Page 27 of Lone Spy

"My goddess, woman," Zade says. "You are dramatic." I laugh. "Stop moving," they admonish me. "And have dinner with a gorgeous royal who is willing to follow you around the world."

"Isn't that a bit much?" I ask. Their brush lightly floats over my lids, soft as a butterfly.

Zade makes a sound.Idiot."If you don't have dinner with that elegant hottie, I’ll kick your ass.” They back away, but I keep my eyes closed knowing they'll be back soon. "Don't tell Ash," Zade says to Lloyd in a teasing voice. I can practically hear them wink.

"Your assault plans are safe with me," Lloyd says, deadpan.

Zade laughs. "I like you." Their brush returns to my eyes.

"You're right," I say.

"Always," Zade confirms.

"I'll see him tonight. His coming to Rome—that's too much."

"Oh, yes," Zade says, their voice dripping with sarcasm. "We wouldn't want a beautiful, royal man who’s a sex god to follow you around the globe. That's awful. Just way too much."

"Shut up."

"Never."

"I didn't say he was a sex god."

"I inferred."

Lloyd breaks in. "I'll let the prince know and work with Mr. Fraser to arrange the location and time."

"Thank you," I say.

"My pleasure."

"Open," Zade commands. They stare at me with an assessing eye. "Now that we have an assistant again, can we please get a hairdresser back on the team? This," they wave their hand at my head, "needs help."

"There will be someone at the shoot," I point out. This is only for the walk from the hotel to the car, and then the car to the building where the shoot is happening. This is just for the paparazzi.

"What about tonight?" they ask.

"I'm sure my hair will look good enough for tonight. I don't want to turn this into a thing."

"A thing?" Zade is outraged. "Angela. This is dinner with a prince. This is a thing if there ever was one."

I shake my head. Zade leans away from me, crosses their arms. I laugh at the seriousness in their expression. "Angela." Oh, they're very serious. "Do you remember the theme of this shoot?" I do not. "It's a jungle Jane theme. You're going to have a violet snake, your hair is going to be wild. You're going to look like you spent the afternoon swinging from branches—I'm willing to bet there will be leaves and twigs in there. Is that what you want?"

Zade does not wait for my response. They turn to Lloyd. "Please get a hair stylist for tonight. I won't have her going to dinner with a prince without hair properly done. And let's start looking for someone to travel with us. Having to bring in these newbies is tiresome."

Lloyd looks over at me, a question in his eyes.Do I take orders from Zade?

"Fine," I say, knowing Zade is right. "But for the record, don't do everything they ask."

"Understood," Lloyd says, a smile tugging at his lips. His eyes flit to Zade before going back to the tablet in his lap.

ChapterTwelve

I'm alonein an elevator with Ash. We are in our customary position, him in front of me and slightly to the right. I can see the door, while he shields me from anything that might come through it.

My hair, still sticky from the product used in today's shoot, is stuffed under aViolet Glamourball cap. I'm back in my jeans and white shirt. And I'm exhausted.

The day went by in a blur. And now we are returning to my suite so that I can get ready for my date. Pain throbs from my feet and brews behind my eyes. I just want to crawl under the covers and watch TV, convince Zade to join me.

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