Page 90 of My Five Daddies

“I knew you’d make that joke.” She smiles despite herself,though.

“Come in,” Isay.

“What can I do for you, Prince Nolan?” she asks as she steps inside. I close the door behind her before walking back into the kitchen. I grab my drink and turn to faceher.

As I stand there and look at her, I have an idea. She smiles at me, uncertain and a little shy. I like how reserved she is, and although she’s not Polovian, she still has something special about her. And I know exactly what she can do forme.

6

Hazel

Idon’t knowwhat the prince wants from me, but I know I can’t refuse to see him. The steward stands in front of me, looking dour and annoyed like they always do, and I take a deepbreath.

“Okay, lead the way,” I say inGerman.

He nods curtly and I follow him back toward the prince’s quarters. The stewards are basically like butlers, and every important person in the castle gets assigned one to look after him or her. I’ve never seen this steward before, but they’re always the same: prim and serious. They never step out of line, probably because they’re the ones that always have to directly deal with the nobles. The stewards typically keep to themselves, which I always foundodd.

I follow the steward back to the prince’s room. I stop and knock on his door, and of course he makes some comment about that before he lets me in. I stand there and watch the prince as he walks into his kitchen and sips on a glass ofwhisky.

He’s looking at me like he’s appraising a fine cut of meat or something like that. I feel totally exposed and at his mercy, but if he thinks he can just do whatever he wants with me, he has another thingcoming.

I won’t let some foreign prince push me around. I’m an American, damn it. I’m from the best country on earth and I was born free. I’m not going to be taken by some noble ass just because he wantsme.

I don’t care if he’s incredibly handsome. And he smells good. And he has a very large royal package. And he’s funny, even a little charming. I don’t care if I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s not going to get whatever he wants just because he wantsit.

“I know what you can do for me,” he saysfinally.

I let out a breath. “Yes? Do you need me to clean yoursheets?”

He smirks but doesn’t take the bait. “I have a very particular problem, Hazel,” he says as he reaches down beneath the counter. He brings a bottle of whisky up. “Drink?”

I hesitate. “No, thanks,” Isay.

He smiles and pours a second glass before topping himself off. “In case you change your mind.” He pushes it over tome.

Reluctantly, I walk into the room and pick up the glass. I sip the whisky, just to be polite. He’s still a prince, after all, and I should be nice to him. He’s my boss and I really do need thisjob.

The whisky is pretty good, and he smiles as I take anothersip.

“You heard the news?” he asksme.

I shake my head. “Hard for me to follow news here,” Iadmit.

“Ah yes, the languagebarrier.”

“Right,” I say. “They speak toofast.”

He laughs. “That’s a new criticism. But since you don’t know, I’ll catch you up. It seems as though my father is going to pass me up for the position of crownprince.”

I blink at him. “What’s that mean?” Iask.

He laughs, grinning huge. “I like that you’re not from here,” he says. “It means that I won’t be king, and one of my asshole cousins willbe.”

“Oh no,” I say, understanding. “That’s really awful. I’m sorry to hearit.”

“Yes, I’m sure.” He grins at me. “I have a very poor reputation in thiscountry.”

“I heard,” I admit, and regret itimmediately.

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