Free If The Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair

broke the whisper-soft kiss, asking
him, “Will you marry me, Alex?”
     
    ***
     
    The kiss. He’d never forget that kiss for as
long as he lived.
    Now, sitting on the floor in his study, he
looked over at Charlie. He stared at her mouth as she ate a slice
of pepperoni pizza. He dropped his gaze to the creamy satin
nightwear and oh-so delicate matching lace-edged robe. Something
tightened in his middle. He glanced away. “So what do we do now?”
he muttered under his breath.
    “It’s our wedding night. What do you think
people do?”
    Alex turned sharply, holding his breath. He
knew what he’d like to do.
    “Get to know each other, of course.”
    He sighed. “Of course.”
    She giggled. He smiled.
    “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Alex, but I’m
not that kind of girl.”
    He shook his head and suppressed a wider
smile. “I never thought you were.” He stopped to gather his
thoughts. Leaning back against a nearby chair, he stretched out his
jean clad legs, crossing them at the ankle and laced his fingers
behind his head. “So, tell me about yourself, Mrs. Royale.”
    Charlie sucked in a breath and then tried to
swallow a few times. She gingerly placed the unfinished slice of
pizza back in the box.
    Eyeing her, he said, “That’s right, you are
Charlotte Royale, now.”
    “Charlotte King Royale,” she corrected
in a strained voice. She blinked. Clearing her throat, she said,
“I’ll always be a King, Alex.”
    He noticed moisture gather in her eyes. His
heart tugged. He lowered his arm, and then dragged a hand over his
eyes. “I know. No one can ever take that away from you or where you
came from.” He trailed off, wondering what in the world he was
doing, trying to rob her of her late father’s business.
    Her light, brief touch on his forearm had him
jerking back to the moment. “Thank you,” she barely whispered,
making him almost wish he’d told her about King’s Department Store.
Almost.
    If a person was capable of mentally kicking
himself, he’d just done it.
    “You first,” she said.
    “Huh? Did I miss something?” The way she
jumped from one subject to another astounded him at times.
    “Tell me about yourself, silly.”
    Tipping his hand, he said, “I know I’m not
that interesting, so ladies first.”
    She wagged a finger at him. “Oh, so that’s
how you are.”
    Warmth spread along his cheeks. “Duly
chastised.”
    Before he had a chance to do anything, she’d
leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. By the time he’d realized
what she’d done, she was reseated. He chuckled. “You, my dear, are
very quick.”
    “Can’t keep up?”
    The challenge in her tone brought heat to his
body. “Loaded question,” he muttered.
    “For shame, Alex.”
    At that he threw back his head and
laughed.
    “All right, if you must know, I love
pepperoni pizza.”
    He moved so now his arm rested on his bent
knee as he faced her. “Oh, really.” He nodded as she scooped up the
piece she’d recently discarded. “I’d never have guessed. Champagne?
Caviar? Strawberries and whipped cream? Having an intimate wedding
dinner with flowers and candlelight? Nah. She wants to eat
delivered pizza while sitting on the floor.”
    She giggled, taking another bite. Her soft
moans of appreciation shot through him. Once she’d chewed and
swallowed, she pointed out, “You forgot the cozy fire in the
fireplace.”
    Alex grinned. “That makes all the
difference.”
    Looking at him sheepishly, she confessed,
“I’m not terribly romantic.”
    “No, I can’t say that about you, especially
after your reaction to my proposal.”
    She reached over and put a hand over his
mouth. “Quit!”
    He grabbed her hand, nibbling on her fingers.
“Yummy, pizza.”
    Tugging her hand away, she snatched up a
napkin. “You are never going to let me live that down, are
you?”
    Glee shot through him. “No. I’m going to
enjoy retelling that story over and over again to our kids and
their kids.” He noted the way her