Free Chayton by Danielle Bourdon Page A

present to a lawyer with her signature,” Leander said.
    “We'll be all right. She's focused on fixing her predicament and I'm focused on helping her. I think I'd know if she'd rigged this whole thing.” Chayton took another drink. He hissed at the burn. The truth of it was—he knew Mattias and Leander were right. As a group, they had seen some incredible situations, and subterfuge to obtain funds from a member of the elite happened all the time. But he wasn't worried about Kate, didn't think she was out for money. It was nothing he could prove yet he felt certain he and Kate both had the same goal in mind.
    “All right. I just had to make sure.” Mattias toasted Chayton with a wry grin, then finished his scotch. “I have to call home, so I'll leave you to it and see you tomorrow at the ceremony.”
    “Thanks, Mattias. I appreciate you acting as witness.” Chayton also finished off his drink and set the tumbler aside.
    “I'm happy to stand in,” Mattias said.
    “You've got big brass balls, Chayton. Never thought I'd see the day,” Leander said with a low laugh. He set his unfinished drink aside, clapped Chayton on the shoulder, then departed the room.
    Chuckling, Chayton watched Leander depart. “At least we're never unsure what he's thinking or feeling.”
    Mattias laughed. “Indeed. I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well.”
    Chayton traded handshakes with Mattias and watched the prince exit in Leander's wake. When they were gone, he poured himself another drink and upended the contents in two stinging swallows. Standing by the window which overlooked the expansive gardens, now doused in darkness, he thought about the upcoming wedding and the possible implications if he was wrong about Kate. Immediately his gut instinct kicked in to assure him that he wasn't, but he wouldn't be a member of the Royal Elite if he didn't ask himself the hard questions.
    If she went after his holdings and his money, he had no way to stop her. Oh, his lawyers would put up the best fight possible, but he had no pre-nuptial agreement, nothing in writing to protect him from her taking a large percent of his wealth. On top of that was the concern that in acquiring his part of the family dynasty, she would then have a partial say in how things were run. Like he did. Which could throw a wrench into how the resorts performed.
    His father would be furious.
    Chayton turned from the window. Exhaling, he poured himself another round.

Chapter Seven
    Kate stood before the full length mirror provided by the staff earlier that morning, shocked at the change in her appearance. She'd woken from a dead sleep, rumpled and puffy faced, far from 'bride' material. After a late lunch, she'd taken a shower, had a visit from a hairstylist and manicurist that Chayton had arranged, and had her make up done by an assistant who also helped her change into the dress. Now she looked perfectly suitable to walk down the aisle, a full fledged bride by anyone's standard. The dress she'd chosen—full tulle skirt, beaded bodice and modest, scalloped neckline—fit like it was made just for her. Nipped in at her small waist, the gown flared in beautiful layers to her feet, making her feel like the princess she wasn't.
    She examined the tiny seed pearls the hair dresser had threaded through the styled updo of curls, amazed at the intricacy involved in making it look natural instead of awkward. A bouquet of stargazer lilies—her favorite—sat on the vanity, delivered a half hour ago compliments of Chayton. He'd picked her brain on the flight from Singapore about small details, and it appeared he hadn't forgotten anything.
    “Miss Kate?”
    Kate twisted at the waist and glanced at the open door. Lia, a plump redhead with a sparkling personality and vivacious smile, the girl who'd been provided as her personal assistant, gestured to the hallway beyond.
    “It's time, Miss Kate. Everyone's waiting.”
    “All right. Thank you, Lia. I'll be right down.”
    Lia bobbed a nod,