Page 49 of Falling for the Queen Mother

Once seated again, he repeated his statement. "Are we going to talk about last night?"

"We need to, but I'm not sure I want to." She took a sip. "It happened. We're consenting, married adults. What is there to say?"

"It's a big change in our relationship. I don't suppose it automatically means that we've made a specific decision about staying married even once things are sorted legally or when the time expires next year, but it definitely is something that will play into that decision." He continued to look at her from above the rim of his own glass.

"Agreed." She already knew what direction her decision was heading.

Something she'd never expected to happen again was happening.

In spending time with Nathaniel, getting to know him, recognizing how he cared for her and for others...

She was certain that she was starting to fall in love with him.

But was the reverse also true?

Was Nathaniel falling in love with her?

The conversation petered out almost as quickly as it had begun. It hadn't gone quite the way Nate expected, though he couldn't clearly define what he'd expected.

Professions of love?

It was a little soon for that, though he could definitely say he was headed that direction. Infatuation was definitely in progress, and he believed it was quickly developing into something more than mere attraction.

A phone call came in on Alaina's phone. She checked the screen then excused herself, heading for the back of the apartment where her bedroom was.

He took their wine glasses and took them to the kitchen.

When he exited the kitchen, he chose to go back to the balcony and look out over the ocean. The last red glow of the sun disappeared slowly then more rapidly as it descended below the horizon.

Forcing the conversation to continue didn't seem like the right move, but at some point, they needed to clarify things. His preference would be to sort things out soon. Even if they couldn't yet define everything or determine exactly how things would go.

"Sorry about that." Alaina exited the apartment and pulled a cardigan around her shoulders. The breeze had made things a little cooler.

"Everything all right?" He turned and leaned with his back against the balustrade.

"Yes. There's an event coming up. I'm not in charge of them anymore, thankfully, but I'm expected to be there and smile, make small talk, and things like that." She leaned next to him, facing outward, with her head coming to rest on his shoulder. "As my husband, you'll be expected to attend. Do you have a tuxedo?"

Nate turned to face the same way she did and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. "I do, except I don't know that it's up to royal standards. As tuxedos go, it's relatively inexpensive. It works for black tie events at conferences where most of those who attend are more comfortable in jeans and t-shirts, but that's not quite the same as an event at the palace. Where can I get a better one?"

The last thing he wanted to do was be an embarrassment to his new family, especially Alaina.

"I'll let my assistant know. She'll make sure you're taken care of."

"Thank you."

They stood there for a few more minutes before Alaina straightened. "I do have a couple of things I need to get done before it's time to get ready for bed."

"Are you going to do some reading?"

She nodded. "I'm going to try anyway. Depends on how well I can focus. I'd like to get a chapter or two read, but I'm not at that point in the book where I just can't put it down. I want to know what happens, but not quite there yet. I might get there tonight. Not sure. I have to be up fairly early tomorrow so I may not even try. I may just do a Sudoku or something."

Nate followed her back into the apartment and made certain the door was closed behind them.

He pulled his laptop out of his bag and opened it. For about half an hour, he played a game and scrolled through some news headlines. His marriage to Alaina had fallen lower on the scroll. It had been the top story for the first day or two and had been slowly moving lower as other things took precedence.

One headline caught his eye and he clicked to open the article. It had to do with the ancient laws in question and how to get them repealed. The author made the argument that it wasn't truly valid anymore regardless. That it had been designed for a certain place and time. While it almost certainly wasn't fair or right then, it almost definitely didn't apply now.

As much as the idea would have held some appeal a few days earlier, Nate felt certain of two things. First, the king and his team would have discovered a way to dissolve it if it were at all possible, and second, he wasn't so sure about wanting to dissolve it anymore in the first place.