The Prince's Texas Bride Read Online Free Page A

particular.
    Eve peeked around the corner and caught her first glimpse of the lavish dining room. With a different table, the room could have easily held twenty people. Instead, a round table dressed in a crisp white cloth and set with crystal glasses, sterling silver and bone china sat in the center of the room.
    The elegance and luxury of the room reminded her of the differences between her background and that of the Devereaux family. Her parents had moved frequently to stay a step ahead of the debt collectors, which meant she’d never stayed in one school very long. A flood of memories washed over her of walking into school, wearing clothes with holes in them, suffering the stares of her classmates and feeling completely out of place.
    Her stomach knotted. What was she doing here? She took a deep breath and told herself this was a different time, a different situation. The siblings distracted her from her panic.
    Bridget, Phillipa and Jacques stood beside the table.
    â€œThe goal for this evening’s meal is to get Stefan tocut me some slack,” Bridget said. “I need a vacation in Italy. Phillipa, you can cover for me for just a couple weeks—”
    Phillipa shook her head. “You know I’m in the middle of my dissertation. I can’t take off for two weeks.”
    Bridget sighed. “Maybe we could cut down some of the appearances.” She glanced at Jacques, who bore a striking resemblance to Stefan. “And you could help.”
    Jacques looked appalled. “Me? I’m playing in a soccer match in Spain this weekend.”
    â€œWell, I can’t keep doing all this on my own. Lord knows how Tina managed it,” Bridget said.
    Eve strongly considered turning around and leaving at that point, but Jacques glanced up and looked at her as if she were a lifeline. “Please do come in. Eve Jackson?”
    â€œYes, Your Highness,” she said. “I’m surprised you re member since we met so briefly last month.”
    Jacques’s lips lifted in a flirtatious grin. “Please call me Jacques, and I make a habit of never forgetting the name of a beautiful woman.”
    Eve couldn’t resist smiling in return. She could tell Jacques was on the road to be a class-one heartbreaker. “Thank you, Jacques. I appreciate the flattery, especially since I haven’t spent much time outside the barn since I arrived.”
    â€œI’m determined to change that,” Bridget said. “Just because your position requires you to work with the horses doesn’t mean you’re married to them. Tomorrow you can join me for a day at the beach.”
    Eve shook her head. “No beach for me until after the parade.”
    Bridget scowled. “Tina is going to—” She broke off as Stefan walked into the room. “Welcome, Stefan. Ipersuaded Eve to join us tonight. She’s been cooped up in the barn far too long. I’m sure you don’t mind.”
    Eve blinked at that last remark, feeling a stab of chagrin. She’d assumed Stefan had already been informed and approved of her presence at the meal.
    Stefan looked at her, his gaze falling over her from head to toe and back up again. “Of course not. I’m glad you thought of it, Bridget,” he said, his gaze not straying from Eve’s. “Our pleasure, Eve.”
    â€œThank you, Your High—” she started, but stopped when he sliced his hand through the air.
    â€œStefan, please. Shall we sit?”
    As if on cue, three staff members immediately entered the room.
    â€œI chose Chateaubriand for the menu tonight,” Bridget said. “I asked the chef to choose everything else…well, aside from the chocolate mousse torte. Do you like chocolate, Eve?”
    Still self-conscious, Eve fidgeted with her hands in her lap. “ Like is an understatement. I’ve been known to make dessert the main course when it’s chocolate.”
    Bridget laughed in approval.