Page 18 of Royal Player
“Is it pretty rowdy at that bar?” Lucas asks Adrian. “I may need to stop by.”
“It’s pretty low-key,” Adrian says. “Jazz music and piano. Most bars don’t get rowdy until late.”
Lucas nods. “I did send Louis with her, and there’s Polly’s guard.” Louis is one of our largest security guys. We have another guard, Michael, here with us, hovering in the background. Lucas pulls his phone out. “I’ll just check in.”
Adrian rolls his eyes at me. I shake my head. Pathetic. Lucas can’t even enjoy one drink without checking in with his woman. He’s the one who’s pussy whipped.
“Where’s Charles?” I ask Adrian. I haven’t seen our host since we first got here half an hour ago.
“He’s taking a private meeting upstairs,” Adrian says with a smirk. That’s where the bedrooms are.
“He can’t wait until after the party?”
Adrian shrugs.
I glance around at the mingling guests. Most of the conversation is in English, a common language among the global famous and wealthy. I swear that’s one of the guys who played James Bond a while back over there. I recognize a few actresses here too, but they don’t hold my interest. That’s not why I’m here.
An hour later, I’m getting irritated. Charles finally showed up, but we only talked to him for a few minutes before he went to talk to someone else. I get it. He’s mingling with his ultrawealthy guests, important to the casino, but we’ve got business.
“Stop scowling,” Adrian says to me under his breath. “No business tonight.”
“We’ve barely seen the guy.”
Lucas bolts.
“Where’s he going in such a hurry?” I ask Adrian.
And then I see why. Lucas is guiding Alice in, who’s wearing a black short-sleeved dress with fringe straight from the 1920s with a black bow in her hair. Louis, our guard, stands at Alice’s side; Polly’s guard stands behind the group. Lina, one of the palace maids in a black sleeveless dress, keeps sneaking glances at Louis, checking him out. And thenshesteps out from behind them, and the air is sucked out of the room.
She’s stunning. Polly changed from the modest blouse and skirt she wore at dinner. Now she’s in a slip of a dress ending midthigh, with silver fringe, flimsy spaghetti straps that could snap with one tug of my hand, and a low scooped neckline. Her skin glows creamy, smooth, and perfect. Her legs are long, her feet in silver high heels with a sexy strap around her ankle. My gaze travels back up her curvy body. Her dark curly hair is up in a high ponytail, exposing the column of her elegant neck. My heart kicks harder, the blood rushing through my veins, my fingers tingling with the need to touch.
She doesn’t look like a virgin princess.
She’s gorgeous, sexy, and I want her so bad I can barely think. I’m at her side before I’m even aware I crossed the room. “How was the bar?”
She beams, and I get a pang in my chest seeing her so elated. “Wonderful!”
Alice leans on my arm, a little wobbly and definitely drunk. “Polly is being extra naughty tonight. She’s not supposed to show her shoulders in public.”
Polly giggles. “Or my back.” She turns to show us her exposed back, the dress snug over her cute ass. She whirls back, the fringe whipping around with her. “Or my knees.” She bends, putting her hands on her knees, giving a prime view of her cleavage. My mouth goes dry. She straightens and lifts her hands in the air. “Ta-da! Be shocked, everybody.”
I chuckle. “How much have you had to drink?”
She taps my nose. “Just the right amount, Prince Oscar.” She turns to my brother. “Hello, Prince Adrian. You’re looking dashing in that blazer.”
Hello, I’m also in a blazer. Is she into Adrian?
Adrian gives her a slow smile. “Thanks. You’re cute when you’re drunk.”
“I’m totally not.” She gets in Alice’s face. “Right, Alice?”
“Right!” Alice exclaims loudly. “Not drunk but still totally cute.”
Louis takes Lucas aside for a hushed conversation. It could be bad news if security needs to do a briefing. What went on over at that bar?
I glance at Lina, who’s shyly looking at the ground, her head tilted toward Lucas and Louis, obviously eavesdropping.
“So what else is on the bachelorette party agenda?” I ask Alice.
