While this wasn’t her first movie premier, it was the first time she’d stepped out of a limousine with a prince.Herprince. Try as she might, her body throbbed with the reality that she was his wife.
“Ready?” Stephen glanced back at her, tugging on his shirtsleeves, adjusting his collar. “Let the fun commence.”
“Oh, we haven’t started having fun yet? I thought it began when you swooped me up in your arms.”
He glanced back at her with his swoon-enticing smile. “That fun was for you. Now mine is about to start.”
“Ha! Very funny. Such a witty boy.”
“Are you sure you want to get out wearing that tiara?”
Corina touched the delicate piece. “And leave it in the limo?” She gave it a light tug. Holy smokes, it was like, glued, to her head.
“The driver and the car are in the palace’s employ. The tiara will be fine in here.”
She ran her finger along the headband, trying to lift the piece from her hair. “I’m a Del Rey. No one should be surprised if a multimillionaire’s daughter wears a tiara.” The band didn’t slip or lift from her head. “Stephen, I couldn’t get it off even if I wanted.”
“What?”
“It’s stuck.”
“How can it be stuck?” Stephen pinched the top with his finger and thumb, giving a light pull.
“Ouch.” She shoved Stephen’s hand away as his door opened. “Never mind.”
Thomas got out first, addressing the security team already on site. “The prince will exit the motor first . . .”
“Thomas was right. It looks good on you.” Stephen’s blue eyes searched hers for a moment. Was he going to say something? Bring up the last time he carried her again? On the night they were married. “Remember, if anyone asks, we’remerelyold friends.” He slid to the edge of the seat and stepped into the blaze of camera flashes and choir of voices.
“Naturally,” she said to his back. “What did you think I would say?”
Corina followed him out, emerging into the electric excitement of the media and the fans, blinded by the camera flashes.
“Prince Stephen, over here.”
“Your Royal Highness, what do you think of a movie about your ancestors?”
“Sir, will you be back on the pitch this fall?”
“You, miss, over here. How do you know the prince?”
Corina looked toward the sound of the voice and a flash exploded in her face.
“Are you Corina Del Rey?”
“Corina, come,” Thomas said, shoving the crowd aside for Corina.
Once she cleared the initial stand of photographers, he cut ahead to be with Stephen, and the crowd wanting access to the prince swarmed and pushed her aside.
Darn it. She elbowed her way back in, charging forward to the white press line where Stephen had stopped to talk to reporters.
“I’m looking forward to the film. Jeremiah Gonda is one of my favorite directors. And who doesn’t love an Aaron Heinly script?”
“Do you think the film will accurately portray King Stephen I?”
“It’s a movie, lads. Let’s not make too much of it.” The remark sparked a hearty laugh. “But yes, I think it will capture the heart of our liberator, a warrior and king. Would Clive Boston play any other kind of character? He’s always the swashbuckling hero.”
Corina jammed her shoulder against a wide-bodied photographer and shot him her Miss Georgia pearly whites. “Pardon me.”
