Page 30 of Royal Charmer
Her phone rings, and she flushes guiltily. I’ve told her numerous times just to block him. “I’d better check in case it’s my parents.” She pulls her phone from her small purse and smiles. “It’s my editor. She’s probably just checking in about the three chapters I owe her. I’m almost there.” She punches the button, gives a cheery hello, and then gets quiet, listening.
I’m thinking of heading to my study to go over the numbers again when she grabs my arm in a tight grip, stilling me. Her voice is strained. “Yes, I understand. I will. Thank you, Quinn. I promise I’ll have it to you.” She pauses. “Okay, bye.”
“What’s wrong?”
She puts her phone away and blows out a breath. “My publisher in New York wants me to come in for a meeting. Quinn says they want to cancel the contract because of the delays. She’s asked me to send six chapters by tomorrow, and she’ll try to hold them off as long as she can. I’ve nearly got three, which I hoped to finish tomorrow.” She bites her lower lip. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I don’t know if I can make it to your dinner in Paris tomorrow night.”
I stare at her in alarm. “What do you mean? That was the whole point of this fake engagement. I already told Jules I was bringing you. Celeste can’t wait to meet you. She’s a fan of your work.”
She grimaces. “I’m going to lose my job if I don’t get something decent in my editor’s hands tomorrow. I need the time.”
My gut churns. I didn’t realize just how much I needed her at the dinner until this moment. Not just for being a famous author or improving my image, I needed her for being her, a source of support. “Just stay up late tonight and get it done.”
“I’ll try, but I know myself. Even on my best days, I can only write so fast.”
I clench my jaw. “We had a deal.” I hate that I need her.
“I’ll really try, I promise. Maybe I can meet you there. You can go early and send the jet back for me. You said it’s a short flight, right? And dinner isn’t until eight.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll meet you there at eight. Unless you get done before that.”
She nods once and races into her suite.
I turn and stride away, telling myself to calm the fuck down, but it’s impossible. This meeting is too important. I’ve built her into my plans, and she can’t screw them up.
Chapter Nine
Lucas
The jet begins its descent, and my stomach drops with it. Damn nerves again. I’m well prepared for my dinner meeting. If it goes well, I’ll likely be invited to a formal meeting at the bank next week. Only problem is, Alice isn’t with me.
I checked in with her at noon in her suite, and she was in a state, frazzled and apologetic, before dashing back to her laptop and calling over her shoulder, “I swear I’ll try to meet you!” She’s on chapter four and not happy with it yet. I understand her urgency—her job is on the line—but I can’t help but wish I never agreed to this fake engagement because now I’m entangled more than I want to be. I need her and, though I wish it was otherwise, Iwanther. More than is reasonable. It’s horrible. I’m never this twisted up over a woman. Women get twisted up over me.
By the time I make it to the restaurant shortly before eight, I’m wound tight. I text her one last time. She turned her phone off to work, and I’m hoping she’s finished her chapters, turned the phone back on, and on her way to me. No response. Dammit.
A few minutes later, a man in his thirties with dark brown hair parted to the side approaches me with a smile, greeting me in French, and then introducing himself and his wife, Celeste. I respond warmly in French.
They both exclaim over me. “I’d know you anywhere,” Jules says. “Except for the beard, you look just like Gabriel.”
I force a smile. “There’s a strong family resemblance with all of my brothers.”
“It’s uncanny,” Celeste murmurs. She looks around. “Is Alice here? I brought some books for her to sign.” She shows me a tote bag filled with at least a dozen paperbacks. “When I told my friends I was having dinner with her tonight, they asked me to have their books signed too. Do you think she’ll mind?”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to. She’s going to be a little late due to a work thing.”
Celeste smiles eagerly. “Is it her next story?”
“Yes.”
“Should we wait for her?” Jules asks.
“I’ll check in with her one more time.” I text in irritated jabs, asking once again if she’s on her way. No response. Did she forget to turn her phone back on, or is she still writing? She’s driving me crazy!
I let out a breath. “I think it’s going to be a while. Let’s go in.” I signal the maître d’,and a few moments later we’re escorted to a private room in the back of the restaurant, where a corner table is set for us. The other three tables in the space are empty. My two guards remain posted just outside the entrance of the room.
Dinner is a leisurely affair, the talk about everything but business; that will come at the end of the meal. I do my best to keep up my side of the conversation while still on alert, keeping an eye out for Alice.
Dinner’s over two hours later, the dishes are cleared, and still no Alice. I don’t even bother to text her, embarrassed that my fiancée has stood me up.
