by Jewel Allen
“Shopping?” I blinked.
“For the party my mother is throwing.”
I reeled with confusion. “Can’t I wear this dress?”
“I’m afraid my mother might take offense. She expects family and our guests to dress to the nines.”
“But I hate shopping,” I confessed.
Surprise registered on his face. “You do?”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I just haven’t met any woman who doesn’t like to shop.”
“This one doesn’t,” I admitted. “Unless soccer balls and gear count?”
“Sure. That’s my kind of shopping too.” He laughed and pulled me behind an alcove. “But first…” And then he kissed me.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Diego
We had to pay our respects to my brothers who were around. Not just so Gemma could meet them, but also so I could make the introductions and their wives could take Gemma shopping.
First, we stopped at my oldest brother Jay and Talia’s chalet tucked in the north part of the palace grounds. They looked dressed for riding but dropped everything so we could visit for a few minutes.
As we enjoyed some cake on a flagged patio, Talia chatted with Gemma to put her at ease while Jay asked me about the soccer camp.
“It’s going better, much better than I’d hoped.” I glanced at Gemma meaningfully. “Frankly, I don’t miss La Liga at all.”
“So you haven’t heard the news?”
“What news?”
“It’s been splashed in the papers all over.” He unearthed an issue from a side table and unfolded the paper with a thwack. “Philippe Pelletier, young goalie, recruited from rival team.”
I saw red. Coach had said he wouldn’t besmirch my position by putting in a player from our rival team.
“I wonder how reliable their sources are,” I said, nearly choking on my words.
“Pretty sure they’re reliable. I’m really sorry, Diego, but I think you made your own bed when you threw those temper tantrums.”
I kept calm, just barely. “Jay, you and I know very well that both instances were not my fault.”
Jay averted his gaze.
I stood, and the ladies shot me worried glances. I was sure my expression wasn’t exactly pleasant. “Let’s go, Gemma.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Gemma,” Talia said.
Jay opened his arms wide. “And it’s great to have you back, brother.”
I hugged him, but only to keep the peace.
Back in the car, Gemma turned concerned eyes to me. “Care to tell me what happened there?”
“My coach went back on his word. He promised me he would just keep a rookie in my place until I return. But he didn’t.”
Gemma’s brow furrowed. “But I don’t understand. Isn’t that a good thing? Doesn’t your team want to win?”
“Well, yes. But if this goalie is doing good, it means I’ll only have limited play. I didn’t work hard to simply be an alternate for when the goalie sprains an ankle.”
“Ah, I see.” She rubbed my shoulder. “Sorry. Believe me, it was hard watching all those younger punks take their spots in our defensive line when I was recovering from surgery.”
I expelled a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to depress you. But you’re right. The team needed to do what it did so it can win. I’m feeling out of sorts, I guess.”
“Sure.” But her glance was anxious.
We went next to my cousin’s house in the woods. “Sophia married a farming gentleman,” I explained. “I’m hoping she’ll be able to take you shopping.”
“Why her?”
“She was a fashionista when we were growing up. I’m hoping she hasn’t outgrown that even though she’s a veterinarian now.”
“Won’t she be busy with her practice?”
“She might, but since it’s Saturday, maybe she’ll be free.”
Sophia greeted us warmly when she opened the door. She hadn’t changed—still the pretty blonde I used to chase on the palace grounds. But this time, she held a baby in her arms.
“Diego, so good to see you. And who is this?” She looked from me to Gemma and back with a broad smile.
We did introductions. When I asked Sophia if she could take Gemma shopping, she enthusiastically said yes.
“I love this cute baby,” Sophia kissed baby Charlie’s balding head, “but I can sure use an excuse to go shopping today. Oh, Leo!”
Her husband came to the door, looking more mellow than I remembered him as a teen. He’d been a thorn in our family’s side, specifically Armando’s, but luckily they were able to sort things out.
Sophia handed him the baby, who promptly grabbed his nose. “You don’t mind watching Charlie while I take Diego’s girlfriend shopping, do you?” she asked.
“No, not at all.” The baby now tried to eat his nose, and he laughed. “Even if she does have strange tastes.”
“Just give me a sec.” Sophia winked at Gemma. Ten minutes later, she returned with her purse.
“What’ll you do while I’m gone?” Gemma asked in the limo.
I winked. “Pine away for you. Don’t be too long.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Gemma
Sophia recruited another one of Diego’s sisters-in-law, Lucia, who was also Leo’s sister. I immediately felt comfortable around Lucia. She admitted she was a tomboy growing up like I was. I liked Sophia too, but her blonde cool beauty intimidated me.
“I’d just as soon muck the stalls than shop,” Lucia confessed. “But Sophia and I like to spend time together. I wouldn’t pass up this chance for the world. Especially so I can get to know Diego’s special girl.”
Sophia and Lucia kept up a lively prattle in the limo all the way to Mondragón’s town square.
“If it were up to Alvaro’s wife, Tessa, we would be shopping in Italy,” Sophia said. “But we know of a couple of places here that can help us. No need to fly out of Mondragón.” She winked.
The limo dropped us off, and we walked on a pretty cobblestone street with shops. A store that looked tiny on the outside opened up to a magical little space of beautiful dresses. There were blouses and pants too, but evening dresses took up a majority of the space.
“You’re shocked?” Sophia asked me with a chuckle as I stared at all the choices.
“I didn’t think you’d have a store like this right here. Your town seems so small.”
Lucia started rifling through the rack. “Well, the owner of this store used to sell only beautiful dresses for casual wear or church. But then whenever the Mondragóns would host parties, of course everyone wanted to wear more special clothes. Thus, this part of the store was born. Mind you, it’s not just stuff everyone sells. She makes custom and sells ready-to-wear.”
“Confession.” Sophia leaned forward. “The owner is my sister. But I’d still recommend her store to anyone who wants a reasonably-priced classy gown.”
I wished I could say I cared so much about clothes to be impressed, but I just nodded politely.
Until Lucia held up a dress for me.
It was, thankfully, not black. I didn’t want to wear another black dress. Too depressing. This one was a cream color that was tucked in several strategic places.
Lucia eyeballed my height. “It might be a bit long, I don’t know. Want to try it?”
“Sure.”
I tried it on and stared back in amazement at my reflection. The dress fit like a glove—not too tightly. Just right. Unfortunately, it was too long. With the bead accents, the hem might not look smooth once I hemmed it.
“Well?” Lucia asked through the door.
“Too long.”
“But otherwise it fits you?” Sophia said.
“Yes.”
“No problem then. My sister can fix it.”
“Maybe I should try a couple more dresses.”
Lucia tossed a few more over the dressing room door. “I agree.”
Despite my initial ske
pticism, most dresses Lucia had me try flattered my appearance. I tried on a red one but shook my head. Too strong. A navy blue one was too quiet.
A silver one was tighter than the cream and accentuated every curve.
I shook my head. Too sexy. I wanted to be attractive, not seductive. Finally, I came to an emerald-green dress. It seemed too much. Anyone who would wear this would turn heads, which would make me feel self-conscious.
I put it on anyway in the dressing room.
After I zipped the back, I looked in the mirror. Even I, averse to all kinds of shopping, could recognize that this dress was a fabulous fit on me. It was a little loose on the top, cinched at the waist, and then flowed into an elegant silhouette at the hips and down to my feet.
I took a deep breath and came out, facing my new friends. Lucia clapped her hands while Sophia ran off somewhere.
“Where is she going?” I asked Lucia.
“Probably to get her sister.”
Sure enough, Sophia had brought over the store owner, her sister Lydia, who gushed about how perfect the dress was. No alterations needed.
I thought from there we would head back to the castle, but the pampering wasn’t done. We got manis and pedis also at a local place whose owner was not a sister of Sophia’s but a good friend. Even though being girly wasn’t my thing, getting to know these ladies and talking about Diego was fun.
“You’ll have to ask him about the time he pulled on the reins of a horse too hard and the horse tossed him into a pile of manure,” Sophia said.
Lucia rolled her eyes. “Or that time when he snuck out at night so he could practice footwork—only to have security go off and the guards swarm him.”
“I can see that.” I smiled at the image of him getting tackled.
“I’m glad you and Diego share the same love of the sport, unlike—” Sophia stopped without warning.
We were just wrapping up with the manis. I looked up at her abrupt silence to see Lucia shooting a warning glance at Sophia.
“Let me guess,” I said dryly, “Princess Adele?”
The two nodded.
Lucia stood with her hands splayed out to dry, even though they’d gotten gel manicures. “It’s one of those things that was bandied around so much in gossip that we all started believing it. No need to fret, though. They aren’t a pair. At least, that’s what Diego tells his brothers.”
I was really curious about this Adele “who was not Diego’s girlfriend.” As we walked outside into the pleasant Mondragón afternoon, I asked Lucia, “I was told she’s coming to the party tonight. Where is Bavaria?”
“It’s a new kingdom that had enough wealth to spin off from Germany. Just a half-hour by plane. Her family is tight with the Assantes.” Lucia paused. “Well, I think Princess Nina really likes her. But she won’t be marrying her, you know? It has to be up to Diego.”
“And from what I see of Diego around you,” Sophia said, “I think there’s no question who he wants to be with.”
I blushed.
“It’s hard to break with tradition, though,” Sophia said in a low voice. “You’ll have to watch your back, because sometimes these royals like to, um, manipulate things.”
Her warning had the effect of cold water splashing on my face. I digested what they said, trying to not let it get the best of me.
“Adele would be great for the right prince,” Sophia said. “Just not Diego.”
“Thanks for being so open with me,” I told them.
Lucia grinned. “I figured you’d find out eventually anyway, so we’d just as soon save you the trouble of digging.”
“Much appreciated. Why do you say she’s not a good match for Diego?”
Sophia led the way to the limo, and we all spilled in with my shopping bags. “She’s not athletic at all. She’s a broadcaster. Always chasing stories while Diego would find reasons to be outside with a soccer ball.”
“I think it’s nice that a couple has differing interests,” I observed. “That way, they aren’t competing so much with each other.”
“That could be true.” Lucia nodded. “Ari—that’s my husband, Armando—sometimes gets on my nerves because he beats me at horse races. Not often, but enough to be pesky.”
We laughed.
As the limo drove down the castle driveway, another limo appeared behind us. Lucia and Sophia craned their necks, their heads snapping back as they frowned.
Even before Sophia spoke, I guessed, “It’s Adele, isn’t it?”
They both nodded, worry in their eyes.
I took a deep breath. “I might as well meet her.”
Once they stopped, Sophia made a beeline for Adele while Lucia hung back with me. “Adele and Diego are practically cousins in their royal pedigrees,” she said. “Which makes their marriage kind of strange anyway.”
I knew she was just saying that to make me feel better. Cousins or not, as soon as Adele stepped out of the limo in her gray slacks and matching wrap blouse, cool as a cucumber, I suddenly felt like a goalie faced with a penalty kick. With no one else there to help block the ball.
“How was shopping?” Diego’s voice boomed from the castle’s graceful entryway. He bounded toward me like an eager puppy.
“Great.” I faked a smile, still conscious of Adele being right there, watching us. “Lucia and Sophia took good care of me.”
“I knew they would.” His glance took me in. “I can’t wait to see you in your dress.”
He said this in a low whisper that made my chest tingle.
Sophia came to my side. “What do you say we help Gemma get ready before she meets with Princess Mother, and then you can take the first peek?”
Diego’s eyes sparkled. “That would be wonderful.”
But at that moment, everything was colored by the fact that Adele had arrived. Maybe…maybe he was trying to make her jealous.
I knew I was being paranoid, but I had seen Adele, and she was perfection. What man would turn her down?
“Hello, Diego,” Adele purred.
He startled. I was pleased to see that he hadn’t noticed her being there. Maybe he wasn’t as caught up in her as I thought.
“Oh, hello, Adele,” he greeted her back. She came over and they kissed in the European style, on both cheeks. Adele’s nails glinted bright red in the sun as she clung to Diego’s bicep.
Adele pulled back and assessed me with curiosity and a dawning suspicion. I almost felt sorry for her that she would meet me this way. It was like some ambush.
“This is my girlfriend, Gemma,” he said, grabbing my hand possessively.
Adele had no inkling whatsoever. She reeled from the news, her creamy complexion turning even paler. But she recovered nicely. “Nice…nice to meet you.”
Diego turned to me. “Mother wanted you to know that she’s ready for you if you want to come earlier.”
I nodded. Might as well get it done and over with. “I’ll go in after I change.”
“See you in a bit, love.”
But Diego wasn’t looking at me. Adele was touching his arm in that possessive way that a girlfriend would.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Gemma
In this state of extreme insecurity, I entered the castle, my head full of questions.
Why did Adele look shocked about me being his girlfriend? What right do I have to interfere with something that obviously everyone had been expecting of Diego? Why did Adele act like she still held claim over him?
Luckily, Sophia and Lucia took my mind off my worries by their sweet pampering.
They shooed me into the bathroom for a luxurious bath and offered me perfumed lotions. After they had me slip into my new dress, they divvied up the regimen. Sophia blew my hair dry and styled it, while Lucia worked on my makeup.
Lucia admitted, “I’m not an expert at makeup, mind you, but I’ve had enough formal events the last little while that I’ve picked up a few tips here and there. You want something simple anyway, don’t you?”
; “Yes, please,” I agreed.
“Same with the hairstyle,” Sophia assured me. “We’ll go for stunning but understated.”
With an accent of green on my eyelids and a dusting of pearlized powder on my tanned skin, I looked back at a sophisticated version of myself. Lucia had me try a matte red lipstick. I hesitated, but she was right. The dark red made my lips look fuller and complemented the green of my dress.
“Best of all,” Lucia said, winking, “it’s kiss-proof.”
Sophia piled my hair up in a bun with some romantic tendrils escaping and used only a touch of sweet-smelling hairspray.
With my fairy godmothers on either side, I got to my feet and walked over to an ornate full-length mirror.
Who was this girl staring back at me? She looked like a…princess.
I wanted to pinch myself for living my own fairy tale.
Sophia and Lucia chased each other to be the first to get Diego up to have a first peek while I waited nervously. There was a knock, and I turned toward the door.
“Come in.”
In came Diego, stopping short of entering as his eyes drank me in, sending pleasurable shivers down my spine. He stepped in and shut the door. As he walked over, my heart raced.
He reached for my hands and clasped them warmly. “Hermosa.” Beautiful. “Turn around, love. Let me see the full effect.”
I twirled for him, feeling silly…and in one of those rare occasions…feminine.
“I hate to do this to the girls’ handiwork,” he approached me with eyes shining until he held me loosely in his arms, “but I think you need a kiss before I send you off to see Mother. To bolster you.”
“Lucia said my lipstick is kiss-proof.” I smirked. “Maybe we should test it.”
“Happy to help,” he murmured, before kissing me softly, then passionately until my head whirled and I knew I belonged in his arms.
He broke off the kiss and gave me a crooked, bedazzled smile.
I trailed a manicured finger on his lips and giggled. “No lipstick.” Which prompted another “test.”