Royally Claimed - By Marie Donovan Page 0,20

respect that went along with it.”

“I can’t quite see you as the arrogant lord of the manor.” She leaned against the table, the movement causing her cleavage to deepen.

“Here, let me take your jacket for you.” It was a pretty spring-green color that looked wonderful with her dark hair and hazel eyes. Of course, she could be wearing an old horse blanket and he would still think she looked wonderful. Especially if that was all she was wearing.

Frank hung her jacket on a hook next to the door and forced himself to concentrate on their conversation. “Oh, I was a real piece of work at that age. Riding boots, a small riding crop and a bad attitude to go with them both.”

“But your father just died,” she said. “Anybody would’ve had a hard time with that, especially a boy of that age.”

“And that’s why Benedito didn’t beat the, um, snot out of me. He just worked me until I was too exhausted to be obnoxious.”

“Attitude correction through exhaustion. I can think of a few nurses that I would like to try that technique on. Most emergency room nurses are good team players, but there are always a few prima donnas in any group.”

Frank took out a container that smelled delicious—maybe beef? He’d offered the cook at the café a small fortune to make a wonderful meal for two. It looked as if it was enough food for five. “Are you hungry?” He had finished unpacking the one bag and went to the next. This bag had those tasty marinated olives and more pastries. He hoped they would put her in an equally sweet mood.

“Starving,” she said. “I only had some fruit and bread and butter for breakfast, and after that I was in the hair salon all morning.” She looked mortified, as if she hadn’t meant to tell him about that part of her day.

Frank hid a smile. His masculine nature puffed up in the knowledge that she had spent her whole morning primping for him. “It was time well spent,” he said. “But you do realize that I have always enjoyed your looks, hairstylist or not.”

“Good thing for me,” she retorted, “because I am not sure I can do this again myself.” She pulled a curl in front of her nose and deliberately looked at it cross eyed.

He couldn’t help laughing. She was the most unpretentious woman he’d known. Unlike Paulinha, who needed at least three hours to get ready for a simple evening, and six for a formal function. He tensed briefly and deliberately shoved away her image. He hadn’t ever promised her anything, but once he went back to Portugal, he had to make his intentions—or lack of intentions—clear. It wasn’t fair to her, taking time away from her life in Lisbon to travel to Aguas Santas, presumably to visit with his sister.

And compared to Julia’s tart sense of humor and lack of deference, Paulinha was almost too sweet, like eating a box of pastries all by himself. When he was younger, he had basked in her girlish admiration as a balm to his battered ego, but now she was a woman and rightfully expected the things a woman expected of an eligible single man.

Things he wasn’t willing to give. At least to her.

“Why so serious?” Julia gave him a playful squeeze on the back of his arm. “Did the café pack the wrong food?”

“No, of course not.” He busied himself unloading the bags and pulled several serving bowls out of a cabinet.

Julia opened a box and inhaled deeply. “Mmm, pork.” She started to pour it into a bowl and Frank shooed her away.

“No, no, you are my guest. If you would like to freshen up before lunch, the powder room is through that door and on the left.”

“Okay, if you insist.” She strolled off and he hurried to fill the bowls. The dining room table was already set, so all he had to do was open a bottle of Aguas Santas red wine and let it sit for a few minutes before pouring it.

He set the bowls on the table, which would easily hold a dozen guests, but he had set places across from each other at one end. No point in creating the old farce where the couple yelled at each other from opposite ends of a giant table. The dishes were heavy pottery instead of fine china, but Frank wanted to keep things looking casual. The red, yellow and blue glaze had a warm,