Page 46 of Royal Hottie
Ruby looks up at me adoringly. I don’t need the words when it’s written all over her beautiful face. She loves me.
“Thank you,” she says, taking the offered seat. “Prince training school must include primo lessons on manners.”
I laugh and take the seat next to her. “And so much more.”
She leans close and kisses me. “Don’t I know it.”
“Omigod!” a woman screeches. “You two are together? That must’ve been some date!”
It’s the black-haired woman who bid outrageously on me. “Yes, we’re together,” I tell her. “I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.”
“Mindy.”
“Thank you for your bid, Mindy. All of this was for a great cause. I know Anna is pleased.”
She nods and turns to Ruby. “Did he really take you to Paris?”
Ruby smiles tightly. “Yes. Dinner in Paris. And Phillip played tour guide.”
“Wow. The other princes stayed local. Picnic on the beach, private dinner in the royal dining room, that kind of thing. You got lucky.”
“Yes. Well.” Ruby flushes bright pink and looks to me likehelp me out here.
I smile at Mindy. “Ruby was here early to lend a hand with the guest suite. We’ve gotten to know each other well on her extended visit. That’s why our date was a little more elaborate than the other auction dates.”
Mindy nods. “Ruby, I’m so looking forward to your consultation. I just bought a house and it’s practically a blank slate. I can’t wait to have you work your magic on it.”
“Absolutely!” Ruby says. “I’m looking forward to it too. I’ll be back in Tampa in early November. About five weeks from now. Is that okay?”
Mindy frowns. “Bummer. I was really hoping to have some furniture before Thanksgiving. I’m hosting this year.”
“I could help you by email, or, if you let me know what you like, maybe we could look over a few ideas before you leave.”
“Not much time. I leave tomorrow.”
“Sorry,” Ruby says. “Please keep me in mind for when I return. I’m really looking forward to working with you.” There’s a hint of desperation in her voice.
“Sure,” Mindy says with a tight smile.
Ruby immediately stands and visits with the other women, probably trying to lock down her new clients. She’s smiling brightly, but I can tell she’s tense. She’s afraid to lose them. If she’s with me, she won’t need to work. I keep that to myself. She wants to prove herself, but there are other more important ways she can do that.
When she returns to her seat, I whisper to her, “Try not to come off as desperate. Better to look confident like you’re already a success.”
She bares her teeth at me and whispers, “I am desperate. I need the work.”
A servant opens the dining room door and announces, “Their Majesties, King Gabriel and Queen Anna.”
We all stand. I bow my head to them both and signal to Anna’s friends, not used to royal protocol, to follow suit. Ruby bows her head and curtsies and the women catch on. Gabriel dressed for dinner in a light gray suit. Anna is in a sleeveless black dress that clings to her curvy body. Now that she’s queen, she’s declared exposed shoulders are fine for royal women, though she’s bowed to the protocol to keep her cleavage covered after the gossips had a field day with a series of pictures of her in her revealing wardrobe. She agreed that wasn’t the focus she wanted on Villroy’s monarchy, even though she thought they were all repressed asses. She’s first and foremost concerned with Villroy’s future.
Gabriel walks at her side, his hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward their seats. As king and with royal bloodlines, his place is at the head of the table, hers adjacent to him.
He waits for her to take her seat before taking his. “Please have a seat,” Gabriel says with a warm smile to the rest of us. “So nice to see you all.”
Wow. Gabriel was never much of a smiler before Anna. It’s great to see.
Anna beams. “Thank you all so much for coming all this way to help me and Gabriel with our passion project. It’s because of you that we’re able to move forward with the next phase, the day spa and natural beauty product line. And you’re all invited back when it’s complete for free spa treatments! I want you to be my very first guests!”
The women cheer and talk all at once.
