Chapter Five
"Can I help with anything?" Kat leaned against the counter, a glass of orange juice in hand.
Madison looked up from the place setting she was arranging at the kitchen table. "No, thanks, I've got everything under control." Everything with breakfast anyway. Her emotions were in an absolute turmoil at the thought of making dinner for Luis. More accurately, it wasn't making dinner that overwhelmed her, it was the thought of being alone in such close proximity to Luis.
"Madison," Kat's voice broke through her reverie. "Is that sauce supposed to be smoking like that?"
Madison dropped the napkin she was folding and ran around to the stove. She grabbed a pot holder and pulled the offending saucepan off the burner. "No, darn it, it's not." A quick check reassured her that it hadn't yet started to burn. "Thank you, Kat. You just saved breakfast."
Her friend reached out and touched her lightly on the arm. "Hey, what's wrong?" She held up a hand to forestall a denial. "Don't tell me nothing, either. You're not acting like yourself. Are you homesick?"
"Of course not, I'm happy to be here. You sound like your youngest sister-in-law. She just asked me that last night."
"Well, maybe she was onto something." Kat took a sip of her juice, her gaze thoughtful. "In addition to being plain old adorable, Serafina is a pretty perceptive little girl."
Madison thought of the upside down photo that Serafina had taken from the stairway landing. She couldn't help but smile. "She certainly does have a unique perspective on things."
"Back to you," Kat's gaze was pointed. "If you're not homesick, what has you so distracted? Is it the cookbook? Are you overwhelmed by the amount of work or the deadline? Because-"
"Whoa, time out." Madison made a T sign with her hands. "It's not the cookbook. Or the deadline. I'm loving working on this project. It's an honor." She stirred the ranchero sauce and lifted another lid to check on the chorizo. "So, although I love you for being so concerned about me, you can stop worrying. Everything in my life is good."
"Glad to hear it." Kat's smile was mischievous. "How's your love life?"
"Kat!"
Kat shrugged. "What? I was just going to say that married life is blissful. Just something for you to think about."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Okay, we're done here. At least with the talk of my love life. Or lack thereof. Let's talk food."
This she could do. Any day of the week. All day long. It was safe territory and something Madison passionately loved. She handed a sheath of papers to her friend. "Now, here are the recipes that I think we should absolutely include in the book. At the back, I've worked out a tentative arrangement that I want you to approve for the table of contents." She pulled a dozen eggs from the refrigerator. "It's a shame that Nico couldn't join us."
Kat nodded. "I know, but something came up. He sends his apologies. We both felt bad that we left you on your own yesterday."
Madison felt her cheeks warm. She turned her back to Kat, ostensibly to crack the eggs into a bowl but really just as much to hide her flushed face. She'd hardly been on her own yesterday. But she felt strangely reluctant to talk to Kat about Luis. "I was fine."
"Well, we'll make it up to you this evening. We want you to join us for an evening out with Lemon and Dante."
"I'm sorry, but I'm can't."
Kat's eyebrows rose. "Can't or won't?"
"Can't. But I'll take a rain check."
"Hot date?" Kat grinned. "Anyone I might know by chance?"
"Who said anything about a date? You know me, it's work, work, work, right?" She felt bad about giving an answer that was a deflection bordering on a lie.
Kat nodded. "Okay, fine. Work tonight if you have to, but tomorrow night Queen Aria and King Dominic insist that you join us for a family dinner."
"I'd love to." Dinner with Monterra's royal family? There was a daunting thought. Although nowhere near as daunting as the thought of having dinner alone with Luis. And then a different thought occurred to her, one she hadn't given a thought to. She frowned.
"Your expression says something very different," Kat said. "What's the frown for?"
Madison sighed. "Clothes. I don't know that I have anything formal enough for dinner with your in-laws. I did pack a cocktail dress but nothing fancy. You know how casual my lifestyle is." She left unsaid that the cocktail dress she'd brought was navy blue, conservative, but hardly appropriate for a date.
"I've got an easy fix." Kat refilled her juice glass and filled one for Madison. "Let's eat first, because whatever you're cooking smells amazing. Then we can go over the recipes you've got there, and spend the afternoon shopping. I'll text Lemon and see if she can join us. Because if there's anything she loves to do, it's shop. Just say yes, it'll be fun."
"Sounds perfect," Madison agreed. This way she could buy a dress for her date with Luis and one for tomorrow night's dinner at the palace. She was surprised that she suddenly cared so very much about what she would wear. Normally it was food, not clothes, that held her interest. This was just another sign that she needed to get back to business and get her mind off of Luis. "Come on, Kat. Grab a plate. Breakfast is served."
***
"What are your thoughts on the subject, Your Royal Highness?"
Luis stared at his tablet screen for a full ten seconds before he realized that the other members of the teleconference were awaiting his response. Which was a problem because he hadn't heard the question.
To buy himself a moment to think, he took a sip of water and struggled to remember just where he had lost the trail of the conversation. They'd been discussing the legalities of opening distribution up to non-EU countries and the pricing considerations involved in such a move. He replaced the water glass on the tray and sighed. It was no use. He'd been thinking of Madison, and precious little else, all day.
"Your Highness?"
Luis shook his head. "I apologize that I'm unable to give an answer right this moment. I'd like to request that we adjourn the meeting so that I can prepare my position on this issue more thoroughly." After, of course, he remembered what the actual issue was.
The exchange of questioning glances from his board of directors back in Santa Rosa didn't escape his notice. But there was nothing he could do about it. And it wasn't as if this happened often. Or ever. Everyone at that table usually had to work double time to keep up with him.
With a promise to be in touch within four days, Luis signed out of the meeting. He wasn't overly concerned that he wouldn't be able to catch up. His assistant recorded all meetings so he'd be able to access the recordings and get right back on track. But just not today.
He powered his tablet off and gathered up his materials. It was hard to believe that a week ago he'd been consumed with this new expansion plan. Santa Rosa Vineyards was his true passion in life and his ultimate goal was to have his family's wines on every table in Europe, east or west. But now his mind was elsewhere, tied up with thoughts of a certain blond Texas beauty.
As soon as he stepped into the corridor, he saw Dante approaching.
"Just the man I'm looking for," the Monterran prince said. "How was your meeting?"
Luis shrugged. "Semi-productive, I guess you could say. Why were you looking for me?"
Dante grinned. "Because it's your lucky day."
"Judging by the look on your face, it looks like I should be worried. Are you going to offer to sell me a bridge somewhere?"
Dante laughed. "No. But I do have an offer. Come out this evening with Lemon and me for a night on the town. Kat and Nico are coming."
Luis shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not the fifth wheel type."
"But I've got a date lined up for you." Dante fell into step beside him as they walked along the corridor, back toward the wing where his guest suite was located.
"I'm not sure if I should be grateful or insulted. I don't need any help finding a date."
"Is that a yes or no?" Dante demanded.
"It's a 'no thank you'."
His friend shook his head. "You want me to believe you're working all evening? Sorry, I don't buy it."
"You don't?" It didn't sit well with Luis that he was so transparent.
"Say what you will about spending the evening working, but I think your plans involve a lady." Dante shot a challenging look Luis' way. "Tell me I'm wrong."
Luis opened his mouth but then shut it, unsure just how much to share with Dante. They'd been friends a long time, and he trusted Dante and his brothers implicitly. And, if the truth were told, he could use some advice or, at least, some reassurance. Something was different this time, something about his reaction to Madison. "You're not wrong. I have a date."
"I knew it." Dante slapped him on the back. "Anyone I know?"
By now they'd reached the main entryway to the heart of the palace. They stopped under a gold-framed painting of one of Dante's ancestors. "I'm not sure if you have. Her name is Madison, she's an American friend of Kat's."
"The one working on the cookbook, right?"
Luis nodded.
"I've heard about the project, it sounds like it will be a great way to raise some funds. Nico is very enthusiastic about it, I know that much. So bring Madison along tonight, we'll show her a great time."
"We already have plans. We're having dinner at the Royal Lodge. Madison's cooking for me."
Dante didn't say a word. He didn't have to. His expression said it all.
"What?" Luis protested. "She offered."
"Are you kidding me?" Dante's gaze was incredulous. "She's probably not been out of the kitchen for more than a few hours at a time since she arrived here. You can't seriously believe that she wants to stay in and cook?"
"When you put it like that, I guess not." But Luis had no interest in spending an evening with other couples, even if they were his friend. He didn't want an evening out, he wanted to be with Madison. Alone. He told Dante as much.
His friend nodded his understanding. "I get it. But there's another option."
"Such as?"
Dante watched him for a full moment before answering. "Why don't you let me arrange the evening? I promise it will be quiet and intimate, nothing over the top." He held up his right hand. "On my honor."
Luis hesitated. Maybe Dante was right. Madison had come all the way from Texas and she'd been so focused on her work that she hadn't had a chance to get out much. "Look, I'll give it to you straight. This woman matters to me. I don't want to mess this up." Was he crazy to even consider letting Dante help him? "What exactly do you have in mind?"
Dante smiled. "Never mind about the details. I'll take care of everything. Just give me a couple of hours and I'll get you the particulars on what I've planned."
"Remember that you promised nothing over the top, right?" Luis reminded him. "Just a quiet evening so that Madison and I can get to know each other?"
Dante crossed his heart with his index finger. "Trust me. I know just what you need."
Luis doubted that but he nodded his agreement. What he really needed was a chance for Madison to see that he was a normal guy that she could trust. Yes, he was a royal prince, but first and foremost he was a man. A man who was being given a second chance to make a good first impression. He couldn't afford to blow it.