Christian complained, “With that whole line of bullsh*t answers and he needs to wait until after lunch to reach a verdict? I bet Russell could decide faster.”

Annie glared at her husband and said in a stern, hushed tone, “Tone down, Christian.”

The Duke’s temperament cooled to a point where a small smile graced his features as he lifted one of Annie’s hands to plant a kiss on it. Then, he whispered, “As you wish, my Duchess.”

Lucianne’s eyes shone when she whispered to Xandar like an excited child, “Look at them, they’re so cute. It’s like getting a front row seat to a romantic movie.”

Her body subconsciously leaned...