Page 46 of The Prince's Game
“The fact that you even have to ask that tells me all I need to know about you and this damn show.” Evan muttered an epithet under his breath and stood up. He extended a hand to help me up and fixed my dress before tending to his button-down shirt. “I’m sorry,” he said to me.
“Don’t apologize for him.” He wasn’t worth the time or wasted effort.
“That’s not why I’m apologizing.” He kissed my temple. “I meant—”
“Hey.” Paul snapped his fingers to get our attention. “Love the flirting, but we need to go if we’re going to keep on schedule, and that requires getting to the new hotel by midnight.” Paul made a shooing motion before shouting commands for his minions to hustle.
I frowned after the spiky-haired idiot. “New hotel?”
“Uh, yeah.” Evan cleared his throat, his expression uneasy. “We’re spending the next two weeks in Jamaica. Surprise?”
23
Ungentlemanly Conduct
My new room had a private balcony with a view of the ocean. The moonlight dancing over the waves made for a romantic sight that paled in comparison to the look Evan gave me in the lobby. It was filled with promise and made me wet with anticipation.
I didn’t bother changing. The cocktail dress was sexy and perfect for the humid air outside. I kicked my legs up in the oversized lounge chair and waited. The privacy walls and lack of light gave the nook a secure feel, while the sweet sound of rolling water set the mood. It was the perfect place to seduce a prince.
I left the screen open behind me to make it easy for him to find me. He had a habit of knocking once before using a skeleton key at the last hotel, and I expected a similar entrance. He didn’t disappoint. I heard the light rap followed by the snick of the latch. He joined me on the balcony a minute later in jeans and a white T-shirt. In his hands was a bottle of wine.
“I may have stolen this from the kitchen,” he greeted.
“Is it stealing when you own the property?” We were staying at another Mershano Suites property. This one had a resort feel that catered to the Caribbean vibe. I approved.
“Probably not.” He set the bottle on the table beside me. “Also, I brought you a new phone with international calling. It’s on the coffee table in a box.”
Smart, wonderful man. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I checked out his ass as he walked into the room to snag two glasses. They were tumblers because the room wasn’t equipped with a kitchen. The king bed and oversized marble bathroom were nice. I hoped to use both tonight, with Evan.
He poured two healthy glasses and took over the other lounge chair. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.” I clinked my drink against his and took a sip. It was a dry white with citrusy notes. “Not bad.”
He grunted his agreement and ran his fingers through his brown locks. “Sorry I took so long. I almost ran into Paul and Amber in the stairwell on my way back up. I had to wait for them to go back to her room.”
I choked on my wine. “What?”Paul and Amber?Gross.
Evan rested his head against the back of the chair and blew out a breath. “They could be fucking, or more likely, Paul is on my mother’s payroll. That would explain why he’s pushing all these damn scenes with Amber. He’ll probably receive some monetary gift at the end if the show pans out as expected.”
“How are you not pissed?” He sounded so nonchalant about the whole thing. If it were me, heads would roll.
“My parents are always meddling in my affairs. Rather than fight them on it, I’ve learned to beat them at their own game.”
“Hence your deal with me.”
“Sure. Of course, our arrangement has certain benefits.” His lips twitched. “Such as your lovely company and the low neckline of your dress.”
“Flatterer.” It came out thicker than I wanted, a side effect of his eyes dropping to my breasts.
He sipped his wine with a casual ease I didn’t feel, and sighed. “In all seriousness, this is a round they won’t win, so I’m not worried.”
“What if they come up with another plan after I reject your proposal?”
“Oh, I’m sure they will, but the amendment to my birthright, which they signed, makes whatever scheme they come up with null and void.” His smile was all triumph. “Garrett’s good at what he does.”
