Page 28 of The Wanted Prince

“Pleased to meet you,” she said. “Your boat is a beauty.”

Francisco perked up at that. He beamed. “Isn’t she? Technically, she’s my company’s, but tomayto, tomato. She’s mine today. Want to come up?”

“I don’t think—” I tried.

“We’d love to,” said Laura. And just like that, we were trooping on board, my guts knotted up as tight as a fist. I’d hoped to get through this without Laura hearing, without her finding out what kind of man I’d been. Maybe I still could, if I didn’t dwell on the past. If I stuck to the issue I’d come to address.

“Hey, are you all right?” Francisco had dropped back beside me. “I saw in the headlines, they’re saying you’re missing.”

“I’m not missing,” I said. “As you can see, I’m right here.”

“Which you’ll admit is strange. I haven’t seen you in years. Not since?—”

I cut him off before he could say it. “Was this you? Are you framing me?”

Francisco stopped so abruptly he nearly tripped. Laura had been peering out past the docks, but now she turned to watch us, leaning back on the rail.

“Framing you?” His gaze flicked between me and Laura. “What is this? Did you two elope or something? Because if you did, I had no idea. And it’s not framing if you really are?—”

“No.” I advanced on him, trying to look menacing. The man who’d accosted us stepped in between us.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to step back.”

Francisco laughed. “He’s not dangerous. Marco, you can go.”

Marco shot me a baleful look, but he stepped aside. I noticed he didn’t go far, just fell back a bit.

“Who’s that, your bodyguard?”

“No, my assistant.” Francisco took my arm and led me away. “Now, what is this nonsense? Are you in trouble?”

I fixed him with a probing look, trying to figure out his intent. Was that glint in his eyes from the sun, or amusement? Was he relishing my downfall, or was he just worried? I’d known him well once, but he was older now, different. Harder-edged, rugged, with a scruffy gold beard. I squared my shoulders.

“Where were you three nights ago?”

Francisco burst out laughing. “Are you for real?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“You look like a celebrity dodging a scandal.” He snatched my cap off my head and laughed when I cringed. “Come on, relax. No one can see you. Unless they’ve got drones, I guess.” He looked up. “Clear skies.”

I ground my teeth. “Just tell me, where were you?”

He pulled out his phone and tapped twice on the screen. “Calendar says I had a meeting till seven, then dinner at nine with the Genoveses.”

“That doesn’t mean you couldn’t have planned it.”

“Planned what?” A note of irritation crept into his voice. “Look, it’s good to see you, and I’d like to help, but not if you’re going to accuse me of something. Whatever this is?—”

“Now I know you’re lying!”

“And calling me a liar!” His face went red. “I don’t see you for years, and you storm my boat. You crash my Sunday, you ruin my lunch, and all to accuse me of?—”

“It’s good to see me?”

He broke off mid-rant, and now he looked puzzled. “What’s wrong with that? We’re friends, aren’t we? At least, I thought we were, unless something’s changed.”

I stared, at a loss. Unless something’s changed? Hadn’t everything changed, that night with Elena?

---