Page 21 of A Royal Disaster
Nia wiggled her brows. “Or something.”
“Nice.” Lena rolled her eyes, but it was impossible to suppress the grin that split her face. Working with your lifelong friend was the best, and she knew Nia’s graduation day would be bittersweet. The studio wouldn’t be the same without her.
Then again, considering the current train wreck that was her life, there might not be a studio to worry about.
Lena’s phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out to see Liam’s number on the screen.Mierda. She wasn’t ready to talk to him yet, but putting it off wasn’t going to miraculously improve the situation, so she’d have to suck it up. She swiped accept and brought the phone to her ear. “Your Royal Highness.”
“I told you to call me Liam,” he said, his name sounding like heaven as it rolled off his tongue in the sexy Valerian accent that turned her insides to a soft ball of clay.
“Yes, well, I’m not feeling particularly docile this morning.” That was an understatement. She was prickly as hell after leaving the bakery empty-handed—was it too much to ask for one freaking donut?—and while she knew it wasn’t Liam’s fault, she couldn’t help the frustration that welled in the pit of her stomach.
Liam chuckled. “Trust me, there isn’t a man alive who’d consider you docile.”
“Fine by me,” Lena said, rolling her shoulders even as Nia mouthedbe nice. “You know what they say about well-behaved women.”
There was a long pause and Lena realized he probably didn’t know the quote, given its American origins. “They seldom make history,” she finished.
This time, Liam laughed in earnest, a low rumble that made her ovaries sit up and take notice. “I doubt that will be a problem for you, which is why I’m calling to ask you on another date.”
“You can’t be serious,” Lena scoffed. “After last night? Why on Earth would you want to put yourself through that again?”
“I admit things didn’t go exactly to plan—”
“You got creamed—literally—by the hot mess express,” Lena said, feeling the need to set the record straight. They were both adults. They didn’t need to sugarcoat the truth, especially when there was photographic evidence online.
“Which is why I thought we’d try something different today,” Liam finished as if she hadn’t spoken. “Besides, we made a deal and I intend to honor it.”
“I’d worry less about my honor and more about your reputation, if I were you.” Lena chewed her bottom lip. The last thing she wanted to do was drag the prince down with her. “This isn’t going to work.Wearen’t going to work,” she amended, noting Nia’s curious stare. “Have you seen the papers?”
Liam snorted. “Total rubbish. Fin’s working on it. Give him a few more days and the papers will be singing your praises.”
“I seriously doubt it.” Lena knew there was only one way this charade could end, and last night’s debacle had just reinforced her convictions. Still, she was curious what Liam had in mind for date number two. It couldn’t hurt to ask, could it? She could always say no. “So where are we going on our second date?”
Nia’s brows shot up and she pumped her fist in the air as if Lena’s fake date were worthy of Olympic level celebration.
“It’s a surprise,” he said, the tone of his voice brooking no argument.
“I hate surprises,” Lena said, ignoring her friend’s side-eye. “And I’m busy, anyway.”
“Liar.” There was no accusation in his words. They were delivered as fact. As if he knew beyond a doubt she was just sitting around stewing over a now lukewarm cup of coffee. “The shop’s empty.”
“How do you know that?” Lena sat up straight and turned toward the front of the studio, scanning the empty sidewalk outside for signs of the prince and his entourage. “Is the goody-two-shoes prince a stalker?”
“Hardly,” he said, leaving her hanging briefly as he talked to someone on the other end of the line. He’d likely covered the phone, because all she could hear was muffled voices. “Sorry about that,” he said when he returned. “Duty calls, but I’ve arranged for Ethan to take you and Nia for a nice relaxing day at the spa, if you’re up for it?”
“You’re sending us to the spa?” She glanced at Nia as a spike of excitement coursed through her. Hanging with her bestie and getting pampered? Um, yes, please. Except, she couldn’t accept a gift like that, could she? It was too much. Nia’s face reflected her own excitement at the prospect of some much-needed pampering, and Lena’s resolve wavered.
When Liam spoke, she could almost hear the smile in his words. “Only the best for my fake girlfriend. What do you say?”
…
Liam disconnected, pleased Elena had finally agreed to close up shop for the day and let herself indulge. She deserved it after the morning’s headlines. Still, it was odd having a woman even consider refusing such a simple gesture. Most of the women at court would claw one another’s eyes out to have the prince lavish them with such gifts.
Perhaps that was why he felt so comfortable with Elena. She had no hidden agenda, no interest in court affairs, and no illusions of marrying into the royal family. The only thing she cared about was saving her studio, something he could help her with even as he pursued his own agenda. Guilt nipped at the corner of his consciousness, but he shoved it aside. He had a responsibility to protect the crown, and he could better serve his country when he wasn’t distracted by the threat of a political marriage.
Besides, Elena knew the deal—if not his true motivations—and she was a breath of fresh air in an overly demanding schedule. One he intended to savor for the duration of his time in New York. There was no shortage of politicking to be done at home, and he needed to get back to it. He’d spent the morning reviewing trade prospects and he’d formulated a solid negotiation strategy to ensure Valeria wouldn’t be forced into an unfavorable agreement, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep the bloody wolves at bay.
Not for long anyway.
