Page 14 of Lily and the Billionaire Prince

“I never want to come across as easy to please.”

“How can I order dinner for you if I don’t know what you like?”

Touché. Their elevator pinged, but Lily didn’t move as the doors gaped open to reveal the lobby’s brilliant, tropical Christmas tree and its towering fountain.

“We aren’t using the lobby?” His confusion was evident.

“Someone else must have pushed the button for it to open here. We’re headed down one more floor. Didn’t you also request that I ‘sneak you’ out? We’re taking the hotel’s back entrance, though I will tell you that also means the resort owner’s daughter would like to meet you. Don’t worry, she won’t give away your location or your identity.”

Once the elevator opened again, Lily walked with purpose down the much more industrial-style hallway on this basement level. Henrik thrived on her energy. “Whyever does she want to meet me?”

“To formally welcome you because her father regrets he hasn’t been able to. Here she is.” Lily guided him to the hotel’s exit where a beautiful woman with olive skin, dark hair, and wearing well-fitted jeans and a sequined shirt with a long necklace smiled and offered her hand.

“Prince Henrik,” Lily began, stopping as they approached the dark-haired woman. “Meet Aaliyah, daughter of Ahmed Elir who owns the hotel you’re in.”

“Your Highness, welcome to the Elir,” Aaliyah said. “Lily is my father’s assistant and she told us of your wishes to remain as anonymous as possible during your stay. I wanted to personally assure you that my father and I, as well as the staff who know you’re here, will do our utmost to accomplish that.”

“Thank you,” Henrik said, liking her instantly. Her black eyes were bright and alluring, and she gave him another ravishing smile. Was this one of the women Lily planned on setting him up with? If so, he wouldn’t complain.

“Thanks, Aaliyah,” Lily said as if the words had some bearing on her too.

“Have a great night.” Aaliyah nodded her farewell and strolled down the hall in the direction Henrik and Lily had come. Before he could catch his thoughts, Lily was already outside in what appeared to be a covered parking lot. Several cars were parked in various stalls. The December night was warmer than any this time of year in Einvar. He had to say, he didn’t mind wearing shorts in the winter.

“You’re an assistant?” he asked. Lily had referred to her job with Mr. Elir before, but she’d never told him specifically what she did for the hotel. “To the hotel owner?”

She waved to a man in a suit walking toward one of the parked cars and tucked a hand into her pocket. “Guess you picked the right person to help you with your cause,” Lily told him.

Apparently, he did. “And Aaliyah?”

“What about her?”

“Is she someone you’re going to be setting me up with? Is that why she wanted to meet me?” Lily could have passed on the Elirs’ feelings easily enough without him having to hear it directly from them. Still, the gesture had been kind.

“No, she isn’t.” Of all things, Lily sounded annoyed as she made for the cement stairs at the south end of the parking lot. Henrik hurried to keep up. “She’s newly and very happily married.”

Henrik raised his hands as they climbed the top step and broached the sidewalk. “Hands off. I get it.”

The Elir from this vantage point towered over the street and the ocean across from it. Many of its windows were covered, though some were open to reveal light in the rooms within. The sun was close to setting over the ocean, its light pooling like spilled orange paint over the water.

“Where did you say we were going? A dance?”

“On the beach,” Lily said, stopping to push the crosswalk button on the corner streetlight. She spoke over the noise of passing cars. “There’s a small smoothie stand and a seafood place that also throws raves on the sand.” The light turned green, and Henrik and Lily strode across the painted lines.

“I know I asked you this before,” Lily said as they reached the other side of the street. The only thing between them and the ocean was a strip of sidewalk and a wide border of sand. Couples walked, a few teenagers were out with a volleyball net, and one boy zipped past on a bicycle. “But you never really told me what kind of woman you’re looking for,” Lily said, leading the direction of their walk.

“Driven. Beautiful. Well-organized. Reliable.” Henrik held up a finger each time he listed a characteristic.

“Very…specific,” Lily said, lips pouted in confusion.

“It’s easier to call out what’s right in front of me.” He winked.

She glanced away, rejecting his shameless flirting. “Better women than I have those qualities,” Lily said, putting herself down. “Okay, beautiful is a given. Do you…prefer any particular hair color?”

“Not blonde.” He jammed his hands into his pockets and stared at the sidewalk straight ahead.

“What do you have against blondes?”

“Nothing, except that blonde is Lady Eden’s hair color.”

---