Page 11 of Powerful Prince
Damn, he’d be hard to resist if he ever made a move.
Luckily, I assumed, that wasn’t why we were having dinner. He probably needed cover after marrying someone inappropriate, and I was clearly labeled online as a good girl who kept her legs closed.
I was nothing to him, but my heart thundered anyway.
He held my chair for me at the table and waited till I was seated. His nearness made my body pop with awareness.
The waiter took our wine and food orders, and once he’d left, Prince Ryder asked me, “So, do you ever live a day without posting online in some way?”
I shook my head. “No.”
The waiter returned quickly with the first of four courses. He set myL’Avocat—cannelloni of avocado and Scottish salmon with delicate cream—in front of me as I said, “Not in a long time.”
Once we had our glasses and a bottle of wine, the waiter left again. I quickly ate the bite-sized offering. Ryder folded his hands on the table and his gaze was clear when he said, “That might explain why you’re still a virgin.”
Wow. I almost choked on my soft food. My face heated and I massaged my neck, avoiding those piercing blue eyes of his, as I asked, “Huh?”
He shrugged and picked up his wine. “Not every man wants his life chronicled.”
My eyes widened and I was a little breathless. Once I could speak again, I said, “I’d not—”
“You posted our picture,” he interrupted, and leaned closer.
The waiter returned and took our first plates and brought the second dish,L’Œuf de Poule,semi soft-boiled egg on a spinach puree withComtécheese sauce.
I blinked and waited for the waiter to leave again. I hadn’t expected that accusation. My skin was electrified that he’d made us personal for even a second. I’d been about to say that if a future boyfriend wanted anonymity, then I’d respect that. I sipped my wine, not that it helped me calm down.
Finally, we were alone again, and I put the glass down and waved my hand between us. “I did, but let’s be honest. You and I are not meant to be, and you knew what I would do with the picture when I took it. We’re not romantic and never will be.”
His lips quirked up. “Even after that kiss?”
My heart thundered and I sipped my wine. We both ate our small second course quickly. If I encouraged him, I was approving of more flirting. Guess that might be fun. I let out a soft sigh and reached out to brush his arm. “Which blew my mind, but I didn’t share that in my post.”
He took my hand and his lips now curved higher. “Well, that’s good to hear.”
Fireworks was too tame a word for the feelings inside me. I nodded and said, “I believe in telling the truth.”
He tilted his head, but the waiter came to clear our plates. Once he had left, Ryder’s fingers held mine and he said, “Not everyone can.”
Time to own up to my mistakes. This was another one of my life rules. Normally, my skin didn’t ache in awareness like it did now, but I said firmly, “Wecan. We’re not here to be romantic. You want to be seen with a good girl tonight, and I need more followers. So tonight’s dinner is for appearances only, for both of us.”
He squeezed my palm and lowered his voice. “I’m here to talk about that, in a way. You are quite stunning, Nicole.”
Once again, we were interrupted with the delivery of the third of our four servings. This time, my small plate wasL’Oursin, which was a delicate flan of sea urchin on potato puree, topped with Arabica coffee foam. Definitely not something I’d have at home. The waiter left and I said, “Thank you for saying that, at least. You’re kind.”
He sipped his wine and stared at my chest. My nipples grew perky, though my bra covered that. Then he put his glass down and said, “I’m not kind. I am getting the impression that we don’t understand each other.”
“Fair enough.”
The waiters came for the last time to take our plates and bring the fourth dish—Le Saint-Pierre,a fish fillet with tempura of shiso leaf on a delicate squid ink risotto—which, again, wasn’t something I’d usually order, but it sounded interesting. My skin was jumpy, but once we were alone, I picked up my silverware and said, “I’m nervous near you, when I’m usually in complete control of my feelings.”
“That sounds boring,” he said.
We both ate our last servings. Once I’d finished, I sat back and gazed at his huge muscles, perfectly tanned skin, and the long lashes that enhanced his gorgeous clear eyes.
Yes, there was a reason women fell for him. He was handsome in that “bad boy that dares you to sin” kind of way. And, of course, he was a prince. I finished my wine and he refilled my glass. The air around him was filled with his woodsy scent. My mouth watered, and not for more wine, but I took the offering.
“I couldn’t live your life,” I said. “How long ago did you get divorced from your Darla La Sexxe?”
