Page 35 of A Royal Disaster
The cat quieted immediately.
When she turned to hand Liam the shirt, their fingers brushed, and she was as aware of him as she’d ever been. How could she not be? He’d stripped off his jacket and shirt, his sculpted muscles on full display. The man clearly spent some quality time in the gym, and her pulse thrummed at the sight of him, reminding her just how good it felt to be wrapped in his strong embrace.
With a knowing smirk, Liam took the shirt and pulled it over his head, tugging the fabric down over his bare chest and abdomen, robbing her of her new favorite view. Forget the park, she just wanted to stare at his abs all day. Better yet, to draw them.
“Looks like business is on the right track.”
“Yes and no,” Lena said, shaking her head to dispel the image of Liam’s beautiful torso. The truth was, it was more than his striking physique that heated her blood. It was the way he filled the small space, as if his presence were so big it commanded attention. Attention she was too happy to give. “Business was starting to pick up before the Channel Three interview, but today’s class is actually a freebie for the community center. Arts funding is always the first thing to go during budget cuts, so I host a free after-school class twice a month.”
“That’s very generous of you.” Liam took a step forward, slowly closing the gap between them as if he were stalking prey. And, hell, maybe her brain was short-circuiting again, because she couldn’t help but think of a lion she’d seen at the Bronx Zoo. It was fitting, really. King of the jungle, Crown Prince of Valeria. Liam’s movements were graceful and predatory, his gaze ravenous. It was a look that blazed straight through her, igniting a spark in her blood that surely would’ve been hot enough to fire pottery. “You really are unlike anyone I know.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” Lena asked, her voice husky.
“The best one I can imagine.”
They were so close now she could smell the hint of peppermint on his breath.
Was he going to kiss her? She’d thought that once before, at the park. But then she’d gone and ruined it, talking about Chad and his stupid comic book. This time, if Liam wanted to kiss her, she wasn’t going to shy away from it.
Hell, she’d give him an invitation.
She stared up at him, lifting her chin and arching her back as her eyes began to drift shut.
“Lena.”
The sound of Nia calling her name cut the tension like a blade, severing the invisible tether that drew them together. It was just as well. This wasn’t a real relationship and she had no illusions about it becoming one. When their month was up, Liam would go back to his royal life and forget all about her. Which was why she had no business ogling his abs, let alone playing tonsil hockey with him.
No, her top priority needed to be getting her business back on its feet.
Nia poked her head through the door and her eyes went wide as she took in the scene before her. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt, but, um, we have a problem.”
Lena forced a smile. “Cuéntame.”
Nia glanced at Liam and then at Lena. “Ella and Dante are in today’s class.”
Lena furrowed her brow. She hadn’t known her niece and nephew were in today’s class, but it wasn’t unusual for them to pop in. It was hardly a disaster.
Nia cringed. “Tía Rosa is with them.”
…
Liam watched as the color drained from Elena’s face, and for a moment he thought she might make a break for it, her eyes darting around the small office as if seeking an escape route.
“Coño,” she cursed. “We’re cornered. I should’ve known it would come to this.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Nia offered, sounding anything but sure. “Probably.”
What the hell were they going on about?
Elena turned to Liam, bracing her hands on his shoulders, her dark eyes wide and serious, any previous trace of desire erased. “Just follow my lead, okay?”
“Sure, but who’s Tía Rosa and why do you look like you’ve just been caught red-handed?”
“Tía Rosa is my mother’s nosy sister.” Elena stepped back, massaging her temples as if to collect herself. “She’s also intensely interested in our relationship.”
Ah, yes. Their fake relationship. He couldn’t exactly fault her for being distraught. He wasn’t about to go parading his fake girlfriend before the royal family, even if he had been about to devour her moments before. “I see.”
Nia glanced over her shoulder. “The kids are getting restless. We need to get started.”
