perspective.”
She sounded not only annoyed, but also upset. “My perspective is fine. Your motivation for wanting to use my foundation and the children concerns me.”
“My priority on the show is no different from any project I work on—to have a successful outcome.” She walked toward him, her shoulders back and her chin lifted. “In order to do that, I need to sell you—past, present, and future—to the princesses. What you’re doing, how you’re helping these children and their families, will impress a woman.”
“Are you impressed?”
“Yes, and surprised as hell about that. That tells me my instinct is spot on. Your interactions with these children is the perfect way to let princesses see your potential as a husband and a father, not just a fun date for New Year’s Eve.”
Pride puffed his chest. The foundation was a topic he’d never discussed with anyone outside his staff. Hearing Emily’s view made him stand taller and wish he could tell people. But his family needed his reputation to be tarnished for a little while longer. “Imagine how happy my future wife will be when she finds out about it.”
“That’s only if you find a woman to marry.” Emily’s voice rose like a television commercial that kept getting louder to grab your attention. “You can’t buy the kind of positive PR and praise you’ll receive if you go public.”
She didn’t understand. “I’m not doing this for accolades.”
Her head tilted. “Why are you doing it?”
She thought so little of him. He didn’t know why her opinion mattered.
“Helping Alvernians, especially her youngest citizens, is the right thing to do.” His voice came out more forceful than he intended, but he wanted to get his point across. What he did was private. “No one needs to know about the foundation. Not the public nor the show nor my family—”
Damn, he hadn’t meant to say that.
Two lines formed above the bridge of her nose. “Your family doesn’t know?”
He stood in the shade of a lemon tree. “My parents and siblings believe the fundraising events are an excuse to throw a party. They wrongly assume the donations are funneled to other charities.”
She came toward him. “Why haven’t you told them?”
He fingered a leaf. The top was smooth, but ridges lined the bottom.
Emily touched his arm. “Why?”
“No one has asked.”
A beat passed. And another. “I’m asking.”
His gaze met hers. Focused. Locked.
Luc saw no pity in her eyes, only compassion and interest and something unexpected…respect. A connection he didn’t understand drew them together.
She squeezed his arm. “Please tell me about Dream Big Alvernia.”
The air was cooler in the shade, but his temperature shot up, maybe twenty degrees. His awareness of this woman kept increasing. Her palm on him. The breaths she took.
Focus.
This is about the children, not me.
Or her.
“I have a staff.” He cleared his dry throat. “They care what happens to these children, are willing to put in extras hours to help the families.”
“What do they do?”
He half-laughed. “A better question would be what don’t they do.”
Smiling, Emily lowered her hand and picked a fig from a nearby plant. He missed her touch. “Going public with Dream Big Alvernia is the right move. You’ll reinvigorate your bride search. Princesses will be proposing to you.”
He laughed at her tunnel vision. “You are driven. I’m lucky to have you on my side.”
“Then let me help you. Advertising is what I do. I’m damn good at it, too.”
“You’re modesty is remarkable.”
“Modesty gets you fired in my business.” She wiped the fig with the inside of her shirt. A band of ivory skin flashed. “A coordinated campaign will help your search for a wife and tap into a larger donor pool so your foundation will thrive.”
“One of these days it may come to that, but not today.” He would have no choice but to do as she suggested if he failed to find a wife,
She sounded not only annoyed, but also upset. “My perspective is fine. Your motivation for wanting to use my foundation and the children concerns me.”
“My priority on the show is no different from any project I work on—to have a successful outcome.” She walked toward him, her shoulders back and her chin lifted. “In order to do that, I need to sell you—past, present, and future—to the princesses. What you’re doing, how you’re helping these children and their families, will impress a woman.”
“Are you impressed?”
“Yes, and surprised as hell about that. That tells me my instinct is spot on. Your interactions with these children is the perfect way to let princesses see your potential as a husband and a father, not just a fun date for New Year’s Eve.”
Pride puffed his chest. The foundation was a topic he’d never discussed with anyone outside his staff. Hearing Emily’s view made him stand taller and wish he could tell people. But his family needed his reputation to be tarnished for a little while longer. “Imagine how happy my future wife will be when she finds out about it.”
“That’s only if you find a woman to marry.” Emily’s voice rose like a television commercial that kept getting louder to grab your attention. “You can’t buy the kind of positive PR and praise you’ll receive if you go public.”
She didn’t understand. “I’m not doing this for accolades.”
Her head tilted. “Why are you doing it?”
She thought so little of him. He didn’t know why her opinion mattered.
“Helping Alvernians, especially her youngest citizens, is the right thing to do.” His voice came out more forceful than he intended, but he wanted to get his point across. What he did was private. “No one needs to know about the foundation. Not the public nor the show nor my family—”
Damn, he hadn’t meant to say that.
Two lines formed above the bridge of her nose. “Your family doesn’t know?”
He stood in the shade of a lemon tree. “My parents and siblings believe the fundraising events are an excuse to throw a party. They wrongly assume the donations are funneled to other charities.”
She came toward him. “Why haven’t you told them?”
He fingered a leaf. The top was smooth, but ridges lined the bottom.
Emily touched his arm. “Why?”
“No one has asked.”
A beat passed. And another. “I’m asking.”
His gaze met hers. Focused. Locked.
Luc saw no pity in her eyes, only compassion and interest and something unexpected…respect. A connection he didn’t understand drew them together.
She squeezed his arm. “Please tell me about Dream Big Alvernia.”
The air was cooler in the shade, but his temperature shot up, maybe twenty degrees. His awareness of this woman kept increasing. Her palm on him. The breaths she took.
Focus.
This is about the children, not me.
Or her.
“I have a staff.” He cleared his dry throat. “They care what happens to these children, are willing to put in extras hours to help the families.”
“What do they do?”
He half-laughed. “A better question would be what don’t they do.”
Smiling, Emily lowered her hand and picked a fig from a nearby plant. He missed her touch. “Going public with Dream Big Alvernia is the right move. You’ll reinvigorate your bride search. Princesses will be proposing to you.”
He laughed at her tunnel vision. “You are driven. I’m lucky to have you on my side.”
“Then let me help you. Advertising is what I do. I’m damn good at it, too.”
“You’re modesty is remarkable.”
“Modesty gets you fired in my business.” She wiped the fig with the inside of her shirt. A band of ivory skin flashed. “A coordinated campaign will help your search for a wife and tap into a larger donor pool so your foundation will thrive.”
“One of these days it may come to that, but not today.” He would have no choice but to do as she suggested if he failed to find a wife,
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