Secrets of a Prince (The Princes of New Sargasso #3) - Carol Moncado Page 0,41

sister-in-law. I’m not going to ask you to like her immediately, but I do ask that you treat her with respect and keep an open mind as you get to know her.”

“Why should I do that? She accused me of getting her pregnant then tried to extort money out of our family.” Caleb crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at Joss.

“It’s your own fault she accused you. You’re the one who insisted on switching places that day.” But Minnie had known who he was. He should ask her why she went to Caleb first when she knew all along that she’d been with Joss. “And she settled for a very reasonable sum given her trauma and loss. She won’t actually see any of it, regardless of our marriage.” He needed to ask his father about the money.

Caleb shot him an odd look, though he didn’t press Joss for more information. “Do you love her?”

“I’m not answering questions about my relationship with Minnie. She’s my wife. That’s what matters.” He knew his brother would see through the statement but also didn’t think Cale would push.

“I’ll be nice.”

“Thank you. That’s all I ask. That and give her a chance.”

“I’ll do my best to be open-minded.”

“Thanks. Now, when are you taking back your events? I’d like the chance to be home a bit more.”

“Soon.” Caleb finally sat in one of the chairs across from the desk. “When did you get married?”

“When I went to that children’s library reopening. Minnie was there, too. We had a long talk. I called in a favor to get the license.”

Caleb’s brow furrowed as he thought that over. “So you were married before Gid’s wedding. Why didn’t she attend, even if you didn’t publicly attend together? Rosie and I didn’t because she was the wedding planner.”

“There were reasons I’m not at liberty to discuss without violating my wife’s confidence.”

His eyes narrowed. “Which is also why you married so suddenly and didn’t tell anyone. She hasn’t been living here since then, so where has she been?”

Joss sighed. “I have an apartment in town.” Even Caleb hadn’t known about it before. “I wasn’t sure if Papa knew about it until he showed up there yesterday and brought Minnie back here.”

His brother’s eyes had gone wide. “You had an apartment in town, and I didn’t know about it?”

“No. But you didn’t tell me you’re planning to move to Rosie’s house soon either. We don’t share absolutely everything. There’s other things about me you don’t know.” Like his fan fiction. “And I’m sure there are things about you I don’t know.”

“Probably some, but nothing so big as a separate home. I needed to make sure Rosie didn’t find out her house was being redone until I was ready to show her, which I did the other day. That’s why I didn’t tell you. How long have you had the apartment?”

“Several years,” Joss admitted. “Just a place I can go when I need to not be Prince Joshua for a while. That’s all.” And where he could let his inner geeky fanboy decorate to his heart’s content.

“You didn’t think I’d understand that? You don’t think I need a place like that sometimes?” Caleb sounded hurt.

Joss’s answer wouldn’t help. “I need a place that’s mine. You’re my best friend in the whole world, but I need a place of my own occasionally, too. I thought you’d want to share it, but I wasn’t ready to share with anyone.”

“I see.” The hurt in his brother’s voice deepened. “I still wish you’d come to me.”

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Joss tried to reassure him.

“Not your security team or assistant?”

Joss groaned. “They didn’t know about the wedding. They know about the apartment. They know things none of us would prefer.”

Something occurred to Caleb. Joss could practically see the light bulb go off over his head. “The text you sent me on New Year’s Eve? Did that have anything to do with Minnie?”

With a nod, Joss swiveled his chair to stare out the window. “I ran into her at the same party you were at. I was on the floor as the Thief of Muldoon. After midnight, we went back to her suite. I didn’t want anyone to know where I’d been. My security team didn’t know either.”

“How did you get to the hospital then?”

“I took a Yfir to a spot a few blocks away then called another one that took me to the hospital. Neither of them knew who I was.” He ran a hand