Page 56 of Royally Tempted

She turned to walk away again, but I caught her arm. I don’t know why, or what the fuck I was thinking. This was pushing it, and I knew it. I knew pushing heragainto stay could’ve backfired so hard, but I wasn’t about to let her walk away. Not then, not ever.

“You’re worried about scandal? Fine, let's go somewhere else for a drink.”

I watched the heat creep through her face and neck, down to the top swell of her breast in the neckline of that dress.

“Excuse me?” she almost whispered it, like this reallywasscandalizing.

Cade glared dangers at me, but I couldn’t shut my mouth.

“Look, you’re not ‘that girl’ and we’re not ‘those guys’. Seems none of us are the type to actually go to balls like this, and since we’re causing some a scandal just having a casual drink over here, I suggest we ditch the limelight and go have a drink somewhere where wewon’tcreate scandal.”

“Are you seriously asking me to ditch my own suitors ball?”

“Do you seriously want tostay?”

Her lips snapped shut, her eyes darting between us.

“Fine.”

Wait, what? My jaw almost dropped at her words before I forced myself to keep cool.

“Fine. You’re right,” she sighed. “I’m very much over this ball. The pretense is stupid anyways, and I’m tired of the duchess of Lisandria glaring at me from across the room like I’m creating a scene.”

I followed her nod to a sour looking, prissy-faced girl who was, sure enough, shooting dagger looks at us from across the ballroom.

Shit, and I knew why. So did Cade, judging by the stifled snort next to me.

Ilana’s brow perked up. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly.

Cade just kept trying to hide the laugh.

“Okay, please tell, I can’t stand that girl. She’s the most obnoxious gossip I know, and she once started a rumor in high school that I was sleeping with the headmaster.Notfreaking true, by the way.”

Cade glanced at me before grinning. “Well she, uh, she tried to make a play for us at a gala a few months back and we turned her down. She was very drunk, and sort of made a scene when we declined her invitation. I think that's why she’s glaring at you.”

Ilana frowned. “Wait, she made a play for you?”

I grinned. She didn’t get it.

“She made a play forus,” I said, stressing the word.

Ilana’s brows suddenly shot up. “Wait, tobothof you?” she said incredulously, her face going pink at what I hoped was her mind coming up with what that implied.

I nodded, and her eyes grew a little wider as she swallowed thickly.

“Well, now we’re certainly going off and getting that drink, if just to ruffleherfeathers.”

I grinned. “Done.”

“But just so we’re clear...” Her face turned red. “I amnotmaking a ‘play’ at either andcertainlynot both of you.”

“Of course not. You’re not that girl, as you’ve been saying.” I grinned.

She shivered, her lip catching between her teeth before she knocked back the rest of her drink.

“We should bring champagne.”

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