Page 57 of That Prince is Mine
“Obviously, yes.” His cousin dragged a weary hand down his face, his half-eaten mousse forgotten on the coffee table. “But the king has a hard time saying no to his little sister. I don’t know if he would intercede on my behalf.”
“You know who he has a harder time saying no to?” Michel paused meaningfully. “Your little sister.”
“Marion?” Gabriel grimaced. “That brat wouldn’t help me out of the goodness of her heart.”
“No, but she’ll do it for a price,” Sophie countered.
“You mean like a bribe?” His cousin’s eyebrows shot up before his face split into a slow grin. “Now you’re talking.”
“She’s always idolized you, Sophie.” Michel leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs. “Coax her to name her price.”
“It won’t be cheap.” She pulled out her mobile as she got to her feet.
“That’s what my dear cousin here is for.” Gabriel thumped Michel’s back. “I just hope Marion asks for something that Antoine can procure.”
Michel cocked his head and glanced blandly at his cousin. “I’m glad you’re so comfortable spending my money.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as comfortable, but untroubled would be an apt description.” Gabriel quickly sobered as Sophie headed to a quiet corner of the living room with her mobile to her ear. “Do you think this will work?”
“It has to. I can’t have Aunt Celine descend upon us and blow everything wide open.” Michel’s eyes rounded in dismay when another thought occurred to him. “God, if your mother catches scent that I’m trying to get out of my engagement to Isabelle, my father will be the first to hear of it, and my time here will be over.”
His time with Emma would be over. Emma. His breath caught in his throat, and panic lodged itself in his chest. Had he done enough to convince her that they belonged together? No, he needed more time. The thought of leaving without her gutted him. He pressed the heel of his hand into his chest. What was wrong with him? He wasn’t even sure if she was the one.
But that wasn’t true, was it? He smiled like a fool whenever he thought of her. When she was near, his heart pounded against his ribs as though it wanted to jump into her arms. And when he touched her… held her… he felt as though he was truly home. If he wasn’t in love with her already, he knew he could fall in love with her. She was the one. Hadn’t he known since their first date?
“Breathe, cousin.” Gabriel unfurled himself from the sofa and headed for the wet bar. He returned with two tumblers filled with amber liquid. “This is going to work.”
Michel accepted his drink and took a long sip. “Yes, it will.”
He would tell Emma the truth and do everything in his power to win her heart. Because life without Emma wasn’t an option anymore.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“So what happened with your aunt’s visit?” Emma asked, setting out the food on the table they’d snagged under the shade of a tree. It was a perfect spring day, and a picnic lunch on the beautiful USC campus felt like a treat.
“She decided it’ll be best to have Gabriel visit her in the summer instead,” Michel said, watching her progress. “Did you really make all of this? These dishes look like something out of a cookbook.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “You do remember that I’m a culinary instructor, right?”
“Even so.” His boyish grin made her heart trip. “I’m impressed.”
“It’s nothing.” Emma blushed at the compliment and joked, “Just a meal fit for royalty.”
Michel made a choking noise beside her and started coughing.
“You okay?” She patted his back. “Do you need something to drink?”
“I’m fine,” he wheezed. “Thank you.”
Emma clicked her tongue and poured him some warm cassia-seed tea from the thermos. He took it with a grateful nod. While he caught his breath, she studied the spread in front of them with a critical eye. It wasn’t really a meal fit for royalty—she would need three tables and over thirty dishes for a true surasang—but it was healthful and pleasing to the eyes. She gave a nod of approval.
“Here.” She handed Michel a small, deep bowl when he set aside his tea. “Start with this.”
“What is it?” He brought the bowl to his nose. “It’s fragrant.”
“It’s pine nut porridge,” she said, taking a bite of her jatjuk. “It’s rich and creamy but also soothing. It’s a nice way to ease into a meal.”
“It’s delicious.” His eyes slid closed for a moment. “I could eat a big bowl of this alone.”
