Secrets of a Prince (The Princes of New Sargasso #3) - Carol Moncado Page 0,49
in return.”
Minnie managed a smile, though the news hurt. “I understand.” She really did. “I likely would have been the same way or worse if the situation were reversed.” Also true.
They continued walking, albeit slowly.
“Do you know what your schedule looks like next week?” Kari asked her. “Is there one day that’s better for lunch?”
With a laugh, Minnie shook her head. “I’m actually in hiding from my father, so I stay in the apartment virtually all of the time, unless I go somewhere with Joss. He knows where it’s safe to go, so I’m not seen by tourists or whatever.” Except the spot in the garden, though it did lead to the realization that, while she wasn’t ready for everything a marriage entailed, she was ready for more than they had now.
“I’ll check with my assistant and let you know.” Kari opened a door and held it to let Minnie inside.
Minnie gave her a relieved smile as she passed. “That sounds wonderful.”
Opening the door and walking into his apartment, Joss tugged his tie loose and called, “Honey, I’m home.”
Minnie sat on the lounge with papers resting on her knees as she laughed. “Nice.”
“I’ve always wondered what that would feel like.” As soon as the door closed behind him, he untucked his shirt and undid the top couple of buttons.
“I ordered dinner already. I hope that’s okay. I’m so hungry. I forgot to order something for lunch and then it was too late to eat lunch so I ate some of the leftovers from last night.”
He tossed his tie on the side table and kicked off his shoes. “That’s fine. I’m hungry, too.” He nodded toward her knees. “What are you working on?”
“Edits on the Trilunium story. It’s due tomorrow.”
In the kitchen, he grabbed a bottle of water. “Did you see my edits that I left?”
“I went through them already.”
He sat on the lounge next to her. “It’s amazing, Min. Honest. I wouldn’t say that if it wasn’t. In fact, if you don’t win, I’m going to insist that you finish it so I can read it.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. But there’s going to be a ton of great entries.”
“What time tomorrow are they due?”
“Noon. I’m probably going to stay up all night rereading it then turn it in before I go to bed.”
He took a swig of his drink. “Are you sure that’s the best plan? Will you be coherent enough to make sure you don’t click the wrong thing or something? I would probably end up uploading the wrong file.”
She doodled on the piece of paper. “Maybe. Regardless, I’ll be up late. Why don’t you sleep in the bedroom tonight? I’ll sleep out here.”
Joss shifted and wrapped his arm around her. “You know, we could both sleep in there. It doesn’t need to be anything more than sleeping right now, but we could.”
“Maybe.”
The knock on the door told him dinner had arrived. After taking the meal from her, Joss thanked the staff member and rolled the cart over to the dining room table.
They talked about the contest, but more about her nerves than the story. He reassured her it was amazing.
“Am I even eligible?” she asked again. “I’m part of the royal family now, even though no one knows it. I’m married to Kari’s brother-in-law. Is it fair for me to enter?”
“The entries are anonymous,” he reminded her. “There’s no way for anyone to know that you’re the author.” He leaned back in his seat. “That’s something to consider, though. I’m way far down the line of succession. I don’t have to be a working royal like Zeke and even Gid do. I have plenty in the bank to fund purchasing a place to live and to live comfortably for a long time without running out. Probably not to do a bunch of private flights and stuff, but enough to not worry about either of us having a job. Writing could be your job, though, if you win and wanted to.”
She stabbed a green bean with her fork and took a bite. “Get paid to write stories in the Trilunium universe? That’s pretty much my dream come true. The only thing that might be better is writing my own stories.”
“You’d like to be an author?” Joss found himself intrigued.
“Maybe. I love Trilunium, but my favorite part is creating the new characters that are part of the Trilunium universe. Most of my stories aren’t about the Elite Eight.”