Page 6 of Royal Baby Maker

How many pairs of panties was I going to destroy in Bishop's presence?

- Chapter Three -

Nellie

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It was hot enough outsidethat the city below looked smeared with Vaseline, and it was only seven in the morning. Each time I wiped my eyes I burned them with more sweat. The dogs were handling it fine; they trotted along by my sneakers as we climbed the sloped street back towards their house.

I didn't mind cramps growing in my muscles as I pushed along. Exerting myself was helping me keep my mind from wandering. Because when it started waltzing off, it inevitably headed right towards the super-sexy-punchable-face of Bishop.

Just what was he thinking?I asked myself for the hundredth time. I'd almost asked my roommate about it last night, but in the end, decided that was a bad call. If I brought Bishop up, it gave him power. I wanted to forget everything he'd said.

Forget the way he'd made me shiver in his kitchen.

Dammit.

It's okay,I told myself, spotting the row of cactus plants that served as a landmark just three blocks from the house.If you just get in and out each day, you won't run into him again.Besides, a man like him—aprince—was probably rarely home. He'd have important things to do.

Things like... meetings, or uh... signing things. Big stuff. Stuff I definitely had no clue about, because the only people who deal with royalty are rich, stuck-up people—like those women simpering for Bishop yesterday.

Why had he looked so put out by the experience? I'd gotten the vibe that he was a serious flirt. That was how he'd behaved with me in the first minute of our meeting, anyway. By all logic he should have been alloverthose girls. His serious face as he reclined in his chair had stuck out to me.

But it sounded like his mother thought the event had gone well... that Iris person was going to “win” his hand or something. The memory tightened my guts into the shape of a boulder. So I pushed harder, chased the dogs, and reconfirmed my decision to forget all about that handsome jerk. Him, and the array of women who were eager to marry him.

“Hey there!”

Bishop was jogging my way. He waved, showing off the shape of his biceps, giving me a peek at his chest through the loose opening of his tank top. He was covered in sweat but, unlike me, he didn't look like a suffering cow.

I pulled up short. The dogs barked, tugging me forward right into his path—they wanted to play with their master. I kind of understood, especially when he grinned and leaned down to pet their heads.

“Morning,” I said. “Didn't see you when I showed up to grab Cujo and Jaws.”

He glanced up at me, hair in his eyes and a smirk as unmovable as the sky. “I usually go out early to run. How are you feeling today?”

“A little tired. You seem to be in good spirits.”

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