Page 18 of Risky Match
“Do you mean what I think you mean? Are you saying you two did the twisted-sheet tango?”
I laugh. “That’s a new one, but yes, we spent a long, incredibly enjoyable night together.”
“How did I not know? With you that’s frontpage news.”
“God, I hope not. That’s one reason I’ve been selective. But I know what you mean. You were on vacation at the time, so my parents sent two other guards. I gave them strict instructions not to mention my guest.”
“Are you hoping to rekindle the relationship?”
“It wasn’t a relationship. Neither of us wanted that. And even if I did want to hook up again, I can’t. He may be involved in my mission. I’ll know more when I’m fully briefed. Regardless, I can’t let emotions distract me.”
“Let’s hope he’s on the periphery of your mission. If that’s the case, there’s no reason not to have a little fun.” She waggles her eyebrows.
“Not this time. I’m worried it’s going to be awkward though.”
“Keep an open mind. If the chemistry is still there, who knows what will happen.”
“We’ll see.” I sigh.
5
BLAKE
Josh is doing double duty on the practice court today. He’s nagging me about minor flaws in my game while also serving as my practice partner. The drills he’s taking me through are particularly brutal—my punishment for insisting we play during the warmest hours of the afternoon. But that’s part of my new plan. If I practice in the harshest conditions, any other time of day will seem easy.
During a quick break, I grab a towel to mop off the copious sweat running down my face and neck. Pulling the cloth away from my eyes, I notice two women walking toward us from the far end of our court. The glare from the sun makes it hard to recognize them, so I don’t pay much attention. There must be a mistake, though, because we reserved this court for another hour.
I’m relieved when Josh jogs toward them. He’ll take care of the scheduling mix up before they reach me.
While he deals with the women, I hustle back onto the court to practice my serve.
I’ve only served half a dozen balls when Josh shouts, “Blake, come over here for a minute.”
“Can’t you handle the scheduling problem? I need to keep practicing.”
“It’s not about court reservations. We need to talk.”
“Give me a minute.”
I toss a ball into the air and swing with my full strength, lunging into the court. At impact I let out a loud “Grrr,” releasing my annoyance at the unwelcome interruption. My perfect serve skims across the net at over 135 mph, landing exactly where I aimed.
With that satisfying result, I take my time walking to the side of the court where Josh is.
“What’s the problem?” I ask Josh, ignoring the uninvited guests.
“There’s no problem. I want to introduce you to Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Catalinius.”
My jaw drops as I finally take a closer look at the women standing next to Josh, my focus landing on the one with the silky, mahogany hair tied back in a bouncy ponytail. Involuntarily, my scowl turns into a smile.
“Bri. What a surprise,” I say, ignoring all proper formalities.
I haven’t seen her up close for two years. I’d forgotten the mischievous light in her stunning emerald eyes and the way her smile exudes energy and a love for life.
It looks like she just finished a practice session, but she’s gorgeous even with a sweaty sheen coating her lightly tanned skin.
I can’t help noticing that her arm and leg muscles are more defined than they were the last time I saw her. That would have required a significant amount of time in the gym. She may be a princess, but her work ethic must be stellar, which is a hot surprise. I’d love a chance to have those long legs wrap around me again while I pull her tempting ponytail.
Bri interrupts my fantasy, saying, “It’s good to see you, Blake.”
