Page 39 of The Prince Who Loved Me

“My love knows no seasons.”

Brandi could tell this was a familiar argument, and no way did she want to be a part of it. “Well, I think I’ve screwed things up enough for one day.” She grabbed her purse. “I have to get ready. See you guys later.”

She breathed a sigh of relief as she left when Rob kissed her cousin on her nose. At least she hadn’t caused an argument there. She climbed the grand staircase the three flights to the family floor.

Carolann stood at the dresser, primping her hair at the combination of the table and drawers that extended along one wall. The softball trophies Brandi had earned in high school and college set her mom in a frame of gold and bronze. The furniture was well made and pink. Her grandma had wanted something special to make Brandi feel at home when she moved in as a freshman in high school. Her bedroom set was the first thing she had picked out and called her own.

She should update it, make it something less teenager, but that would mean letting go of Grandma. She wasn’t ready for that yet.

“Hey, baby.” Carolann used Brandi’s curling iron to create ringlets in her hair.

“Look at you, getting all fancy.” Brandi grinned at her mom.

“Here, I’ll do yours.”

Brandi didn’t really have the time, but she wasn’t going to say no to a connection with her mom. When she was younger, Carolann would always do Brandi’s hair the same way she did her own before leaving to prowl for her next man. It was one of the few times when Brandi had her undivided attention.

“Tell me what you’re doing on your date tonight.” Carolann picked up a brush and combed out Brandi’s hair.

She closed her eyes at the soothing motion. “We’re going to the new paint-it-yourself art studio.”

“Sounds fun.” Carolann patted her hair down.

“Yeah, but he made me promise not to look online at what was being painted. Though he did warn me that tonight’s session was for adults only.”

“Ooh, sounds naughty.” Her mom picked up the curling iron and separated a lock of Brandi’s hair.

Oh, what the hell. “I’m mainly going because of Sebastien.” Brandi kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see her mom’s expression.

“Why’s that, baby?”

Because his kiss was the most extraordinary one she had experienced in her lifetime. “I guess because he’s been my friend for so long, and I don’t understand what drives him and why he sketches. I thought maybe if I drew something myself, took a lesson, I’d get some insight into…” Well, him, but she didn’t want to say that. “His process.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea. If I remember correctly, most of your artwork was you and your boyfriend’s initials surrounded by a heart.”

“Hey.” Brandi opened one eye to see her mom’s smiling face. Maybe she felt it, too, the need to make up for lost time. That would explain her staying at the Hall, her visit to Belle’s. “I got pretty good at getting the halves symmetrical.”

“Sebastien’s a nice boy,” Carolann said, fluffing the hair on one side. “And rich. And a prince. You could do worse.”

“Yeah.” Brandi stifled a sigh. That wasn’t why she thought about him, but her mother was always looking at ways to get ahead for herself. “Tell me more about Grant.”

Her mom moved to the other side of Brandi’s chair. “He’snice, too. Rich. Not a prince. I could do worse.”

Brandi kept her features neutral. Nice didn’t usually describe her mom’s boyfriends, though rich was a requirement. Aside from a few, they tended to range from self-absorbed jerks to those who liked a trophy on their arms.

“Really,” Carolann said as if she could read Brandi’s thoughts. “I guess I’m getting pickier in my more advanced age.” She put her unlined face next to Brandi’s. “Having rich men meant I got the best anti-aging treatments out there. We could pass for sisters.”

It was true. They’d both been blessed with good genes, and Carolann was making the most of hers.

Carolann grabbed a clip from the dresser. “What did Grandma leave you for your inheritance? From what the lawyer said, I bet it was more than my two thousand dollars.”

An empty echo filled Brandi’s chest. She didn’t want to share the information. It was still too close to her heart. She channeled her mom’s reaction and let out a huff of disdain, ignoring her sour stomach. “It could always be more.”

They made eye contact in the mirror before Carolann put her hands on Brandi’s shoulders. “All done. And you look gorgeous.”

Chapter 9

All Sebastien could think about was Brandi. What she was doing. Who she was with.