Page 18 of The Prince (Spy Girl 1)
"You met King Vallenta?" Clarice asks. "That's a big deal."
"Why?"
"Because Enzo never introduces the women he dates to his parents," she explains.
Lorenzo squeezes my hand, clearly uncomfortable with where the conversation is going.
"Well, maybe that's why he did. We aren't dating," I reply with a shrug.
"No, you don't understand. He wouldn't introduce his father to anyone he wasn't serious about romantically. Isn't that right, Enzo?"
The Prince doesn't reply, instead he pulls me away from the group.
"Please, don't listen to them. Everyone is on my case about taking a wife."
"It's okay. I can handle it."
"At least Ophelia is older than me, so she should be getting married before I do."
"Do you like Viktor?"
"Of course, he and I go way back. He can be a bit of a cad, but he's certainly well-connected. I'm convinced that he and Peter Prescott will eventually own the world someday. So, we would do well to be friends with them."
"What makes you say that?" I ask seriously.
"I'm joking," he laughs. "I just meant that eventually they will take over their fathers' business, just as I will. Although Peter says he wants to cash out and enjoy life, Viktor is more driven. He's already training to transition into a leadership role within his father's conglomerate over the next few years." He stops talking and looks around for a moment. "Sometimes I wish I could do that."
"Cash out and enjoy life?"
"Yes, what do you think of my life so far?"
"I'm not sure what I think of your life, but you, personally, surprise me."
"How so?"
"Everything I've read had you in a different woman's bed every night. I guess I just haven't seen that."
"You can't believe everything you read."
"Are you saying that you haven't slept with a lot of women?"
He purses his lips, suddenly realizing this conversation, for a man, is like walking through a minefield. "I haven't slept with anyone since I met you."
I laugh. "Three whole days, huh?"
"Spending time with me can be difficult. Earlier you took a photo with the hat maker." He holds up his phone and shows me the photo on the woman's social media along with her post: A hat designed especially for this lovely girl at the request of HRH Queen Vallenta. Could we be looking at our future Princess?
"This will kick-start things," he explains. "Combined with the fact I was serious when I said I'd like you to escort me to all the events this week. For the race there is much media, and you will be photographed with me at every turn. And now that they know I introduced you to my parents, along with what's about to happen next--"
"What's about to happen next?" I should know the answer to this. I should be constantly aware of my surroundings--but my gaze has been held by the Prince, his sincerity and honesty evident.
He turns me around so that I can see his father, the King, walking straight toward us and flanked on his sides and rear by the Royal Guard. It's quite the processional. Once he arrives, he greets me with a warm embrace, like we're old friends.
"Any chance I could get a ride in that car?" he asks me.
"I might even let you drive."
"Today, after all these people leave, maybe? Then you can join us for dinner."
"I'd like that."
The King greets his son and then moves to the other side of the fountain to be with his wife.
People around us are now murmuring about me.
This is crazy. I was taught to blend in. To live life under the radar. Being this exposed makes me feel like I'm caught in the crosshairs.
This is a very odd mission. I was trained for eight years to be the best and, now, I'll probably never be able to fly under the radar again. Which seems counterproductive. If Ari's right and this is our permanent cover, it doesn't make sense. If we succeed in our mission and uncover the plot and kill the bad guys, then what? What's next?
Regardless of what Ari says about us being undercover in plain sight, I get a sinking sensation in my gut, knowing that succeeding at this mission may just make my career as a field agent very short.
After the party dies down, the Prince leads me to his residence. "Thank you for agreeing to stay for dinner. It means a lot to me."
"You're welcome. Am I dressed okay?"
"You are. Dinner with just my parents will be a casual affair."
"That's good. So, were you worried about having all these people here after what happened yesterday?"
"Not in the least. I trust our police and army. We are a small country with very little petty crime. Our citizens are wealthy and happy. Tourism brings a flood of money, and we cater to the wealthy of the world."
"But with wealth does there not come crime? Russian billionaires, arms dealers, drug kingpins, organized crime?"
"Of course, but when they come to Montrovia, they come to celebrate their spoils, not to work. Maybe that is the difference. Our country demands refinement. We have the best of the best. Did you know that every hotel in Montrovia is five star?" he asks, leading me to his bedroom. I take off my shoes and hat, and we relax on the bed.
"I think I read that somewhere."
He quickly changes the subject. "Any chance you might let me drive your car before my father gets to?"
"Hmm, not a chance," I say, pulling him to my lips.
We kiss. Sweetly. Softly. It's nice.
And intimate in an unusual way. I find myself enjoying it very much. It's been awhile since I've done nothing but make-out with a guy. Usually kissing is just a prelude to sex. This is more like a prelude to something else.
Especially when I fall asleep in his arms.
We're woken later in the evening and told that dinner with his parents has been cancelled. His father was exhausted from his appearance today and is resting.
The Prince gets dressed for the evening's festivities and then I let him drive. I had texted Ellis earlier and had him drop off the car.
"Your car is a quite the tease," he says, rolling slowly through town.
"She prefers to go fast, for sure," I agree, constantly looking in the side mirror to be sure the black car holding his bodyguards--of which there are four tonight--is still behind us. "What time does the fashion show start?"
He checks his watch. "The party started about an hour ago, but the fashion show won't start until later."
"I don't want to miss Allie walking the runway. She's really excited about it."
"Why is that?"
"She's popular in the United States, but hasn't done much internationally."
"She is a very attractive woman. I'm sure she will do splendidly and have many admirers after tonight. My eyes, however, will only be on you."
"That will be awkward," I tease, leading him into my suite after arriving at the villa and asking for a bottle of champagne to be sent up.
The Prince is poking around my bathroom while I touch up my makeup. He holds up a round blue object. "Why do you have so many blue balls?"
I stop brushing my hair to see what he's talking about.
"They're bath bombs."
"Sounds quite dangerous. It's interesting what you brought with you."
It is interesting what the Kates outfitted the villa with. I'm pretty sure one of them is obsessed with Lush products and imagined me in a foreign country without the ability to take a proper bath. She even included a note on her favorite combinations, thankfully.
"Honestly, I didn't bring that much. I read that Montrovian shops have everything your heart could possibly desire. I just wasn't sure if they had these, so I shopped in bulk." I walk over to a large glass container and pull out a gold bar. "This gold one is perfect before a night out, because it gives your skin a soft shimmer. But my favorite thing is to mix a blue one with the gold. The combination looks like you're bathing with a mermaid."
"I'd like to bathe with a mermaid."
"Since you've slept with all the other gir
ls in the world, you need to find a new species?" I laugh. I'm funny sometimes.
"I'd like to take one with you."
"My bath tub is built for one, and there's a reason for that."
"Why?"
"Baths are a solitary activity. A way to relax."
"Have you never taken a bath with a friend?"
"No. Baths were in short supply at college."
"We must remedy that immediately. The art of bathing can be very sensual."
"Let me guess, you were bathed by nannies even after you hit puberty."
He shrugs. "I was raised to--I'm comfortable naked."
