Seeing her leaning against the wall, breathing deeply with eyes closed, I knew she was just as rattled as me. Now, I just had to use that to my advantage. Shehatedwhen I called her Princess, so I leaned on that tried-and-true provocation.
It gave me a small thrill to watch as her eyes opened in shock, her mouth dropping open slightly as she searched for the source of my voice. Dressed impeccably as always—nothing less was expected of a royal, let alone one at the helm of an emerging fashion empire—her good looks stirred nothing inside me. I only saw the princess who expected the world to cater to her every whim.
Her baby blues narrowed when she saw me down the hallway as I stalked to where she stood.
Crossing her arms, condescension dripped from her words. “How didyoumake it past the guards?”
Smug, I couldn’t wait to put her in her place. Flashing her a grin, I answered, “I was invited. Had a private audience with our king.”
It was extremely gratifying to watch as reality sank in. Those blue eyes widened in shock at the realization that I was the manher grandfather intended for her to marry, and she whispered, “No. No, no, no.”
Stepping away from the wall, she began pacing. I watched, mentally celebrating my victory, as she repeatedly pinched her forearm until it turned a deep red. If she wasn’t careful, she’d cause bruising.
Rookie mistake.
Curious, I asked, “What are you doing?”
Shooting me an annoyed glance, Lucy never paused her pacing. “Trying to wake up.”
Pouring on the charm, knowing it would annoy the hell out of her, I drawled, “Oh, Princess, why would you want to wake up from the dream come true of forever with me? Hearts will be breaking across Belleston when news gets out that I’m off the market.”
Her blue glare bordered on glacial. “God, you are so full of yourself.”
I went for the kill. “Aw, are you jealous? Wouldyourather be full of me?” It was crass, but I was trying to offend her enough to have her running back into that office to turn down the offer flat.
A flash of pain radiated on the left side of my face, and it took a moment to register that Lucy had slapped me. Instinct had me reaching for her, but she spun on her heel and stomped down the hallway as fast as her black pumps could carry her. My extended hand instead went to cup my jaw, attempting to rub away the sting her palm left behind. No woman had ever been so bold as to lay a hand on me—they knew better.
Lucy was playing with fire, and she didn’t even know it.
She was in such a hurry to get away from me that I watched as she rammed into the back of a man further down the hallway. Watching in fascination, I realized that man was Liam, who had his redheaded wife caged against the wall. Liam shielded his wife from the impact of Lucy’s careless retreat before callingsomething after her. Lucy turned, red-faced, screaming at her older brother.
Yep, she was the same old bratty, self-absorbed Lucy I grew up with. Some things never changed, but at least I was confident she would never agree to be my wife.
Before I could escape, Liam called my name from down the hallway as he approached.
Liam was my best friend growing up, but we’d lost touch over the years. When we got together, it was as if no time had passed, but our lives had taken different paths, and quite honestly, it was challenging to maintain adult friendships. I had my career while everyone I knew was getting married or having babies, but that was where the extent of their adulting ended. Most were happy to fall back on their aristocratic roots, leaning into their privilege—only caring about gossip and the next party to attend. Our lives didn’t mesh the way they had when our biggest concern was who to sit next to in history class.
Liam had only recently returned from an extended stint living abroad, caring for his sister-in-law. The distance didn’t bother me—it was similar to when he’d re-enlisted in the Bellestonian army, and I’d chosen higher education. Our common thread had been that we were eternal bachelors, but his return included a wife—who was charming and exactly what our country needed, don’t get me wrong—and it felt like the final nail in the coffin of our dying friendship.
Liam was taller than me by barely an inch, but his broad form, honed from many years of military service, was barely contained in his perfectly tailored suit. His coloring was identical to Lucy’s, with their family’s classic Remington Blue eyes and raven black hair, but that’s where their similarities ended.
Liam was level-headed, whereas Lucy was short-tempered.
Liam felt a sense of duty toward his family while Lucy ran all over the world, playing dress-up.
Liam preferred a quieter, private life, and Lucy needed to be in the spotlight.
I couldn’t pinpoint whether it was her status as the baby of the family or the fact that she was the only girl, but something somewhere turned Lucy into this needy, self-centered, attention-seeking hellion. How could the King possibly think we were a good match?
I was the last person on Earth who would cater to her demands. Perhaps they thought I could tame the wild beast they’d created? How was I supposed to do that when I had to give up my career to follow her around like a love-sick puppy while she got to do whatever she wanted? It wasn’t going to work, and the sooner everyone involved figured that out, the better.
“Did I forget a meeting we had scheduled?” Liam’s voice dragged me from my thoughts as he got close enough to converse without shouting down the long corridor.
I threw on my practiced charm. “No, you’re off the hook, old chap. Although, your wife’s new projects are keeping me on my toes.”
His wife, Amy, had a background in social work and dove head-first into creating no less than a dozen programs to better the lives of Bellestonians in need. Logistics and legalities for charitable pursuits were one of the many things that landed on my desk.
“Then what brings you here on a Tuesday?”
