Free The Lord's Passionate Lover (The Royals of Monaco, #3) by Leslie North Page B

enthusiasm for anything.
    After dinner, Lord Jacques took Francesca back to the palace. The two of them sat in the back seat of his car as Francesca stared at him. “I never gave you permission to be with me,” she said to him as he turned to face her. “Who said I even like you?” she asked.
    “You are awful at hiding your feelings,” he said to her. She rolled her eyes and looked away. He took her hand and placed a key in her palm.
    “What is that?” she looked at her hand.
    “A key.”
    “I see that but to where?”
    “My heart.”
    “What?”
    “I noticed that you say what a lot, especially when you don't know what to say or want to pretend you did not hear what I said.”
    “What?” Francesca realised that she had done it again. “Shut up,” she said to him before he said anything else.
    Chuckling. “It’s the key to my house. You had said that you have nothing to do at the palace and I want you to come and see me whenever you want. Francesca, I want you to be a part of my life and I think that we would both be more comfortable if we weren’t sneaking around like teenagers at the palace,” he said.
    “Why?”
    “Because I am falling in love with you. It drives me crazy when I do not see you. And then I have to walk around the palace or work late simply in the hopes that I might bump into you.”
    Francesca raised her eyebrows. So those times they bumped into each other in the palace that was not a coincidence. They had been looking for each other. “Stalker,” she said. He smiled and pulled her towards him. He held her face in his palms and searched her eyes.
    “Say you'll come,” he said.
    “We'll see.”
    He pressed a feather light kiss on her lips. “That is good enough for me,” he said to her and kissed her again.
    “Oh you drive me crazy,” she said.
    “I know.”
    “And I hate that I like you this much.”
    “I know.”
    He caressed her neck with the back of his hand. “I like you touching me,” she said and took his hand.
    “I know.”
    “Take me to your house. I need you.”
    “Okay. Pack your things.” He leaned closer to her and kissed her. They paused when they felt the car stop. They had arrived at the palace. Francesca got out of the car and strode towards the palace gates.
    “I will see you when you come over,” he called out after her.
    “If I come,” she answered as she walked away smiling. She clutched the key tightly in her hand as she turned around. “I love you!” she shouted after the departing car. She immediately regretted the words. She had said them first. The car braked abruptly and Lord Jacques’ got out and stood there staring at her for what felt like an eternity.
    “I love you too,” he said to her.

Epilogue
    T hings had been going well between Francesca and Lord Jacques. They argued occasionally and it frustrated him that she did not address him as a Lord. He would correct her, but she never listened. She went to his house occasionally and they would spend time together kissing and touching, but he refused to take it farther, which made Francesca incredibly frustrated.
    Liane came to the palace for a visit with Simone. Macee and Francesca were so happy to see her as they played with little Simone. They could not believe how quickly she was growing, as she was able to stand and walk with help. Time had flown by. Macee was about a month away from her due date and could not wait to give birth. Mrs LeBlanc arrived at the palace. She had started coming more regularly since Macee was nearing her due date.
    “How are things with Lord Jacques?” she asked her daughter. She could not be happier that her middle daughter was with a lord. She was the only one who had not given her cause for concern when it came to men.
    “I don't know, lately I have not seen much of him,” Francesca complained.
    “You see him in the palace,” Macee pointed out.
    Francesca frowned. “I wonder what his ex-wife looks like,” she said.
    “Oh darling, does it