Page 29 of Royal Flush

Right now, I didn’t want to spend another day arguing with them, both my parents berating me for skipping out as soon as they’d arrived in the country.

Sans Dugger.

Of course, the only person who knew where I’d gone was my American bestie, my roommate in college. Ashton Parker came from American royalty, or so her parents liked to believe, a girl just as spunky as I was.

We were yin and yang but caused a little too much trouble when glued together.

However, it was past time to grow up and start a life.

I’d already arranged to meet her at a little lunch spot far removed from anywhere my father thought I would go. The reporters had been all over my parents’ arrival but given my absence, I’d avoided most of the photographs.

Not that a smart reporter couldn’t search the internet and find out exactly what I looked like, but he or she would need to be tenacious and believe there was a story behind the scenes. Since the graduation stint at twenty-two when Ashton and I had narrowly avoided getting arrested for prostitution of all stupid things, I’d laid low.

Very low.

Until a week before, when I’d made an impetuous decision to head to a mysterious Caribbean island. Which at this moment shocked even me. I was certainly impetuous but what in God’s name had prompted me to spend thousands of dollars simply to head to a private island? Had I really wanted to make a point with my father, showing him my personal life didn’t belong to him? The only reason I’d agreed to move temporarily to Washington, DC was to return to the country I adored so I could establish the rest of my life.

The trip to the island now seemed ridiculous.

At least I’d met the most gorgeous man alive.

Then I’d fled like a scaredy cat. Boy, I was truly batting a thousand at this point, acting more like a teenager than a grown woman. No, back to real life.

Whatever the hell that meant.

Sighing, I remembered that I had committed to handling an event on my own, a charity casino night for a pet rescue organization. Now that was something I could get behind. I adored animals. I’d always wanted to open a sanctuary for unwanted fur babies of all types.

As my father said, it was a huge pipe dream.

As I slipped into my Mercedes convertible, a bribe from my parents to continue my royal duties since I had to be seen in a fabulous, expensive car, I fanned my face. The dreams I’d had about the man could burn down an entire ten-story building.

I was careful when pulling out, checking my rearview mirror a half dozen times until I was certain the coast was clear. There was no way either Dugger or my parents would have a clue as to where I’d gone. How ridiculous that at my age, I needed a bodyguard.

Yep, my father was a hated man back in Australia, but this should be a clean slate for him, no matter the nefarious men he’d been reported to have ties to.

I sped along the interstate, hating the traffic already but I had no intention of big city living. I wanted to go to a beach community, maybe open an art gallery. I couldn’t paint or draw but I could create a profitable business in a heartbeat.

Maybe I’d add music and other forms of art. Yeah. That sounded amazing.

I had a trust fund. I could afford a building of my own.

Maybe.

If dear Daddy hadn’t locked down the funds, holding them over my head.

Laughing, I noticed a cop behind me and slowed down. I also had a lead foot, the number of tickets I’d received in Sydney ridiculous. The last thing I needed was to obtain a ticket here. My father would kill me if I used the old line of diplomatic immunity. He couldn’t afford a single additional scandal, or his world would be tossed upside down.

So, I’d resigned myself to be a very good girl.

For now.

Maybe.

My favorite word. I wasn’t making any promises at this point. Obviously, I sucked at keeping them.

Even with the horrific traffic, I was thankful it was the middle of the day, able to get to the adorable diner only fifteen minutes later.

This was Ashton’s favorite place, the kind of a dive where you could get the best Bloody Marys and bottles of wine for the cheapest in the business. Even as I parked, I studied the rearview mirror, shrinking down when I noticed a dark sedan rolling past the parking lot. I glanced into the side mirror, finally taking a deep breath.

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