{"id":2598,"date":"2017-11-17T10:21:38","date_gmt":"2017-11-17T10:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/?post_type=portfolio&#038;p=2598"},"modified":"2017-11-17T10:21:39","modified_gmt":"2017-11-17T10:21:39","slug":"christmas-bride-king","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/christmas-bride-king\/","title":{"rendered":"A Christmas Bride For The King"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-d18d8c2c81d10022ebd21ffa95322c35 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2598'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb av_one_half  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-16600a7a4f62ee10acc3696d11210dc2\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-16600a7a4f62ee10acc3696d11210dc2{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-16600a7a4f62ee10acc3696d11210dc2 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-16600a7a4f62ee10acc3696d11210dc2 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-16600a7a4f62ee10acc3696d11210dc2 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >A Christmas Bride For The King<\/h3><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>Unwrapping her innocence&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2bd894dbf2e4bf2c4acf98ce4fbf94aa'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Reluctant ruler Sheikh Salim Al-Noury would rather abdicate than taint his realm with his dark secrets. Until one exquisitely beautiful diplomat is hired to persuade him to reconsider the throne\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Christmas means heartbreak to Charlotte MacQuillan, so working abroad over the festive season is the perfect getaway. But Salim proves to be her most challenging client yet as his rugged masculinity awakens untouched Charlotte to unimaginable pleasures!<\/p>\n<p>Soon Salim accepts that he alone can bear the weight of the crown. And his first proclamation will be to make Charlotte his Christmas queen!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-av_button-ff5b8f32828c51685a6e12f0e2a84988-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_hr '><a href='#excerpt'  class='avia-button av-av_button-ff5b8f32828c51685a6e12f0e2a84988 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-left avia-color-dark'  ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read an Excerpt<\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd{\nheight:30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-f9c49c3d3336fc54a3f31ed109c785bd hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_button  el_before_av_social_share '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='av-social-sharing-box av-av_social_share-091364a88cbf1bf8768d3d05e1fe0801 av-social-sharing-box-default  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last  av-social-sharing-box-fullwidth'><div class=\"av-share-box\"><h5 class='av-share-link-description av-no-toc '>Share this Book<\/h5><ul class=\"av-share-box-list noLightbox\"><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-facebook' ><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/christmas-bride-king\/&#038;t=A%20Christmas%20Bride%20For%20The%20King' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue8f3' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share on Facebook' rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-twitter' 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Pinterest<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class='av-share-link av-social-link-mail' ><a  aria-label=\"Share by Mail\" href='mailto:?subject=A%20Christmas%20Bride%20For%20The%20King&#038;body=https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/christmas-bride-king\/' aria-hidden='false' data-av_icon='\ue805' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello' title='' data-avia-related-tooltip='Share by Mail'><span class='avia_hidden_link_text'>Share by Mail<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-b4a70b83d7eb9f3e8b867900006e1e63\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-b4a70b83d7eb9f3e8b867900006e1e63 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-b4a70b83d7eb9f3e8b867900006e1e63 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-b4a70b83d7eb9f3e8b867900006e1e63 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-8  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2599 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2599 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/51BbL1YuDL-188x300.jpg\" alt='' title='51BbL1Y+uDL'  height=\"300\" width=\"188\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/51BbL1YuDL-188x300.jpg 188w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/51BbL1YuDL.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2bd894dbf2e4bf2c4acf98ce4fbf94aa'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Mills &amp; Boon<\/strong><br \/>\nDecember 2017<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN:<\/strong>\u00a00263924947<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-65c77d2e30847694c54bc792735f7f04\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-65c77d2e30847694c54bc792735f7f04 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-65c77d2e30847694c54bc792735f7f04 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Christmas-Bride-King-Rulers-Desert\/dp\/0263924947\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1510912912&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=a+christmas+bride+for+the+king' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-4f15ed74461675d0a3c61252404d08d8\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-4f15ed74461675d0a3c61252404d08d8 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-4f15ed74461675d0a3c61252404d08d8 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-4f15ed74461675d0a3c61252404d08d8 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-2512 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-2512 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-190x300.jpg\" alt='' title='9780373061181'  height=\"300\" width=\"190\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-768x1215.jpg 768w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-651x1030.jpg 651w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-948x1500.jpg 948w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-446x705.jpg 446w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181-450x712.jpg 450w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/9780373061181.jpg 1675w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2bd894dbf2e4bf2c4acf98ce4fbf94aa'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Harlequin Presents<\/strong><br \/>\nDecember 2017<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN:<\/strong>\u00a00373061188<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-530fe12e4366f762cb12d7868c7b3ea7\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-530fe12e4366f762cb12d7868c7b3ea7 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-530fe12e4366f762cb12d7868c7b3ea7 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Christmas-Bride-King-Rulers-Desert\/dp\/0373061188\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1510914017&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=a+christmas+bride+for+the+king' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b{\nbackground-color:#f6f6f6;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='excerpt'  class='avia-section av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b main_color avia-section-large avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-2598'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 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.av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-165b26da9b131032bf9f2d46ec547c1d .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:42px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-165b26da9b131032bf9f2d46ec547c1d .av-subheading{\nfont-size:22px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-165b26da9b131032bf9f2d46ec547c1d .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-165b26da9b131032bf9f2d46ec547c1d .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-165b26da9b131032bf9f2d46ec547c1d av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-inherit-size'><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_above'><p>Excerpt from<\/p>\n<\/div><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >A Christmas Bride For The King<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2bd894dbf2e4bf2c4acf98ce4fbf94aa'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Charlotte MacQuillan paced back and forth in the empty office and looked at her watch for the umpteenth time. She couldn\u2019t believe she\u2019d actually agreed to come to this land \u2013 locked Arabian country to advise its recalcitrant King \u2013 in &#8211; waiting on diplomacy. And speaking of waiting, he\u2019d kept her waiting for an hour now.<\/p>\n<p>But, she might have expected as much from the <em>enfant terrible<\/em> of the international billionaire playboy scene.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte had known of Sheikh Salim Ibn Hafiz Al-Noury\u2019s debauched reputation but only in a peripheral sense. She didn\u2019t indulge in salacious celebrity gossip magazines but she figured the only place they hadn\u2019t heard of the playboy Sheikh with his outrageous good looks, virile masculinity and jaw \u2013 dropping wealth was in a remote undiscovered corner of the Amazon rainforest. And even there they probably had posters of him tacked to trees.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte walked over to a nearby window that looked out over a seemingly unending sea of sand, under a painfully blue sky. The sun was a blazing orb and she shivered lightly in the air \u2013 conditioning, imagining how merciless that heat must be with no shade. The little taste of it she\u2019d had walking from the plane to the Sheikh\u2019s chauffeur driven car, and then into the palace had almost felled her.<\/p>\n<p>With her fair, strawberry blonde colouring, Charlotte had never really been a sun \u2013 worshipper. So why on earth had she agreed to take on this assignment then?<\/p>\n<p>An image inserted itself into her mind in answer: London as she\u2019d just left it &#8211; in the full throes of Christmas countdown with glittery lights twinkling and all the forced festive bonhomie that never failed to set Charlotte\u2019s teeth on edge for at least a month every year.<\/p>\n<p>To say that she loathed Christmas was an understatement. And yet as she looked out over this alien view that couldn\u2019t be more removed from that London scene, she didn\u2019t feel relieved. She felt a pang. <em>Worse<\/em>. A yearning.<\/p>\n<p>It was that tiny traitorous part of her that secretly ached for the kind of Christmas celebrated in cheesy movies and on cards depicting happy families and togetherness. The fact that she usually spent her Christmas day alone with tears coursing down her face as she watched \u2018Miracle On 34th Street\u2019, or \u2018It\u2019s a Wonderful Life\u2019 was a shameful secret she would take to her grave.<\/p>\n<p>She made a disgusted sound at herself and turned her back on the view, firmly shoving any such rogue yearnings down deep where they belonged. Instead she distracted herself by taking in the vast expanse of the Sheikh\u2019s Royal office, which, if the correct protocol was being observed, she should never have been allowed into without his presence. She sighed.<\/p>\n<p>She could see that at one time it had been impressive with its huge floor to ceiling murals depicting scenes that looked as if they\u2019d been plucked from a book of Arabian mythology. But now they were badly faded.<\/p>\n<p>Everything about Tabat and its eponymous capital city that Charlotte had seen so far had an air of faded glory and neglect. She\u2019d downloaded information on the country from the internet before leaving England and had used the plane journey to acquaint herself with the basics.<\/p>\n<p>The last King of Tabat, Sheikh Salim\u2019s grandfather, had brokered a marriage between his only child \u2013 a daughter &#8211; and the Crown Prince of their neighbouring Kingdom, Jandor, in a bid to bring peace to the warring region. It had worked. Since the marriage, the two nations had coexisted in relative peace with the understanding that the heirs of the union would become the respective rulers of Jandor and Tabat, thereby ensuring a long \u2013 lasting peace into the future.<\/p>\n<p>And everything had gone to plan \u2013 the Queen of Jandor had dutifully given birth to two sons \u2013 Charlotte frowned now as she recalled mention of a daughter but she\u2019d read nothing more about her in the potted history \u2013 and on the death of the King of Jandor just over a year previously, the eldest son Zafir had inherited the Kingdom of Jandor, and Salim had inherited the crown of Tabat.<\/p>\n<p>And in spite of its air of neglect, Tabat was no shabby inheritance. The city had charmed her with its ancient winding streets, clusters of stone buildings and the river that ran all the way from the Tabat mountains to the sea on the coast of Jandor.<\/p>\n<p>The country was rich in natural energy \u2013 oil being the most important and lucrative resource. But its infrastructure was in serious need of modernisation along with myriad other aspects of the country \u2013 education, government, economy etc. It badly needed a leader prepared to take on the mammoth task of hauling this country into the twenty \u2013 first century. The potential was abundant and just waiting to be tapped into.<\/p>\n<p>But from the little she knew of Sheikh Salim and his reputation, she didn\u2019t hold out much hope for that happening any time soon. She\u2019d been hired by his brother, King Zafir, to help advise Sheikh Al-Noury on international diplomacy and relations in the run up to his coronation, but in the two weeks since she\u2019d accepted the assignment, neither the Sheikh nor his people had made any effort to return Charlotte\u2019s calls or provide her with any information.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019d just finished working with King Alix Saint Croix who had famously been in exile for many years after a coup in his island principality, and her experience with the urbane intelligent King and his stunning wife, Leila, had been an absolute pleasure for Charlote.<\/p>\n<p>She had a feeling this job was going to be nothing at all like her time on Isle Saint Croix working for a King who hadn\u2019t really needed her expertise, but who had graciously asked for her opinion in order to ensure his transition back onto the world stage was as smooth as possible.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte checked her watch again, the Sheikh was now well over an hour late. Feeling frustrated and not a little irritated and tired after her journey, she walked over to where she\u2019d put down her document case, prepared to leave and find someone who could direct her to her room. But just as she drew near to the huge doors, they swung open abruptly in her face and a man walked in.<\/p>\n<p>One thing was immediately and glaringly apparent. In spite of seeing his picture online, Charlotte was not remotely prepared for Sheikh Salim Ibn Hafiz Al-Noury in the flesh. For the first time in her life she was rendered speechless.<\/p>\n<p>For a start he was taller than she expected. Much taller. Well over six feet. And his body matched that height with broad shoulders and a wide chest narrowing down to lean hips and long legs. He was a big man and she hadn\u2019t expected him to be so physically formidable. Her impression was one of sheer force and power.<\/p>\n<p>Messily tousled over \u2013 long dark hair framed his exquisitely handsome face which was liberally stubbled. His eyes were so blue they immediately reminded Charlotte of the vast sky outside, vivid and sharp. His mouth was disconcertingly sensual \u2013 a contrast to the hard angles of his body and bone structure.<\/p>\n<p>He was wearing a loose white v \u2013 necked chemise that revealed the solid mass of muscle on his chest and a tantalising glimpse of dark hair. It was tucked into very worn jodhpurs that clung to hard and well \u2013 muscled thighs in a way that could only be described as provocative. Scuffed and worn leather boots hugged his calves.<\/p>\n<p>And it was only then, belatedly, that Charlotte registered the very earthy and surprisingly sensual smell of horse \u2013 flesh, and something else \u2013 male sweat. To her utter horror she realised that she was reacting to him as if she\u2019d taken complete leave of her senses.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":2512,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[21],"portfolio_entries":[23],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Christmas Bride For The King - 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