Page 105 of Scandalous Park Avenue Prince

“—I must admit that the sex was so good I’m tempted to let him join me for an encore.”

Of all the times she could’ve walked up, the dining manager chose that one, and her wide eyes as she looked between the two of us would’ve been funny if it wasn’t so damn unprofessional.

“Uh, I’ll come back,” she said, rushing back off to the kitchen.

Benoit didn’t look the least bit self-conscious as I pinned him with a sharp look.

“You really couldn’t have called to ask me that?”

“No. You know as well as I do you wouldn’t answer in the midst of all…this.” He gestured at the chaos around us and wrinkled his nose. “So here I am.”

I rubbed my forehead and gestured toward the door, not wanting anyone else to be subjected to whatever came out of his mouth next. “Walk with me.”

Benoit didn’t have the best timing, but, needing to check on the lighting crew anyway, I could give him a couple of minutes on my way for this…“emergency.”

As I stepped out into the hall, I had to flatten myself against the wall to dodge a couple of volunteers carrying a ladder, and luckily Benoit caught himself just in time, or that precious coat would’ve been impaled.

Once they passed, I looked around, making sure the coast was clear.“All right,” I said. “What’s the problem?”

“Well, if I allow him to enjoy me tomorrow, I highly doubt he’d let me go for several days. I imagine at least through the weekend. And, as you know, that’s a problem because?—”

“You’re trying to get out of attending the Winter Ball.”

Benoit put a hand over his heart. “After all the work you’ve done? I’d be a horrible friend.”

“The worst,” I said, biting back a grin. I knew exactly what he was after, but I wanted to make him sweat a little.

“Right. I suppose I’ll just have to bring him along as a”—he waved his hand, like he couldn’t get the word out—“person who attends with another person.”

Leave it to Benoit to be unable to call a date exactly what it was.

“I appreciate that you want to attendsobadly, but I’m afraid I can’t let you bring a guest.”

“No?”

“You see, you didn’t mark your RSVP with a plus-one. We’ve already printed the place cards, submitted meal preferences, anddone security checks on the guestlist, and it can’t be changed this last minute. I guess you’ll have to sit this one out.”

“Butmon ami, I couldn’t possibly?—”

“Benny, you’re uninvited,” I said, giving him the out he needed. “It’s fine. Go enjoy all the sex.”

“But—”

“No buts. I’ll have enough to deal with that night to worry about your sneaking in a date or moping about the bed you could’ve been in. I mean it.”

The crease between Benoit’s brows smoothed out and he smiled. “Well, if you insist.”

“I do. Now you can go back to more important things, like prepping your ass for an epic weekend.”

I clapped him on the shoulder and started to walk away, but he caught me by the arm.

“Not so fast. You haven’t told me what you’ve decided aboutyourlittle dilemma yet. I’ll admit I’m a little hurt you haven’t asked formyadvice in return, but?—”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your pretty young thing, of course. The one you just spent a naughty weekend getaway with?—”

Nearby, a passing group of workers burst into laughter, and I jerked my head in their direction, thinking they’d been listening in. It didn’tseemlike they were paying us any attention, but that didn’t give me a sense of relief.

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