Page 2 of His Hidden Royal Heirs

She narrowed her eyes a little at him. “Typically, that sort of invitation is offered as arequest, sir.”

He didn’t so much as flinch. Didn’t hide his interest. Why bother? “I’m not typical.Naturalmente.”

She laughed. A lyrical sound that was tinged with a little huskiness that intrigued him more than he could remember being intrigued for quite some time. With an elegance thatspoke of training—royal training at that—she slid onto the stool next to him.

The hint of royal had him studying her more closely. Her clothes, the haircut, these things were all firmlynotroyal. But Cristhian knew well that facades could be deceiving.

In a corporate bar in Faro?He was letting his work get to him.

The bartender slid her the drink he’d ordered for her, and a refill of Cristhian’s own drink. The woman took a tentative sip, and he watched her reaction intently.

“Perfect,” she said, then flashed him a dazzling smile. The kind of smile that spelled trouble.

Luckily, Cristhian excelled at trouble. Wrangling it into all the rules he liked to follow.

“So, what brings you to Faro?”

“Work,” she said without hesitation. And royals didn’t work, he reminded himself. “But I’m done now and headed home tomorrow.”

“And where’s home?”

This she hesitated over. Which could be chalked up to a woman being careful of what she told a man. “Hamburg,” she eventually offered. “For now.”

The accent wasn’t a perfect match, but thefor nowmade him think she wasn’t a German native. It all added up, and he was celebrating a job well done, notworking, so he needed to relax.

Enjoy.

“Are you local?” she asked him, continuing to sip at her drink. Real diamonds winked at her ears. Expensive diamonds.

He tried not to frown at himself. No more work.Celebrate.“I’m more of a nomad myself. Though I find myself in Faro often enough.”

“A nomad,” she said, as if considering. “No home base, then?”

“I have manyhome bases.”

She angled her chin at him, just so. Haughty, but not in a standoffish kind of way. It suited her, this unearned confidence. “With a woman at each?”

His mouth quirked. “Ah, you impinge my character.”

She made a waving gesture. “And you don’t deny it.”

“There is no specific woman in any such home base. I find relationships don’t really fit in with my schedule of travel. My work takes up most of my life.”

Something about the wordworkhad her expression tightening. Some of that easy bemusement melting out of her eyes.

“You look like someone with a home fire burning,” he said, hoping to get some of that sparkle back in her gaze.

She shook her head, no amusement. A hint of sadness at the edge of her features instead. “Not the way you mean. But responsibilities, I suppose.Work.Calling me home.” She took a deep drink, set the glass on the bar. “But not until tomorrow,” she said forcefully, staring hard at the bar. “For tonight, I’ll enjoy freedom from responsibilities.”

“Well, I suppose it’s kismet then. I, too, am enjoying my freedom tonight. Freedom is much more fun with some company, don’t you think?”

She studied him, some of that amusement returning to her expression. “I do,” she agreed. “Is there anywhere around here with dancing?”

“There’s a club right across the street. Rua Noturna.” He nodded to the door.

She slid off her stool. “Let’s go then.”

Zia Rendall had not intended to pick up a man this evening. It wasn’t fully out of the scope of her plans. She might havehopedshe’d meet someone who made her insides hum just from a look, but she’d known how unlikely that would be.

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