Page 4 of Powerful Prince
But then I lost my ability to breathe. Those blue eyes of his had my knees melting. Thankfully, there was a table beside me to rest my hand on to keep me upright as he approached.
The air around him had a warm smell, like where the beach and the forest meet. I blinked and reached out to shake his hand as I said, “Hi.”
He sailed past me and headed into the kitchen area and put a cup under the coffee machine. I pressed my outstretched arm down and took a step toward him as I asked, “Hello?”
He let the coffee pour into his cup and then held out a second cup like that was a question.
I massaged my forehead and followed him to the kitchen as I asked, “Do you speak English?”
“I speak,” he said, as he poured me a cup of coffee. My lips were dry so I let out a small sigh and waited. He handed it to me and pointed to the creamers and sugars. Then he said, “I’m just confused. I told my staff to keep all pretty women out of my sight.”
Wow. My entire body heated, and it wasn’t the coffee. I’m sure my face turned red in a blush as I grabbed the plastic honey package that wasn’t green at all. I added it to smooth the bitter coffee and said, “Well, you set up a meeting with me.”
I looked up at him and those blue eyes of his pierced through my soul as he said, “I …?”
Then he blinked and asked, “Are you Nicole Steel?”
I traced the back of my neck and almost giggled like I was in the sixth grade at how he said my name. Luckily, I held that back and took a breath before I said, “In the flesh.”
His eyes perused my figure and I seriously felt a zap rush through me, until he pressed his lips together like I’d offended him. “You look like some yoga-loving, only-grapefruit-for-breakfast type.”
My heart thundered now in my chest but I placed my hand on my hip and cocked it to the side as I said, “I eat more than grapefruit, but once in a while, that’s fine for breakfast.”
He rolled his eyes like he’d pegged me as a flake. “Figures.”
I stepped toward him, but that was a mistake. My entire body surged with instant desire. I retreated, but then I lifted my chin.
“My social media, blog, and vlog teach people how to live clean, healthy lives and be their best versions of themselves. It’s not just about diet and exercise, but about every choice we make, and how doing the right thing is important.”
He waved both hands in the air like we were done. “Look, if all you’ve got is diet and exercise tips, I’m already exercising regularly. I don’t see how we’ll work together.”
Obviously, he didn’t listen. I gulped my coffee. It was so hot that it almost burned me, but I needed something. A friend once told me that drinking hot liquid acts as a natural means of cooling the body down. I finished and put the cup down as he sat on his couch like he’d relax and enjoy his coffee.
“Are you exercising to be like Batman or something for your kingdom?” I asked.
His lips curved into a smile and revealed dimples. Damn. He had some power to make my skin feel alive.
“At least you’re funny,” he said.
I moved closer, but noticed my hips were swaying. I crossed my arms and pretended that whatever was happening to me had stopped already.
“Did I offend you in some way?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.
He sipped his coffee and his body was relaxed and open as he sat there, like I didn’t affect him at all. He said, “I told you, I don’t want any more pretty women in my life.”
I tilted my head and asked, “Why? Because you’re afraid you’ll fall in love and marry me?”
Seriously? I should have said“Thanks for the compliment, but I should be going.” Why does the proper thing to say always hit me second? I gritted my teeth and refused to bat my eyes.
He shrugged. “I don’t fall in love.”
I resettled my bag on my arm, knowing I should just spin on my heels and leave. But instead I asked, “How can you be sure?”
Damn. That sounded like a schoolgirl. Did every woman revert to the idiot version of themselves near him? Was that his superpower?
He stood like he’d escort me to the door for being such a fool. “Because no one is really in love. It’s all just a justification for sex.”
I pressed my hand on his shoulder. Big mistake. His muscles were hard, like missiles about to explode. I yanked my fingers off him like he was a magnet that I needed to separate from and I said, “You sound just like my sister.”
