Free The Making of a Princess by Teresa Carpenter Page A

together they dashed the half block to the taxi queue. Soaked within seconds, they were both drenched by the time they reached the line of cars. He held the door and she dove inside.
    Happy to be out of the wet she laughed and swiped at her hands and face.
    He took a moment to shake off the wetness, too, and marveled at her resilience. A lot of women would be shrill in the face of such a soaking.
    The driver had the heat going full blast and still she shivered. Xavier wrapped his arms around her but he was as wet as her so there was no body heat to share. After a while the cabbie came to a stop. Xavier glanced out to get his bearings before venturing into the rain, but he did not recognize the street.
    “The street is blocked,” the cabbie announced.
    Amanda turned to look out the back window. “It looks like a bus had an accident. A police car and a tow truck have the entrance to the street blocked.”
    “Why do we wait here?” Xavier asked. “Can we not drive around the block and come up the other side?”
    She shook her head. “It’s a one way street. I’ll just get out here and run for it. I had a really great time. I’m sorry the rain ruined the end of the day.”
    “I will see you safely inside,” he stated.
    “But it’s pouring!” The pounding on the roof punctuated the fact. If anything the downpour had gotten worse.
    “All the more reason to take care.” He was not deterred.
    Her eyes grew bright at his insistence, leaving him to wonder if no one had ever shown such concern for her welfare. Her grandparents did not deserve such a gift. Again he marveled, this time at how she had turned out to be such a kind, intelligent, well-adjusted woman after suffering the indifference of her guardians for so long.
    “I appreciate the gesture—” she touched his cheek with trembling, icy fingers “—but there’s no need for you to go back out in this rain. It’s only half a block. And I’m not sugar. I won’t melt.”
    He took her hand and warmed her fingers with his breath before leaning close to whisper in her ear, “You are the sweetest thing I have ever known.”
    Before she could object further, he handed a couple of bills to the driver, opened his door and pulled her outside and under an awning. “I am not leaving you to slip about in this muck.” Once he was sure of their footing he asked after their destination. “Your building is the third from the end?”
    She nodded and pointed across the street. Keeping her door in sight, he tucked her close to his side and prompted, “Run.”
    She ran, ducking her head and staying close, allowing him to lead the way. He managed to get them safely inside and up the two stories to her apartment.
    Once inside they stood in the small entry staring at each other and dripping. She looked like a drenched kitten, all big eyes and water flattened hair. The corner of her mouth twitched, turning up. And then they were both laughing. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on, giggling madly.
    He held her, shaking with a mirth he hadn’t experienced in years. He realized he’d been so focused on his career these last few years, he’d become a bit staid. She engaged his emotions, brought him to life.
    And as soon as the DNA test confirmed her parentage, she’d be forever out of his reach.
    The sobering thought cut short his merriment. He bumped his forehead against hers. “You need to get out of those wet clothes.”
    “Yes!” She backed up, white fingers going to the buttons of her coat. But she was shaking too hard for her fingers to work.
    He gently pushed her hands aside and unbuttoned her coat himself. “Where is the shower?”
    She pointed down the hall and he turned her and steered her in the direction she’d indicated. Inside the pink and white tiled room, he reached into the tub and turned on the hot water. Next he grasped the bottom of her sweater and pulled the sodden garment over her head. Finally he released the button, unzipped her jeans