Plain Return (The Plain Fame Series Book 4) by Sarah Price Read Free Book Online Page B

am,” she replied truthfully, “as long as I am with you.”
    He reached over and took her hand in his, lifting it to his lips and kissing the back of her fingers. “Ay, Princesa ,” he exhaled. “You fill the gaping hole in my heart, the one that exists when we are apart and can only heal when you are with me.” He pressed his cheek to Amanda’s hand and stared at her with an intensity that made her feel light-headed. “After what we have been through, we have learned a valuable lesson, no?”
    Before she could respond, he gently placed her hand back on her lap and reached for his coffee mug. She sensed the shift in Alejandro as he switched into business mode. His ability to profess his profound love for her in one breath and then, seconds later, focus on something else always caught her off guard.
    “Now, we must talk, Amanda,” he said, the tone of his voice more serious.
    She swung her legs over the side of the chaise and sat up, facing him. “Is there something wrong?”
    “Not at all,” he reassured her. “But we have to discuss preparations for South America.”
    Ah, she thought. The upcoming five-week tour in South America. There had been so much discussion about this tour, and it had always been in the future. Yet, she knew all along that it was approaching rapidly, and now the future was suddenly upon them. While she was excited about traveling with him to countries that a year ago she hadn’t even known existed, she felt apprehensive, too. Different cultures, different languages, different countries.
    She didn’t respond, but simply waited for him to speak.
    “We must prepare for the tour,” he said. “I am booked with appointments, mi querida , for the next few weeks. Mornings working on video productions and afternoons overseeing choreography. Geoffrey also has scheduled some interviews and meetings with sponsors.”
    She felt deflated. His new manager certainly hadn’t wasted any time in overbooking Alejandro. Gone were the days of being alone with her husband. She had always known that she had to share him with the rest of the world. Knowing something and welcoming it, however, were two very different things.
    “Shall I get ready to go, then?” she asked.
    When he shook his head, she felt a moment of panic. He drummed his fingers on the side of the table as he said, “Dali will be here shortly to review your schedule.”
    Dali? Schedule? Now Amanda was confused. “I’m . . . I’m going with you, ja ?”
    He shook his head, still serious as he spoke. “Not today, Amanda. You must prepare for the tour.”
    “Prepare?” This was news, indeed. What on earth did she need to prepare for?
    “ Sí ,prepare,” he affirmed. “Let’s start with your clothing. You will have appointments with our new stylist, Jeremy. He will organize your outfits.”
    Outfits? she thought. “I have a closetful of clothing.”
    He chuckled, amused at her statement. “Amanda, you are going on tour. You cannot wear the same clothing you have worn before.”
    “Why ever not?” She frowned. More clothing? It seemed so wasteful to her. “You do.”
    He laughed and said something in Spanish before switching back to English. “You still haven’t realized that the fans and the media will be watching you as well as me. They will scrutinize your outfits. And while I am happy to step aside for the photographers to focus on you, I am certainly not going to have you critiqued at every stop.” He reached for his coffee mug and closed his eyes as he drank. “Jeremy will take care of everything. He has our itinerary and will organize your wardrobe.”
    “Oh.” The word came out like a soft puff of air. She wanted to ask why this was so important; it hadn’t been when she traveled with him before. And as far as being scrutinized by anyone, that was of little importance to her. Yet clearly it was to Alejandro. “I see,” she said, her voice barely audible.
    “And there is more, Amanda.”
    Whenever he called