Free The Man's Outrageous Demands by Elizabeth Lennox Page A

attention. “What do you mean?” he asked, swinging around with a look like a thunderstorm on his face.
     
    Max hid his smile at Sam’s furious expression. He took a few steps to close the distance before replying. “Marabeth has to get married.”
     
    “Why?” he demanded.
    Max held up his hands and laughed. “Not because of what your thinking and you know it. You keep closer tabs on her than anyone so you know she hasn’t dated anyone in the past month.” Max stopped and thought about that for a moment. “Come to think of it, she hasn’t dated anyone since you started working in the palace.” Max was silent as he connected the dots, then laughed out loud at his suspicions.
    Sam understood where Max’s mind was going and shook his head, denying it although secretly he wished it was true. “You’re reading too much into things, as always,” Sam said and started walking again. Then the rest of what Max had said sunk in. He stopped and turned around again. “What did you mean about her having to get married? Why does she have to?”
    Max shrugged his shoulders and tossed his own towel into the laundry bin. “Because she’s a princess and my father wants grandchildren. She was engaged two years ago but her fiancé died suddenly – not that there was any love in that relationship. If that hadn’t happened, she would already be married, probably with a child.”
    “You could get married and give your father grandchildren,” Sam said reasonably but he didn’t feel very reasonable. He was furious and didn’t really understand why.
    “True, but I haven’t found the love of my life, like Marabeth and you have,” Max said and pounded Sam on the back. Max walked away, leaving Sam glaring at him from behind.
    Max entered the main drawing room later that night and was glad to see that his mother and father were there but Marabeth had not yet joined them. Two years ago, their sister Anastasia would also have been here but she married Prince Erik and only comes to visit occasionally. Everyone was delighted to hear that they were going to have a baby soon.
    Max walked over to the bar and poured himself a bourbon, tossing an ice cube in the glass before turning to his parents. “I’m glad I found you two alone. I was wondering if you had anymore thoughts about a suitor for Marabeth?” he asked.
    King Stephan sighed and shook his head. “Unfortunately no. That girl has become downright belligerent at the idea lately. Before, she was just not interested. But we can’t even bring up the subject now.”
    “Interesting,” Max said and laughed. “How long has that been going on?”
    His mother, Queen Natasha understood that her son was trying to figure something out. “About three or four weeks. Maybe a little longer,” she replied, waiting for her son to explain his comments.
    Max nodded and smiled again. “That’s what I thought.” He walked over to the phone and dialed a number. “Sam, I was wondering if you had dinner plans tonight.” After a moment, “Good. I’m sorry to make this such short notice, but, since you don’t have any plans, would you mind filling my father in on the submarine issue you were telling me about earlier today? I think he should be in on the decision.”
    Max nodded and hung up the phone before turning back to his parents. “Sam will be joining us momentarily,” he explained but his parents had already figured that out.
     
    “What’s going on?” his mother asked, a curious smile on her face.
    Marabeth walked into the room at that moment, her hair piled on top of her head and wearing a flattering, dark green dress that had a deceptively simple design. It fit Marabeth from her slim shoulders right down to her knees with no other embellishments. Max noted how pretty she looked and that her face was flushed with color.
    “Father, I wanted to talk to you about something. I really need you to step in…” Marabeth stopped when she saw the other figure step into the room