Page 6 of Royal Hottie
Maya gasps.
Red creeps up Phillip’s neck. “Yes. I mean no. Good day.” He turns to go.
I stifle a laugh. “We could use a hand getting a fireplace mantel down from the attic.”
He stills and turns back to me, which I give him a lot of credit for, considering his neck is still red.
I incline my head toward the attic. “It’s leaning against the wall when you first go up. I left a pink Post-it on it. The mantel is white, shaped like a crown at the top with the royal crest. Could you have someone bring it to the fantasy suite?”
And then he surprises me by striding straight to the attic door and heading upstairs to get it himself. What a prince! Ha-ha.
Then I realize he’s going to ruin his expensive white dress shirt with the dusty mantel. I set the clock and phone on the floor and holler through the open attic door. “Phillip, wait! You’re going to ruin your white shirt. It looks custom-made. You should change or get someone else to help with the mantel.”
“No problem,” he says, rapidly unbuttoning the shirt. “Wait right there.”
I suck in air. I expected him to change not strip. But do I call a halt to the increasingly spectacular reveal? Uh, no. He must have a personal trainer. It’s tanned chiseled muscle as far as my ogling eyes can see, from defined pecs to what I swear is an eight-pack with a deep V at the waist. My mouth goes dry as he descends the stairs, his blue-green eyes locked on mine. By the time he’s standing two steps above me, my body hums with lust, my pulse thrumming through my veins, and I’m flushed hot from head to toe. He smells intoxicating, like fresh soap, hints of ocean, and sexy man. No,arrogantman.Stay strong.
He quickly undoes the cuffs, pulls the shirt off, and places it in my hand. “Thank you for your concern, Ruby.”
“Yes,” I croak. “You’re welcome. Any time.”
He arches a brow, a sexy smirk on his lips. The bottom lip is fuller than the top, and I’m fixated on it.
He turns and goes upstairs and, oh my God, the back view is incredible—powerful rounded shoulders, muscular back, tight ass. I tell myself there’s no harm in looking, even at a rude arrogant playboy prince, as long as he doesn’t know I’m looking.
He glances over his shoulder at me. Busted!
My cheeks flame, and I rush out the attic door, his shirt clutched in my hand.
“Ma’am?” Maya asks with some alarm. “Is that His Highness’s shirt?”
I clear my throat. My cheeks are still hot. Embarrassment? Lust? Maybe both. “Yes.”
“Perhaps we should call for another shirt for him?”
I glance down at the dusty clock and phone I need to carry and his white shirt, which I’m trying to keep safe. “He knows where to find us. I’ll…” What will I do? We’re both too dirty to carry the shirt or wear it. I look around the hallway and spot a bronze bust at the end perched on a marble pedestal. “I’ll just set this over on that bust for him and we’ll be back in business.”
“But, ma’am, that’s the bust of a former king. One of his revered ancestors.”
“Then it will suit him.”
I walk briskly down the hall and set the shirt over the bust, which, by the way, is completely dust-free. Problem solved.
Chapter Three
Phillip
This mantel has seen better days, which is why it was in the attic in the first place. I admit I normally wouldn’t act as moving man, but I was thrown off by Ruby, who was unrecognizable from before. Her hair was tied back and covered by a dusty Rays cap, smudges of dirt on her tortoiseshell glasses hid the bright green of her eyes, and her body was swallowed up by a baggy gray tracksuit. She surprised me looking like that, and then reminding me of our earlier encounter. I admit I took my shirt off just to give her something else to remember me by.
I know, I know, that was bad form after Anna declared Ruby off-limits, but it’s not like I’m going to do anything. It shouldn’t be too difficult to keep my distance. Ruby’s only here for a week, and I’m leaving very soon. First for a tour with Global Sun Water, a nonprofit I’ve been involved with for years, and then my travels continue as the new UN Ambassador for Clean Water. I volunteered for the UN position, citing my work with Global Sun Water bringing solar water-pump technology to impoverished communities. Despite my sometimes salacious press, the UN accepted me. The truth is, good or bad, everything I do gets attention in the press, which will subtly put pressure on foreign governments to make clean water a priority. I’ve committed to the UN position for a year, but they hope I will continue for longer.
Guess what, ladies, I’m not just a pretty face. I want to help with clean water efforts, and I also want to improve my public image for the sake of my family. I’ve sworn to my grieving mother to keep the scandal to a minimum and stop tarnishing the family name during this critical transitional time for Villroy’s monarchy after my father’s passing. My mother is in such a deep state of grief she’s shut herself off from palace life, only coming out when she absolutely has to. But she keeps tabs on things. I’m not saying I’m taking a vow of chastity, just that I’ll be more discreet.
As I approach the master suite, I can hear Ruby and Maya’s conversation floating out to the hall. “Prince Phillip is usually very nice,” Maya says.
Why, thank you, Maya.She’s only three years younger than me. We practically grew up together since her mother worked at the palace too.
“Nicelookingmaybe,” Ruby replies.Maybe?“I’m telling you he was incredibly rude to me before.”
