Read The Man's Outrageous Demands for Free Online Page A

press will be in attendance,” she explained.
    Marabeth nodded glumly before turning to leave the breakfast room. She knew what was expected of her without all the details being told to her. She’d visit the palace designer and choose a new dress for the evening which would require several fittings. With less than a week to go, Marabeth knew that Tilly, the seamstress, would need hours of time with Marabeth in fittings. She sighed and mentally started revising her schedule for the week.
    It was no use getting angry about it. Marabeth had known about this reception for the past ten days but had hid her head in the sand, so to speak. She hadn’t wanted to attend and so had ignored all the details about the event. But now she not only had to attend, but had to escort the man throughout the event.
    Marabeth sighed and leaned against the hallway, closing her eyes in frustration. Why that man? Why couldn’t it have been some boring, old man who wouldn’t want to dance or irritate her?
    “Feeling feint?” a deep, laughing voice said nearby.
    Marabeth’s eyes popped open and she was staring into the amused eyes of the man recently discussed. She sighed heavily and pushed away from the wall. “I would be eternally grateful to you if you could please catch me at an unembarassing moment once in a while,” she said as she walked carefully down the hallway, praying she wouldn’t fall on her face or trip into his arms. That would be just her luck, she thought.
    “I like it,” Sam said, easily falling into step beside her. “It makes you more approachable,” he said.
     
    Marabeth eyed him out of the corner of her eye. “I didn’t know that approaching me was an issue in your mind,” she said dryly.
     
    “Absolutely,” he nodded sagely. “Approaching a beautiful woman is always terrifying for a man.”
    Marabeth stopped and turned towards him. secondly, I can’t imagine anything terrifying you. Please don’t patronize me.”
“First of all, I’m not beautiful and So just cut the act, Mr. Montrose.
    Sam stared down at the incredible beauty in front of him and was shocked that she didn’t understand her appeal to the opposite sex. She was stunning in a soft, very feminine, very sexy way. And he liked just about everything about her. Even the stubborn chin that was currently jutting out in frustration right now.
    “You’re incredibly beautiful and yes, many things terrify me.”
     
    “Like what?” she asked, dismissing his compliment but instantly curious about what could possibly scare a man of his size and strength.
     
    “Spiders,” he said quickly.
    Marabeth was expecting something profound. So that single word made her laugh. “I don’t believe it,” she said, shaking her head and turning to continue walking down the hallway.
    “Oh, believe it. I hate them. Whoever marries me will definitely have to be the spider killer,” he said, walking beside her with his hands behind his back.
     
    “What else?” she asked, curious despite herself.
     
    “Poetry,” he said.
     
    “Excuse me?” she asked, stopping again to look at him.
     
    “Poetry. It scares me. Never could understand it. Shakespeare, sometimes, but E.E. Cummings, totally confounds me.”
     
    “I don’t believe it. What else?”
     
    Sam thought for a moment. “I probably wouldn’t like mice very much, but since I’ve never run into them, I can’t be sure,” he said, nodding his head for emphasis.
     
    She waited for him to continue with his list but he stopped. and mice are the only things that scare you?”
     
    “Is that all? Spiders
     
    “Well, and trying to talk to a beautiful woman,” he clarified.
     
    “Ah.” She started walking again. “So you’ve said.”
     
    “You’re going to be my date at the reception, correct?” he asked.
     
    Marabeth sighed. “Not your date. I’ll accompany you and introduce you to the various guests,” she clarified.
     
    “And you’ll be dressed in a beautiful dress, preferably