Page 68 of The Prince's Game
“Change that to disrobing when you get on the jet, and I’ll consider our deal set.”
I smiled even though it hurt. “Yes, sir.” It would be a fitting end to our whirlwind romance, and I would treasure every second.
33
Contractual Obligations
Hawaii was a weather shock. We went from icy temperatures to intense humidity, making my black gown stick to my legs. My hair was flat, but that didn’t stop the hairstylist from trying to fix it.
“I’m melting,” I told Brenda as she touched up my makeup. It wasn’t even that hot, but the difference between Maui and Reykjavík left my body confused. It didn’t help that I was nervous. Evan was waiting for me on the beach.
Our final hours on the plane were spent with me in his arms, lying in the bed. We stopped twice along the way to refuel, the first in New York City and the second in Los Angeles. It made for a long ride that we took full advantage of by making love and talking about everything under the sun except the future. I stayed true to my word and remained naked the entire flight. Evan did as well, donning a robe whenever the pilots needed a word with him.
I wiped my clammy palms against my skirt and closed my eyes. It would all end today with one word.No. It would kill a part of me to say it, but it’s what Evan wanted, and his happiness mattered more to me than my own. He would never forgive me if I accepted his proposal. I couldn’t live with his hatred, not after everything we went through together. I had to say no, for him. It would be my final gift.
“You look fabulous, if a little hot.” Brenda winked as she finished playing with my mascara. “Now go land yourself a billionaire.”
If only it were that easy. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”
I faked a smile and walked over to where Paul was standing. He had just finished filming Evan’s scene with Amber, and from the somber look in his eyes, it hadn’t gone the way he wanted. I wondered how the southern belle reacted to the prince’s rejection. Assuming that was how it all went. It was possible Evan proposed to her after all, and that all this was for naught. That would almost make it easier on me. I would prefer he reject me than the other way around, but that wasn’t the deal.
“You look great, Sarah.” Paul’s tone lacked the joviality from our first day of shooting. He gave up while we were in Iceland and stopped giving us scripts. Whether it was because he knew it was a lost cause or because we didn’t need them, I wasn’t sure. “Ready?”
To have my heart broken on national television?“Sure.” That was every girl’s dream, right?
He guided me over to the path that led to the beach. “Walk slow and try to smile.”
Smile. Right.I flashed him a cheeky grin and started down the stairs with the cameraman. It was close to midnight, but the path was illuminated by all the production lights. I followed the cobblestone walkway down to the sand. Evan was standing about a hundred yards away, clad in a black suit and staring out into the waves with his hands tucked into his pockets. Between my formal black gown and his tux, we looked ready for a night at the symphony.
He turned with a smile as I approached, my presence obvious thanks to my well-lit entourage. His white shirt was open at the collar instead of adorned with a tie. I couldn’t blame him with this hot weather.
In lieu of a hello, I ran my fingers through his dark, windswept hair and pulled him down for a kiss. If this would be the last time our lips met, I wanted to make it memorable. My heart ached as he pulled away. Saying good-bye was going to be the hardest thing I’d ever have to do.
His grin didn’t reach his eyes. “Hi, Sarah.”
“Hi.” I tried to smile but failed. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. What was I thinking agreeing to this deal? My dream was to own my own marketing firm, but meeting him changed everything. Being my own boss was still the goal, but being with him was my new fantasy. I wanted him to propose and beg me to say yes. No, that wasn’t quite right. Marrying him would be amazing, but that wasn’t what I wanted most. I craved a future with him. It didn’t have to involve wedding bands or children. I desired a partnership, one on the physical and emotional planes that tied us together deeper than marriage ever could. And it was the one thing he would never give me.
He took a deep breath, his grin faltering. “Sorry, I had no idea how hard this would be.”
“Me neither.”
He took my hands in his, holding me close, but not close enough. “Sarah, I’ve enjoyed every minute with you. Your view on life is refreshing, your laugh always makes me smile, and your candor is a rare gift in this world that I cherish more than you’ll ever know.”
My cheeks heated at his thoughtful words. No one had ever praised me for being honest, but he reveled in it. I opened my mouth to thank him and return the favor, but he continued before I had the chance.
“You’re also one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever met, with eyes I swear see right through me, and I love how dedicated you are to your work. Our time in Iceland showed me the true potential of our partnership and made me really excited for the future to come. Which is why . . .” He was so focused on his words that he didn’t notice my brittle arms as he started to kneel. The warmth his earlier words created was replaced with a cold chill that went straight to my heart.
Dedicated to your work . . . Partnership . . . Future to come . . .All subtle reminders of the contract I signed, as if he thought I might forget. After everything we went through, he didn’t trust me to hold up my end of the bargain? Or did he worry I would get so swept up in the moment that I would accidentally say yes?
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Sarah. I’m hoping we can negotiate a new contract”—this time his grin reached his eyes, while tears pricked mine, and not the good kind—“where you become my wife. I want to be with you, always, and I’m not just saying that. You know I mean what I say, and I mean this.”
Ice coated my veins. How could he be so cruel as to use our catchphrase, now of all times? Was he making a mockery of everything we shared? I couldn’t listen to this anymore. If he wanted to remind me of ourcontract, he did a fine job. Not that I forgot. I knew what he expected. He didn’t need to break my heart in the process, but of course he didn’t realize that’s what he was doing. He had no idea I had fallen in love with him.
It was such a stupid thing to do, and I promised myself I wouldn’t, but the heart was a fickle beast. I had to tell him. Not here, not now, not with the cameras rolling, but in private. I couldn’t leave tonight without him knowing. If I didn’t tell him, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Screw awkwardness. We’d get over it, but I would never get over withholding something so big from him.
“I’m sorry, Evan. I can’t.” He was in the middle of saying something I hadn’t heard, too lost in my own thoughts to listen to another word. I couldn’t take it. I had to go. I would find him later to explain, tell him the truth, and bear the consequences. It might end our partnership or make working together difficult, but nothing could be worse than continuing this charade without telling him how I felt. My heart was done handling the pressure. It was time to come clean.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, letting go of his hands. The hurt radiating from his brown eyes was not what I expected. Was it an act for the cameras? He couldn’t react joyously, or they would suspect something wasn’t right. I hated that it was an act. I despised this situation, the deal we made, this entire damn show, everything. I hated it all. I had to get out of here.
