Christine Rimmer - How to Marry a Princess

A Bravo princess always gets her man—and she’ll settle for nothing less than true love in the newest addition to USA TODAY bestselling author Christine Rimmer’s popular miniseries, The Bravo Royales!

Alice Bravo-Calabretti was expected to conduct herself like a proper princess. No more impulsive jaunts to neighboring countries. No more tabloid escapades. But the hot new stable hand was a scandal waiting to happen. His bold blue eyes and come-hither smile could tempt a Bravo Royale to misbehave. Until Alice discovered her “penniless groom” was an American tycoon looking for a princess bride!

Alice was everything Noah Cordell wanted in a wife. But his royal heartthrob refused to say “I do” until he gave up his most carefully guarded secret. And she wouldn’t settle for anything less than everything he had to give. Only then could they share a true meeting of minds and hearts—Bravo-Cordell style!

She put her hand on his chest. “I know you have a heart, Noah. I can feel it beating away strong and steady in there.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I know what I want now, after years of throwing myself wildly into all kinds of iffy situations.” Just like a woman. She knew what she wanted, but she failed to share it with him.

“And what, exactly, is it that you want, Alice?”

“I want it all. I’ll have nothing less. I want everything. Not only your strength and protection, your fidelity and your hot body. Not only your brilliant brain and great sense of humor and your otherworldly way with my horses. I want your heart, too. And I know I don’t have that yet. And until I do, I won’t say yes to you.”

The Bravo Royales: When it comes to love, Bravos rule!

Dear Reader,

I love a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. Noah Cordell is that kind of guy. Charming, killer hot and something of a player, Noah started with nothing and he’s come a long way.

Professional horse breeder Alice Bravo-Calabretti, Princess of Montedoro, is at a crossroads in her life. She’s always been the adventurous one in her family, the impetuous, unpredictable one. But just recently, an innocent evening of fun went a little too far and turned into a major tabloid scandal. Since then, Alice has sworn to behave in a more princesslike manner. She’s been keeping a low profile and reexamining what she wants out of life.

Enter Noah, who wants Alice.

He’s willing to offer her everything—except for his shadowed heart. But Alice won’t be satisfied with his strength and protection, his fidelity, his hot body and half of everything he owns. She wants more from him than his “brilliant brain and great sense of humor and his otherworldly way with her horses.”

Alice will settle for nothing less than true love. And so, in the process of relentlessly pursuing what he wants, Noah just might end up getting what he really needs.

Happy reading, everyone,

Christine

How to Marry a Princess

Christine Rimmer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHRISTINE RIMMERcame to her profession the long way around. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she’d been everything from an actress to a salesclerk to a waitress. Now that she’s finally found work that suits her perfectly, she insists she never had a problem keeping a job—she was merely gaining “life experience” for her future as a novelist. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day’s work is through: a man she loves who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oregon. Visit Christine at www.christinerimmer.com.

For MSR,

always.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter One

On the first Wednesday in September, temptation came looking for Alice Bravo-Calabretti.

And she’d been doing so well, too. For more than two weeks, she’d kept her promise to herself. She’d maintained a low profile and carried herself with dignity. She’d accepted no dares and avoided situations where she might be tempted to go too far.

It hadn’t been all that difficult. She’d spent her days with her beloved horses and her nights at home. Temptation, it seemed, presented no problem when she made sure there was none.

And then came that fateful Wednesday.

It happened in the stables well before dawn. Alice was tacking up one of the mares, Yasmine, for an early-morning ride. She’d just placed the saddle well forward on the mare’s sleek back when she heard a rustling sound in the deserted stable behind her.

Yasmine twitched her tail and whickered softly, her distinctive iridescent coat shimmering even in the dim light provided by the single caged bulb suspended over the stall. A glance into the shadows and Alice registered the source of the unexpected noise.

Over near the arched door that led into the courtyard, a stable hand was pushing a broom. He was no one she recognized, which she found somewhat odd. The palace stables were a second home to her. Alice knew every groom by name. He must be new.

Gilbert, the head groom, came in from the dark yard. He said something to the man with the broom. The man laughed low. Gilbert chuckled, too. Apparently the head groom liked the new man.

With a shrug, Alice gave the beautiful mare a comforting pat and finished tacking up. She was leading Yazzy out of the stall when she saw that Gilbert had gone. The stable hand remained. He’d set his broom aside and lounged against the wall by the door to the courtyard.

As she approached, the man straightened from the wall and gave her a slow nod. “Your Highness.” His voice was deep and rather stirring, his attitude both ironic and confident. She recognized his accent instantly: American.

Alice had nothing against Americans. Her father was one after all. And yet...

As a rule, the grooms were Montedoran by birth—and diffident by nature. This fellow was simply not the sort Gilbert usually hired.

The groom raised his golden head. Blue eyes met hers. She saw mischief in those eyes and her heart beat faster.

Temptation. Oh, yes.

Down, girl. Get a grip.

So what if the new groom was hot? So what if just a glance from him had her thinking of how boring her life had become lately, had her imagining all kinds of inappropriate activities she might indulge in with him?

Nothing inappropriate is happening here, she reminded herself staunchly.

And then, in an attempt to appear stern and formidable, she drew her shoulders back and gave the man a slow once-over. He wore a disreputable sweatshirt with the sleeves ripped off, old jeans and older Western boots.

Hot. Definitely. Tall and fit, with a scruff of bronze beard on his lean cheeks. She wondered briefly why Gilbert hadn’t required him to dress in the brown trousers, collared shirt and paddock boots worn by the rest of the stable staff.

He stepped forward and her thoughts flew off in all directions. “Such a beautiful girl,” he said in a tender tone—to the mare. Alice stared, bemused, as he stroked Yazzy’s long, sleek face.

Like most of her ancient hotblood breed, Yasmine was a fiercely loyal, sensitive animal. She gave her trust and affection to very few. But the bold and handsome American worked a certain magic on the golden mare. Yazzy nuzzled him and nickered fondly as he petted her.