Page 67 of The Prince's Game
I shook my head. “Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
“Have I mentioned you’re a terrible liar?” His grin was infectious. Those damn dimples got me every time. “Or did I only call you a terrible actress? I can’t remember.”
“Ha, ha.” I sipped my water and looked outside again.Am I really going to do this? It was a conversation we needed to have, but I didn’t want to come off as needy. Why was love so difficult? “I was just thinking about your travel comment, postshow. We haven’t really talked about what we’re going to do, if anything, when it all ends.” I let the unspoken question hang between us.Are we going to continue this or not?
He nursed his beer, his gaze unreadable. “Well, the network’s contract is pretty strict about contact after the show. Not that I care, but the producers don’t want me seen with anyone after they finish filming. They don’t want to spoil the end.”
“Makes sense.” I remembered reading that part of the contract and thinking it wouldn’t matter much to me, but now it did. I wanted to see him postshow, but I wouldn’t be allowed. Not in public, anyway.
“But I don’t imagine there will be a lot of paparazzi in Thailand.”
“So you’re serious about the trip?”
“Sure, I love traveling, and I’m always scouting new locations. You have a good eye, and I enjoy your company.” Not exactly what I wanted to hear as far as reasons went, but they could’ve been worse.
“Okay, so outside of travel, we’ll have to be discreet.”Assuming you want to see me beyond Thailand.
“I guess, but I won’t have a lot of time after the show is over anyway. I’ve missed two months of work. To say I have a bit to catch up on is an understatement.”
“Right.”
“But yeah, we’ll need to be discreet, especially with you refusing my proposal and all. I don’t want the producers or anyone catching wind of our financial arrangement.”
“Right.” I sounded like a parrot on repeat. His blasé recap of our deal hurt, but I didn’t let it show. Nothing had changed. He expected me to hold up to my end of the bargain and refuse his proposal, and it made sense that he didn’t want anyone to know about our partnership. “Well, maybe we shouldn’t see each other afterward. Or at least until the show’s publicity dies down.”
He took another drink. I wanted him to protest but knew he wouldn’t. What I said made sense, and Evan was logical. Iwantedto keep seeing him, but I couldn’t admit it out loud. It would be too much and ruin what little time I had left with him. He wasn’t the commitment type. I knew that.
“We’ve done a good job sneaking around so far, but you being in Chicago would make it more difficult to hide. It would probably be best if we cooled off for a bit and play it by ear after the show airs. The last thing either of us needs is our arrangement being made public, and I have to remain a silent partner for it to work.”
“Right. Yeah, of course.” I needed a stiff drink. “So we’re in agreement that this is over after the show.”
“At least for now, yes.” He finished his beer and signaled for another without looking at me.
My heart was in my throat. This was not how I wanted the conversation to go, but it was what I expected. We had a good run, and the sex was phenomenal, but this was the end of the line. “Where are we going for the final episode?”
“Hawaii.” He watched the waiter walk over with his drink.
“That’s a long flight.”
“Yep.” He still wouldn’t meet my gaze.Awkward.“Want to take the jet again?”
“Am I allowed?”
“Probably not, but what are they going to do?”
Other than chewing Evan out, they didn’t do much about me traveling with him to Iceland. It would be our last few hours alone together before the show’s finale, and then we would go our separate ways. My stomach turned over. This time next week, I would be back in Chicago and Evan would be single and back on the market. I fought the urge to rub my chest. It ached with the realization that he would never be mine.
But he is mine for the moment.I could enjoy these last few hours with him, or I could dwell on my future without him. Precious time was being wasted as I considered this tomfoolery. I had to take advantage of the now, revel in it, and cherish it. It was all I had, and it would have to be enough.Now, to get him back in the mood and to forget our discussion . . .I knew just what to say.
“If I say yes to the jet, do I forfeit my clothes?” That got his attention and returned the wicked glint to his smoldering gaze.
“It was part of our deal.”
“Hmm, you drive a hard bargain, Mister Mershano.”
“Is that a yes?”
I tapped my chin in a playful gesture that didn’t match my breaking heart. “Indeed it is, but I’m not disrobing until we’re in the air.”
