Page 54 of Trapped with the Undercover Prince

Chapter Ten

Anna said goodbye toZar’s family and accompanied him out of the dining room and down the hall.

She had to buy a ball gown. A ball gown. The Cinderella jokes were going to be all over the news sites with pictures of her dancing with all the finesse of a post.

“I shouldn’t have eaten so many pancakes.”

Zar took her hand. “You’ll be fine. I’m planning to monopolize you as a dance partner for the entire evening.”

“Gee, thanks, but I don’t need a pity-dance-partner.”

He stopped walking, and since he was still holding her hand, so did she.

“What?” she asked. “It’s the truth.”

He glanced around then dragged her into a nearby room that looked a lot like all the rooms in this part of the castle. A cross between a living room and library. It was empty of people, which was a relief.

Zar pulled her inside, partially closed the door, and kissed her. It was no sweet, simple kiss. Nope. It was hot, hard, and by the time he was done, they were both breathing heavy.

“Does that say pity to you?” he asked, his whisper a growl.

“No, that says...you want to get under my skirt, but isn’t a ball gown a lot of bother?”

He blinked at her for a moment, then buried his head against her shoulder while the rest of him shook.

The jerk was laughing.

She smacked him on the shoulder again.

He lifted his head to grin at her. “When you walked into the room and marveled at how it was large enough to house to operating rooms, it was all I could do to keep from laughing at the looks on my sisters’ faces.” He kissed her nose. “Did you and Brigette plan that?”

“Not really. She’d been so certain that I was after the family silver or jewels or something that I figured the rest of your sisters would be in the same frame of mind, and I just...”

“Wanted to wake them up?”

“That’s a lot nicer way of saying it than I was thinking, but yes.”

“How did you convince Brigette that you weren’t trying to steal the silver?”

“I showed her my bank balance.”

His eyebrows rose. “Really?”

“Well, the investment accounts. My grandmother was really good with her money.”

He was looking at her mouth like it was his favorite treat again. And she was totally going to let him kiss her all he wanted if she didn’t get them out of the naughty corner right now.

She cleared her throat. “Which way is the car?”

He eased back, smiled like he knew what she was thinking—because he was thinking the same thing—and took her hand again. “I never stay with the plan when I’m with you.”

“Pfft,” she said. “Plans are for generals and CEOs. The rest of us who do the work know no plan lasts after the first step.”

“Sounds like what happens in a battle.”

“Surgery isn’t much different than a battlefield. So many ways for things to go wrong. You have to pay attention and be ready to counteract adverse conditions as they happen.”

“You won the war at breakfast.” He grinned and leaned his shoulder against her for a second. “I’ve never seen my sisters so flummoxed before. Even my mother was surprised.”

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