Page 21 of A Girl and HER Prince
Livvy stumbled over the wastebasket, noticing the crumpled-up pink paper that Deedee had used for the message she’d left on her bed. She noticed the writing on one of the notes:“Venice, meet me at the pool tonight. I have a surprise for you.”
Great! That was exactly what shouldn’t be happening right now. Deedee had left note after crumpled note in the waste basket until she must’ve gotten her missive perfectly right:“Hey sexy, meet me at the upper pool tonight—the one next to your room. I have a surprise for you. I know you’ll love it.”
That had been discarded too, however. The end result must’ve been a masterpiece since each configuration was better than the next. Deedee had certainly taken no such pains with the note she’d left behind for her friend, who’d sacrificed her whole trip to fulfill some sort of revenge fantasy!
Gritting her teeth, Livvy dragged up her purse from the bed where she’d stuffed her cellphone, and after one last despairing glance in the mirror and trying to put some order to her new curly do, she tied the sash of her wrap around her and rushed out the door to find Deedee.
She’d stop her from doing something they would both regret.
Chapter Eight
Livvy picked up her phone and, after calling Deedee with no luck, tried to text her friend next. She wasn’t answering, which might have to do with their spotty service on the water. Livvy took the side stairs up to the main deck, hoping she’d find Deedee lounging on the same sunbathing chair as before.
It was a vain hope, since it was far past time to catch rays.
Pushing open the doors that led out into the deck, Livvy almost stumbled over her feet at the miraculous sight before her. The moon was full and the glittering stars had taken over the sky and sparkled off the darkness of the ocean. She took a deep breath. The deck was deserted of people. Celestial glory was all she could see for miles. Majestic!
Father, you would’ve loved this!
Would it be so bad just to stay out here and enjoy this pretty scene? Deedee was a grownup, after all. She could arrange a secret rendezvous with an ex… and yet? Was this something more? She’d promised to make Venice jealous by the time this voyage was through.
The memory of Bris’s reproving catlike eyes made Livvy swing away from this startling dreamlike view and march up the stairs that led to the higher deck. Deedee had wanted Venice to meet her at the pool next to where his room was. Livvy wasn’t sure where he was staying, but she imagined that it was as high up on this ship as a person could get.
Perhaps she should try there first?
Reaching the next deck, she found a living area with more soft sofas than a hotel. There were two more levels to go before she reached the top deck in this maze.
“You lost?” She twisted around, seeing the smiling Turner walk towards her. She froze guiltily, trying not to notice that the bodyguard really was as handsome as Deedee said. Had she dismissed him because Deedee had threatened to get them together after Livvy had admitted that he had potential? Or was it that every spark of interest had been chased away after justoneintense look from Venice—just one!
If so, that really was ridiculous, especially after meeting the prince’s sister.
Turner’s white shirt molded to the muscles of a bodybuilder; otherwise he’d fit right in with the other guests in his shorts and sandals. “The dining room is below here,” he said helpfully.
“Yes…” Livvy realized he might’ve just caught her trespassing in this room and felt her neck get hot. Clutching to her wrap in embarrassment, she reflexively tried to hide behind it, which unfortunately did the opposite of diverting his attention. His eyes drifted to her legs in barely concealed appreciation before traveling to her heated face. His expressive lips turned into a smile that was broader, more genuine. He stepped closer.
Oh dear! Deedee’s daring swimsuit had done the trick, and now she felt herself blushing wildly, even as she tried to collect her thoughts with him so near. “Is Deedee eating down there too?”
His forehead wrinkled in thought. “No, actually. I think I saw her by the pool on the master deck.”
She took a deep breath, and seeing that he was in such good spirits, pressed her luck. “How do I get there?”
“Just take the elevator.”
An elevator in a ship? Wow, unnecessarily excessive, yet fun. Livvy knew she should say something else or prove Deedee right that she didn’t know how to “talk to guys,” but she was torn on how to steer the conversation away from how she was deliberately breaking the rules he’d outlined for them already.
Turner’s fingers went to the leather corded necklace at his neck. She noticed the tattoos under the open collar of his shirt. Was that writing? She stepped closer, catching Turner’s sparkling brown eyes on her. “Do you want me to show you where?” he asked.
He was really going to let her go up! “Oh no, I can do it.” That was the wrong answer, wasn’t it? Deedee would’ve taken the offer of help as an excuse to spend more time with the guy.And I didn’t want him to remember he told me not to go up.“I don’t want to get in the way of your job,” she explained needlessly.
“Ochi,ochi, it would be my pleasure.” He swept his hand out in front of her to show her the way. Fiddling with the ends of her swimsuit wrap, she hopped into the elevator with him, her toes catching on the sides of her flip-flops and almost making her collide into her generous tour guide.
She balanced herself and took a couple of careful steps back. He leaned his palms heavily into the metal railing and pushed a button to go up one more deck. Guests weren’t allowed up here. She was getting special treatment.
“What a job, huh?” she found herself babbling. “Do you get to visit all sorts of countries on these vacations?”
“Nai, it’s been fun, also Venice is a friend of mine. Well, his family knew mine.”
Livvy glanced up at him, seeing that his steady gaze was already on her. “You’re from Tirreoy?”
