Page 4 of Rowdy Prince
“Mitch is going to love it,” she repeats. “Remember him? The guy who this party is for?”
“Of course.” I place my hand against my forehead. “I know this is for him. It’s the whole point of it. I’m just…”
“Really nervous about seeing Luis again?”
“Yes,” I say on an exhale. “I also think I have hives now.” I lift the bodice of my dress and try to get some air on my skin. “I also think I’m pretty close to hyperventilating.”
“Oh dear.” She rushes over to me and helps me sit down before she grabs a bottle of water and tells me to drink. “Luis might be a prince, but at the heart of it, he’s still just a man. He’s Mitch’s best friend. He’s that guy who teased you as a girl. Sure, he’s a prince too. But he was always a prince, Tara.”
“But he wasn’t to me,” I argue, struggling so hard with this information. It’s like I don’t even know him anymore and the Luis from my memory is all wrong. I don’t know how to deal with a prince at a party. Do I curtsey? Do I address him as Prince Luis, or Your Royal Highness?Crap. I’m screwed.
“Then pretend it isn’t true. Treat him the same way you always have. I’m sure he’d really appreciate that. Mitch says he prefers to be treated just like everyone else. I think that’s why he liked you guys so much.”
Pressing my lips together, I nod and concentrate on calming my breathing. “I’ll try,” I say just as the doorbell rings.
“Good,” she says, patting my leg. “Because you’re out of freak out time. Our guests are here, and Mitch is on his way back from the office as we speak.”
Luis
“Are we going in, sire?” Charles asks after I’ve pulled up outside Mitch’s house and just sat here still gripping the steering wheel.
“Soon.” I’m watching the front door open and close as guests stream inside. I’m catching glimpses of Tara in between them all. She seems happy, and she’s grown into the most beautiful woman. I always knew she would, but even at this distance, I can see she’s far exceeded my expectations. Her raven hair is long and flowing, her lips soft pillows in the center of a heart-shaped face. And her body…those curves are to die for—luscious, heavy breasts, hips for days. I have to mentally keep my dick in check so I don’t tent my pants while some other guy is sitting next to me. All I want to do is claim her. But I know I shouldn’t.Maybe coming here was a bad idea…
“As you wish,” Charles says, adjusting the tie he insisted on wearing to a house party. I’m dressed in black pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows and the top two buttons undone. Charles has the whole three-piece suit going on and he’s going to make us stick out like a sore thumb.
“Oh, for crying out loud,” I say, reaching across the console and taking a hold of his tie.
“What are you doing?” He fights me as I pull it loose and drag it over his head.
“You’re not wearing that in there,” I say, tossing it into the backseat of the rental.
“B-but.”
“That’s an order. You may be here to babysit me, Charles. But I’m still your boss.”
“Your mother is my boss, actually,” he mutters.
“And if you want to be pedantic, I can make sure I never become your boss.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Fire you when I become king?” I lift my brow and meet his eyes. “I don’t want to, Charlie, because I’ve kinda grown used to you. But if you mess this last slice of freedom up for me, I will. We’re going in there as two regular people. So no stuffy suits, and no calling me ‘sire’. Tonight, we’re bros.” I pat him on the chest in a friendly manner and he frowns.
“Bros, sire?”
I frown at him and he apologizes. “Yes. You know, like mates—comrades.”
“That’s highly irregular behavior for—”
“Just do it.Pretend.Please. These people aren’t going to hurt me in any way. Mitch is the only person who knows who I really am. His sister thinks I made the whole Prince of Reinqueno up and has never been convinced otherwise. I actually RSVP’d with a security request on the Palace letterhead, and she sent me back a child-like drawing and called me the ‘Prince of Bullshit’.” I chuckle at the memory; thankful I’d set up a separate email address that only I had access to. “So I don’t think you’ll be needed in your usual capacity. Try to have a good time—relax a little.”
“I’ll make an attempt, but I’m still here to do a job. Your safety is of the utmost importance.”
“Hmm.” I study him with his military posture and sharp assessing eyes and make an executive decision. “On second thoughts, you can wait in the car. Secure the place from here.”
“Sire, I’m to keep you in sight at all times.”
I place my hand on the door handle. “I’ll be sure to stand by the window so you can see me.” Getting out of the car, I hit the button on the remote twice so it deadlocks the car. Even from the inside, he can’t open it.
