My heart squeezes at that thought. Suddenly, I wish I had never said that. I didn’t mean to make her think that what was happening between us didn’t mean anything to me because it does. While I’m certainly not in love, I do feel a definite attachment to her. It would be so easy to fall for Margo if I allowed myself to open up, but deep down, we both know a relationship between us would never work. We’re both too controlling, and when I go behind her back and make this deal with Yamada to tear her father’s company apart, she’ll hate me even more than she ever did. I know it. That’s why this has to be just fucking. That’s why, as much as I want to have her in my bed just like this every damn night, it can never happen. However, I have the urge to at least let her know this time we have spent together meant something to me.
“Would it be strange to say I’m no longer excited by the thought of divorcing you?”
She shakes her head. “I was just thinking the same thing. It’s weird to say that I would like to date my husband.”
I chuckle. “It definitely does sound odd when you put it like that. As much as I would like to say we could try dating, I think we should wait and see how things go between us for a while. I mean, it was only last week that you hated my guts.”
“That’s true. Perhaps you’re right.”
A cocky grin spreads over my face. “I usually am.”
She rolls her eyes and then pushes herself up from the bed and heads to the bathroom.
A few hours later, we’re in a helicopter heading toward Yamada’s island. He’s going to be pissed that we’re here so late, but I know he’ll eventually get over it.
I’ve never seen a sunrise like this before. The sky lights up as the sun pops up above the rippling water, lighting up the ocean as far as the eye can see. The turquoise waters meet the multicolored sky. I’ll give the little shit one thing. He picked one of the most beautiful places on the planet to buy an island.
“It’s beautiful,” Margo exclaimed into the microphone that’s attached to the headset. “It’s been so long since I’ve been to the beach. I’m actually looking forward to this.”
“Let me guess. You were too busy earning two degrees that you didn’t get out.”
She nods. “Yep. That’s exactly right.”
I smile at her. “In that case, Princess, I’m going to make it my personal mission to see that you have a good time while you’re out here.”
Finally, a small island comes into view. Trees cover the tall, rolling hills of most of the place, but there are some visible paths and roads, not to mention the large resort sitting along the back shoreline.
This is the kind of place where famous people come to party out of the spotlight.
The chopper hovers over the landing pad and then steadily descends. Yamada sits in a white topless Jeep that has no doors while he waits for us to land.
When we’re on the ground, the crew opens the door and helps us out. We duck as we walk over to Yamada.
“Get in, madafakas. Yamada’s been waiting for you all night.”
I glance over at Margo, and she shrugs before climbing into the backseat. Looks like she’s learned quickly to just go with whatever Yamada has in mind.
I follow suit and climb into the passenger seat. My ass no sooner hits the seat before Yamada mashes the gas, sending us shrieking down the dirt road.
“Whoa!” I grab the dashboard and reach for the seat belt to buckle myself in. The last thing I need is to fall out of a speeding vehicle because of Yamada’s crazy driving. “Have you slept at all since I spoke to you last night?”
“Sleep?” he says with a chuckle. “No time for that. Yamada was busy entertaining. Everyone Yamada knows is here to celebrate my new island. Those madafakas are still up partying.”
I furrow my brow. “Who did you invite?”
“Everyone,” he emphasizes. “I put the invite out to all my friends on social media, and most of them showed up.”
“Jesus. Social media? You’ll have every freak you’ve ever met here.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. I don’t know why I expected this to be a quiet weekend because I know how Yamada is. He’s not the type who only attends a party—he is the party.
He reaches over and grabs my shoulder, giving it a little shake. “Don’t worry, King. You special. Yamada saved you and Dime Piece a room. The rest of the assholes here have to sleep in tents.”
I shake my head at my crazy friend.
The massive main house that we spotted from the helicopter comes into view, and my jaw drops as I take in the crowd gathered around front. Yamada wasn’t kidding when he said he invited everyone. There are bodies wearing only bikinis and swimming trunks as far as the eye can see.
Yamada whips the Jeep into a parking spot right in front of the house and then pops up out of his seat. “Yamada’s back, bitches. Get the music started. Time to celebrate this wedding right!”
The crowd cheers and most of the people hold up cups of beer.
My eyes widen. “What is this, Yamada?”
Yamada jumps out of the Jeep then turns to me and grins. “Best man’s job is to throw parties, and who better to throw you a reception than Yamada?”
I step out of the vehicle and help Margo out. I open my mouth to tell Yamada that we didn’t need a party—that our marriage was a mistake and now it’s part of a business deal, nothing more—but Margo places her hand on my chest, stopping me from saying anything at all.
“That’s very nice of you, Yamada. Thank you,” Margo tells him and then pats me on the chest. “We appreciate it.”
This seems to please him because his smile grows wider. “Welcome. Now, let’s party.”
He takes us both by the hand and leads us into the awaiting crowd. Most of the people among all these dancing bodies are people I’ve never seen before, but leave it to Yamada to throw a rager on a private island.
Some hip-hop song blasts through the speakers, and while Yamada busies himself rapping along to the song, I grind against Margo.
She smiles as she wraps her arms around my neck and swings her hips to the beat. It’s the first time since Vegas that we’ve had fun like this, and it’s nice.
After a few more songs, Margo pushes up on her tiptoes to talk into my ear. “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?”
“A beer would be great. Thank you.” It’s a nice gesture for her to think of me.
I smile as I watch her walk off toward the bar inside the house. Who knew Margo Buchanan would end up being so nice to me. I follow behind her, not wanting her to feel like she has to fetch me a drink like she does at work. I cringe at the thought that delegating that task made her feel like a servant. It was wrong of me, and I won’t ask her to do it again.
When I approach the bar, the first thing I see is a man standing next to Margo a little too close for my liking. He turns toward her and leans his side against the bar so that he can fix his gaze on her. I can tell by the way he’s watching her that he’s thinking about making a move, but what he doesn’t know is that she’s already been taken. By me.
The guy is about my height, with about twenty pounds or so on me, but that doesn’t matter. If he makes a move on Margo, he’ll lose a fucking arm.
The bartender takes Margo’s order and then turns his attention to the guy next to Margo and asks him for his order. “Bud Light, and buy this pretty woman next to me another round of whatever she just ordered.”
“No thanks,” Margo says stiffly.
The guy touches her arm, and I just lose my fucking head. There’s no way in hell I am going to stand here and allow another man to touch what’s mine.
I shove his hand away and step between Margo and him. “She said no, motherfucker. Hit the fucking road.”
The man’s face turns white as a sheet, and he takes a step back. “Sorry, man. Didn’t know she was claimed.”
“Beat it, pussy,” is all I say to cause the man to turn tail and run.
“Aww, shit. Yamada missed another King throw down. Da
mn, it’s sexy when you get all fired up,” Yamada teases. “Next time an ass kicking is brewing, come get Yamada. We can throw down.”
I laugh. “Next time, they’re all yours.”
That seems to satisfy him because he turns and disappears into the crowd, leaving Margo and me standing there.
I pull her into my arms. “You all right?”
“Never better.” She turns her gaze up to look me in the eyes and smiles. “He cares about you a lot. It’s really clicking why the two of you are such good friends because I’ll admit, I didn’t understand your relationship at first. The two of you are very different.”
“I don’t know how our friendship works, but it just does.”
“Sometimes people have a way of worming themselves into your heart whether you want them to or not.”
I continue to gaze into her eyes, and I can’t help but feel a little hopeful that she means me even though I shouldn’t. It’s wrong of me to want her to feel something for me because I know that I’m about to break her heart. But I’m a selfish bastard and I’ll hope for it anyway.
I lean in and press my lips to hers. “I’m glad we’re here together.”
“Me, too,” an all too familiar voice purrs from behind me.
I whip around just in time to see a blast from my past standing there in nothing but a black string bikini.
“What are you doing here?” Even I can hear the shock in my voice as I drop my hands from around Margo’s waist and pull away from her.
“I had to come and see for myself if the Naughty King is married.” Jess tilts her head, swinging her long, blond ponytail. She looks just the same as the last time I saw her—drop-dead gorgeous. But that wicked smile of hers doesn’t fool me. This woman broke my heart—she taught me that no woman could be trusted.
Her presence reminds me that I’ve been allowing Margo inside my heart too much. I have to get back to being an asshole. I’ve already lowered my guard too much around her, and it’s caused me a lot of fucking trouble.
My back stiffens. “So you’ve seen it. Now, fucking leave.”
Jess smirks. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere. Not until I’m convinced the two of you are in love and it’s not some fucking charade. Daddy says that he and the rest of the board could take full control if they can prove you were out making careless decisions with your personal life.”
“Fuck your father,” I snarl. “I’ll fuck Margo right here in front of you to prove that we’re married for real.”
Jess shakes her head. “Fucking her won’t prove anything. I need to be convinced you love her. Who better to judge if Alexander King is in love than the last woman he asked to marry him?”
Margo gasps next to me and then turns to storm off. I snatch her wrist, halting her in place. “Now is not the time for a temper tantrum.”
She jerks out of my grasp. “Don’t tell me what to do, King.”
“Margo. Come back here.”
She doesn’t look back as she storms away.
I scrub my hand down my face. I don’t know what in the hell she’s mad about, but I decide not to chase her down and cause a scene, especially not in front of Jess.
“Looks like trouble in paradise,” Jess says in a singsong voice beside me.
My nostrils flare as I turn my heated gaze on her. “Shut the fuck up, Jess. I don’t know why you feel the need to interfere with my life. You left me, remember? Leave me the hell alone.”
Jess steps up to me and grins. “I can’t leave you alone. This time, it’s not personal, baby. It’s business. My daddy needs me to expose your little lie, and I need to prove to everyone that it’s me who you still really love, not that uptight feisty princess.”
“Stay. Away. From. Me,” I say my words slowly with enough intensity so she knows how fucking serious I am.
She lifts one eyebrow and then walks away.
When she’s out of sight, I set out to find Yamada. It doesn’t take long to find him by the pool with a girl on his lap and one on each side of him.
I storm over to him, seething. “What in the fuck is Jess doing here?”
“Calm down, King. I told you everyone was here. Besides, Jess knows you with Dime Piece now. She’s just here to party with Yamada like old times and help break in Yamada’s new island.”
I rake my fingers through my hair. I love Yamada, but sometimes he can be so blind to the ulterior motives people have. He’s too quick to believe the good in people even when they don’t deserve it.
“That’s not why she’s here. She’s here to spy on me for her father who sits on the fucking board of my company. She’s trying to prove that my marriage is a sham so the board can overthrow my power.”
“Then just show her that you in love with Dime Piece. Everything fixed.”
“It’s not that simple, and you know it.”
Yamada pushes the girl off his lap, and he stands. “Course it is, King. You are in love. Yamada knows it and so do you. You just won’t admit it to yourself.”
I flinch. “I don’t—”
“Okay then, Yamada is going to go in there and try to get into Dime Piece’s panties.”
I throw my hands up, palms out. “Whoa. Let’s not get crazy.”
“See!” he exclaims. “You only get jealous when you care. You. Are. In. Love.”
My lips pull into a tight line. No. That can’t be right. Can it? Me? In love? That’s preposterous. I don’t do love, or at least I thought I didn’t. But I do know that I care about Margo. A lot. I care about hurting her, which is why I’m wrestling with the plan I have to betray her when it comes to the deal I made with her.
Yamada gives my shoulder a firm pat. “Go talk to Margo. Tell her you love her. It make things better. You see.”
He’s right. I do need to speak with her, but I’m not ready to admit that I feel something for her. I’m not even sure about my own feelings at this point.
“I’m going to go,” I tell him.
I turn on my heel and set out to find Margo. The crowd is thick, but I know she won’t be in the middle of it, so I begin checking every secluded place I can find. When I round the outside corner of the building, my eyes land on one of my very best friends and my baby sister. They are sitting too close for my fucking comfort on a bench built for two. Jack and Diem sit side-by-side with their heads lowered, talking privately. My sister glances over at Jack and smiles. I don’t like that smile. It’s too flirty, and I’ll be damned if I allow anything to happen between the two of them.
“What the hell is this?” I ask, not moving my eyes off them.
Diem jumps up instantly from her seat. “Hey! Alexander! Some party, right?”
I narrow my eyes. “Don’t change the fucking subject, Diem. Why are the two of you doing that?”
“We weren’t doing anything, Alexander. You are too damn paranoid. Nothing is going on.”
My eyes flick to Jack for a second before they return back to my sister. I don’t have time for this bullshit. I have to find Margo. “Squash this shit. Now. It’s not happening between the two of you. Ever.”
I curl my fingers into fists, and I feel the need to lash out. Everything feels like it’s coming down on me at once, and I feel like I’m about to lose my goddamn mind.
Jack pushes himself up off the bench and approaches me slowly with his hands up in surrender. “What’s wrong, man? You look panicked.”
I rub the skin on the back of my neck, willing myself to calm down and refocus on the major issue at hand. “Jess is here to spy on me for her fucking father, trying to prove that my marriage is a complete fucking fake.”
“I spoke with the board, Alexander. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Everyone seemed really pleased with your marriage to Margo after the King Gala, which tells me they all are buying your story. We just need to ride this out for a few more days, and then we’re in the home stretch. So do the best you can to stay away from Jess until then.”
“Okay. I have to find Margo and make sure
she’s still on the same page. I just pissed her off. I have to make sure she’s okay.”
Jack nods. “She actually just passed by here. She was on her phone. You better go find her in case she was arranging a flight back to New York.”
“Shit. All right. I’ll see you two in a bit,” I tell them before I rush off in search of Margo.
Panic sets in. I can’t allow her to leave here mad at me. I need to find her and apologize.
That last thought stops me dead in my tracks. When in the fuck did I start having the urge to tell someone I was sorry? I’m Alexander King. I’m not supposed to be sorry for anything I do, but this time I am. I don’t like the idea of hurting Margo in any way.
It’s not until I walk down to the beach that I find her. She’s staring out at the sea while the waves crash around her ankles.
I step up beside her and notice the tears streaming down her face. While I know it was shitty to keep something like that from her, I never took Margo for one who would cry over it.
It makes me feel bad that I hurt her like that.
I swallow hard. “I knew I should’ve told you that I proposed to Jess—”
“I don’t give a shit about what you did in your past. I walked away because I’m tired of you thinking you can just use my body any time you feel like it. Don’t you ever use fucking me as leverage again.”
“Margo, that was just a threat to prove to her how serious I am about you.”
“Whatever. Just don’t do it again.”
That’s a reasonable request. “Okay. I won’t.”
I figured that would make the tears stop, but they continue to flow down her face. It worries me, so I put my arm around her shoulders. “I said I wouldn’t do it again. You can stop crying now.”
She shakes her head and her lips pull into a tight line. “That’s not it.”
I give her shoulders a little squeeze. “What is it then? Tell me. Maybe I can make whatever it is better.”
“Not this,” she whispers. “My dad’s dead.”
My eyes widen. “What? How?”
“Heart attack,” she says simply. “My father’s attorney just called me. Apparently, I have to sign some paperwork making me the new head of Buchanan Industries immediately.”
Feisty Princess Page 8
