanted. He’d totally forgotten that the wedding itself might be Emily’s first concern. He should have known better; Jenna had been planning her wedding since she was a little girl. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make the ceremony as close as possible to your dream. Tell me what you want, and I’ll get it for you, Emily. I didn’t mean for you not to have—”

      “Lazhar.” She broke in. “There isn’t anything about this wedding that doesn’t exceed all my hopes or expectations.” A smile curved her mouth, her eyes sparkling with laughter when he continued to frown at her. “It’s a royal wedding, for goodness’ sake. What girl doesn’t dream of having a royal wedding?”

      “There isn’t some detail you want changed—flowers, the dress, something?” She shook her head in response but he wasn’t convinced. “You’re sure?”

      “I’m positive.”

      Lazhar’s muscles relaxed. “Good. What else did you and my mother discuss?”

      “The details of the wedding, mostly we talked about the schedule for the next few days. It’s going to be crazy.”

      They reached the closed door to the family dining room. Emily stopped, turning to look up at him. Her green eyes were dark with concern. “I really don’t like lying to your family. I wish we could tell your mother and Jenna the truth.”

      “We can’t. I regret it as much as you do, and I respect your wish to tell them what we’re doing, but none of this will work if my father learns the truth. We can’t take that chance.”