Page 14 of Deadly Panther's Fake Fiancée

She shakes her head and sighs. “Isaac, who do you think spoke to my mother and told her about broken promises and how my mother really would need to get looking as fast as possible for a new match?”

“Are you saying my mother did this?” Now, I feel a slow anger building steam.

“I don’t know for certain; my mother never mentioned her by name, but she told me that she had just had a long conversation with a dear friend who had just shared a very interesting rumor with her. That’s when she heard about our engagement beingoff. That’s when she started to accuse me of being rebellious and selfish.”

“How?”

“She was told that she needed to nip my independence in the bud before it upset our royal house like it had upset theirs. She suggested she find someone older and more in control to be better able to handle my willfulness.”

I jump up and grab my phone from my pocket and dial my father’s number.

I let it ring and, finally, a sleepy voice answers. “Hello?

“Did Mom tell Delilah’s mom about the broken engagement?”

“Well, we are obligated to let the family know that we are no longer staying with that commitment.”

“But did she tell Delilah’s mother that Delilah would need to hurry and get another beau locked down because she needed to be controlled?”

“Look, Isaac, there was no ill intent. I think your mother ...”

“I don’t care what you think she was trying to do. What she did was unnecessary and cruel, and, you know what? I think I also am, as of this very moment, abdicating ...”

“Now, son, please don’t be hasty, your ...”

“I am abdicating the throne as of this moment, Father.”

I can hear him still protesting as I end the call. My hands are shaking and I see through a tunnel for a moment.

I turn off my phone and go back to Delilah.

We talk for about another hour. I want to make sure she is okay before I let her go. I pour another drink for each of us.

A bit later, another knock on the door interrupts my second pour.

“Damn it, what now?”

I walk over and fling the door open, ready for more drama.

Katrina stands there.

“Bad night?”

Chapter Ten

Katrina

The first thing I see when he opens the door is a goddess.

An absolute goddess.

I mean, this woman is the kind of a goddess that makes bombshell movie stars seem plain. Think about the latest flavor of the month movie star tartlet, and you’re thinking of someone who can’t compare. Think about supermodels, but old school supermodels from the eighties and nineties, not heroin-chic weirdos like you see these days. I mean Christie Brinkley and Carol Alt. I mean Paulina Porizkova and Cindy Crawford. I mean Heidi Klum and…

What, a girl can’t really be into fashion even when she can’t afford it? The point is that this woman makes all of those supermodels go from cream of the crop to just above average.

“Delilah,” I say softly. If you can think of a more soul crushing thing than realizing your competition for the man you love—and yes, I have to admit that I love him regardless of how insane that is from a logical perspective—is so far beyond youthat it can’t even be overstated… Well, if you can imagine that situation, you know how I feel right now.

She steps forward, smiles a little sadly, and extends her hand. “Hello. You must be Katrina.” Damn, the woman pronounces it as Kat-Er-Ina, and it’s so alluring and beautiful even I want to sleep with her. All right, that’s an exaggeration but you get the point. And then she does something impossible. She gathers me in her arms and hugs me warmly. “Thank you for rescuing us or, at least, thank you for trying.”

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