‘Done! That’s an excellent idea.’
‘What?’ She stared at Cesar in horror.
‘I’ll get my team on it right away, and then I’ll present my beautiful bride to our people at a formal blessing in the cathedral in the capital sometime later.’
‘Best find yourself a bride first,’ Sofia advised before she left the room.
Well, that went well. Cesar paced up and down, frowning, long after Sofia had slammed the door and disappeared. Her final words had been like a well-aimed blow to the chin, but instead of knocking him out they had knocked him into a different mind-set. He’d been so preoccupied, facing the threat to him and Sofia, that he had instinctively moved into leading and planning mode, which on this occasion had involved a wedding ceremony, when Sofia had needed proper reassurance that he loved her before, not after, a proposal of marriage.
He had assumed she would realise that his offer was heartfelt, but now he realised she’d thought it a ruse to distract his people from the latest gossip. The thought of marriage to Sofia had struck him like a bombshell, mainly because marrying anyone else was unthinkable. That nightmare was only exceeded by the thought of Sofia marrying someone else. He loved her with all his heart, he realised now, but had he left it too late?
Years back, when he’d been in the army and his comrades had been getting married one by one, he had envied them for the love they shared, and for the company they could look forward to with someone who loved them unreservedly. Marriage had once seemed an elusive possibility for the so-called Playboy Prince, but he had longed for nothing more than to settle down and build a family...if only he knew how.
Sofia had made that achievable. She was no spoiled, milksop princess, staring haughtily down her nose at his people while acting as everyone’s friend. He wanted a real woman with real character, someone who would take him to task, and here she was, but had he messed up the best chance he’d ever have?
He had to find a way around this. He wanted Sofia to be his wife, not to smooth over the cracks of the article or because it made sense but because he adored her and he wanted her in every way there was. It was hard to express his feelings, but if he kept on trying, maybe he’d get better at it. He had to or he’d lose her for good. And there would never be another Sofia.
Time was short, and the task ahead of him was not just demanding, but would normally take months to complete. How long did it take to woo a woman? He had no idea. It had never been necessary in the past. He prided himself on being a meticulous organiser, but where this was concerned he was in the dark. How long would it take to convince Sofia she could trust him completely when he was starting his campaign from such a low base?
Happiest when he was doing something, he called a meeting for everyone to attend the following morning before training. Until then, guessing Sofia had had enough of his ‘bulldozing ways’, as she’d called them, he keep himself busy riding, working out, swimming, reading, sparring in the gym with her brothers—anything but risk speaking to Sofia before he was ready. He was good at planning and hopeless at wooing, but when it came to winning Sofia’s heart, he was on a mission to succeed.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
PUNISHING HER PILLOW for the lack of anything else to thump, she sobbed like a baby and railed against fate. How could a man who had risen like a phoenix from the ashes of his childhood, with a brain to rival Einstein’s and personal success that exceeded most people’s, be so dense as to imagine that a pretty ring and the promise of riches could find their way to her heart?
She didn’t want that with Cesar. She wanted new paints, a puppy and a kitten, and a bridle for her horse. She wanted time together to laugh and be silly, and plan a future that didn’t involve self-interest and what she had to gain. There was so much she wanted to do, and all she needed was the chance to get out there and do it. The idea of extending her retreat to encompass an entire country, where no one felt left out or forgotten, would be a dream come true. And, yes, she was a bit of a dreamer, but wouldn’t Cesar be the perfect counterbalance to that?
She was glad when the phone rang. Maybe that would shake her out of this noisy, messy pity party. ‘Hello?’
‘Sofia?’
Her heart stopped beating.
‘Cesar here.’
As if she didn’t know, as if her entire body, mind and soul hadn’t recognised that deep, husky voice the moment he’d spoken. A quick analysis of his tone said this was an exploratory call to judge her mood, as she was attempting to judge his.
‘Are you all right? Sofia? Say something.’
‘I’m fine.’ She sniffed. ‘A bit of a cold coming on, that’s all.’
‘Good. I’ve called a meeting tomorrow morning before training to give the official line on the latest article. I trust you will attend?’
She was confused and not a little angry. ‘Your official line?’
‘Yes.’
‘Don’t I have a say in this?’
‘I’ll speak first, and then open the floor to questions.’
‘Cesar...’ She hesitated, frowning. ‘Do you ever listen to yourself?’
‘You mean playback when I’ve been interviewed? Sometimes—’
‘No. I mean right now,’ she informed him. ‘If you could only come down from Planet Exalted and speak to me as an equal.’
‘I do,’ he protested.
