Falling Hard (Veronica's Secret) Read Free Page A

them?”
    Benard raised his eyebrows at her, intrigued. “I hardly feel it is appropriate for your lover and his sister to attend our engagement ceremony.”
    Her voice went higher. “I don’t really think it’s your decision if my two best friends attend or not. Nayla and Aaron have been my support since we were children. You had no right to throw them out!”
    This wasn’t exactly how Benard imagined meeting his Queen-to-be, but the decision had been clear when he’d found her with another man’s tongue down her throat in public, no less.
    They didn’t even have the decency to keep it hidden.
    “What was I supposed to think when I found you two down there? I want this marriage to work, Veronica. I’m offended that you would find his presence here appropriate.”
    Swallowing hard, she opened her mouth to speak without looking into his eyes. “I apologize for what you saw. I have loved Aaron for a long time, and until the death of my mother and brother, we were to be wed. Things changed very quickly . We were only saying goodbye.”
    Again she swallowed and sighed. “I will do my best to be a dutiful Queen … and wife. I wish that you had not sent Nayla away too.”
    Benard nodded to her. “Come. We have a reception to attend.”
    Tradition would have them celebrating , and surrounded by people all day long. He hoped some of her anxiety and anger would blow off as the day passed. Benard hoped for a chance to get to know her better after the sun went down. He couldn’t wait to see what she looked like without that stunning dress on.
    They sat together throughout the afternoon. People approached them for conversation, which Veronica pretended to enjoy, but she ignored Benard completely. During the dinner she started drinking wine to numb her anger.
    Benard’s parents chatted away politely with King Doogan. No one seemed to notice how tipsy she was becoming, except Benard. Finally, she began to speak to him.
    “Do you consider yourself a gentleman, Prince Benard?”
    Benard held back a smile. “I do.”
    “Do you know how to take care of a woman?”
    Benard feared she would make a scene if her voice grew any louder. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I do. Can we go somewhere to be alone? I brought some of my favorite wine with me for celebrating.”
     
     
    Veronica’s head was beginning to spin with the wine catching up to her. She’d only been allowed to drink on special occasions before, but she’d never drank this much. She needed something to numb the pain of missing Aaron. All she could think about was how it felt to have his lips against hers, his warm skin touching her, their bodie s colliding together in unison.
    She had to stop herself from groaning aloud while she pictured it.
    She knew Benard had been right. Having Aaron there was inappropriate, but she missed him. I will never love anyone else, she thought . She also felt it was unfair to have sent Nayla away, but they were safer traveling together than separately, so she’d come to accept that too.
    Soon, she’d find a way to go visit her best friend and see Aaron again.
    Now, she had to find a way to face being married to someone she didn’t love and knew she never would. On top of it all, she’d have to pretend to be happy because she would be Queen of Palinna, and her life would be under constant scrutiny.
    She decided to give Benard a shot because he seemed like a nice guy, in spite of the fact that he kicked Aaron and Nayla out.
    And because she knew she didn’t really have much choice.
    She took another gulp of her wine, and set the glass down as a wave of dizziness roared through her. Loudly chattering voices and booming laughter overwhelmed her. The tantalizing words of her cousin, Anna Marie, drifted toward her as Anna Marie shamelessly flirted with one of Prince Benard’s brothers. Her aunt’s voice was a cackle, as she laughed at everything Benard’s father said.
    In the back of her mind she thought she could hear