Page 11 of Crowned for His Son

His eyes narrowed. ‘Is that a question?’

No way was she going to tell this man about the most harrowing few months of her life—especially when she still didn’t remember most of it.

‘What do you care?’

The flash of bleakness that shadowed his chiselled features was immediately chased away by fury.

‘Mr… Prince… Your Highness,’ she said, ‘I’m going to say this once, and then I’d like you leave. Because if you don’t, I will call the police. And, contrary to how powerful you think you are, the authorities here don’t take kindly to intruders who outstay their welcome.’

That faint trace of amusement lifted the corners of his lips again, but it evaporated in a nanosecond. ‘This should be interesting.’

She ignored his arid cynicism in favour of gathering her composure to revisit a period of her life that had the ability to make her soul quake. Because it remained shrouded in thick, dense fog, with her every effort to uncover it frustratingly unsuccessful.

‘I remember Nick Balas from his visits to the casino where I worked here in Vegas three years ago. I was a waitress there, and he—he was nice to me.’ A sharp shard of memory attempted to intrude, but it soon danced away. ‘At least I think so…’

She paused when the Prince’s eyes narrowed.

‘I caution you against speaking ill of the dead, Miss Moss…’

‘If you’re going to threaten me about Nick, too, save your breath. I’ve had all the warnings I can stomach—’

‘What do you mean by that? Who has threatened you?’

The bark of laughter charred her throat. ‘It’s more like who didn’t.’ She shook her head. ‘We’re veering from the subject…and I want to get back to my son.’ She paused when he stiffened again, his eyes flashing with a fierce light before he gave a brisk nod. Sucking in deep breath, she continued. ‘I remember talking to Nick a few times…and then I woke up in hospital three months later…pregnant, and with no recollection of who I was. I was told I’d been found on the road in the middle of nowhere, but I don’t remember.’

His eyes widened fractionally. Then deep laughter rumbled from his throat.

Despite the laughter being at her expense, Eden couldn’t stop herself from gaping in wonder at the breathtaking transformation of the man. He looked carefree, as if he had everything he wished for at his fingertips, in that way he was portrayed in glossy magazines that made even the most cynical woman stop, stare and sigh. That made womenhopedespite suspecting those hopes would never be fulfilled because he was so far out of their league as to be in a different galaxy.

She stared. Every cell in her body tightening and straining at that soul-slashing rumble of sound. Then it was transmitted straight between her legs. Dampening her core. Plumping her flesh. Triggering a stark, breath-stealingyearning.

Even after that brief, stunning transformation was wiped away, and his implacable displeasure was re-established, the sensation remained.

‘Amnesia?’The word was drenched with abject scepticism. ‘That’s how you want to play this?’

For a moment she was bewildered by that response. Then the fact of being ridiculed over something so vital to her sparked fresh anger. ‘How dare you?’

He stepped up to her, his face etched with superior regal effrontery. ‘HowdareI? You think I should tolerate you vilifying my friend and simply accept it?’

She blinked, shock unravelling through her before a degree of understanding layered over it. ‘Is that what this is all about?’ When his face clenched again, she rushed on. ‘You think I’m playing games? I can prove I’m not.’

Keen eyes dissected her, then he nodded. ‘Fine. I’ll bite.’

She shook her head. ‘Not until you give me some answers. Why are you here? Why did you follow me?’

‘No, Miss Moss. That’s not how this is going to go. Let’s see this proof you have first.’

Eden hesitated, wondering if she’d been too rash. She didn’t know this man, after all, and baring her medical secrets to him shouldn’t have been her first choice. But the warning shrieking at the back of her head, telling her to be rid of him asap, wouldn’t let her prevaricate.

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she dialled the number she’d used far too many times in the last three years.

It was answered after three rings. ‘Dr Lloyd Ramsey speaking.’

‘Hi, Dr Ramsey, it’s Eden.’

‘Eden? You’re not due for a check-up for another month. Is everything all right? Have you had any memory issues?’

Prince Azar stiffened, his eyes narrowing at her pointed glare.

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