by Selena Kitt
Her door was open, so I poked my head inside. She was standing behind her desk, her eyes focused on her computer screen. If she knew I was there, she wasn’t acknowledging me.
Knees a little wobbly, I knocked.
Her eyes lifted. She smiled. “Ah, Daryl. Is everything all set for tonight?”
“Y-yes, I think so.”
“Good.” She gave me a little nod as she settled into her chair and rolled it into place. Her head tipped slightly. “Is there a problem?”
“Was there a change in the schedule?” I asked.
“No. The event was booked for seven o’clock.” Marguerite turned her attention back to her computer.
Damn. “Okay.” I checked my watch for the millionth time. It was ten to seven. We required all girls to arrive an hour before the start of the event so we had time to go over their clothes and makeup, give the new girls a rundown of the rules. “Marguerite, there are no girls.”
She responded, without looking up from her computer, “Yes there is.”
“I’ve been waiting for almost an hour. None of them came. Not Katarina. Not Josephine. None of them.”
“That’s because I called them all and told them not to come.” Pushing out of her chair, she circled her desk as I stood mute trying to figure out what the heck was going on. She approached me with a calm, pleasant expression on her face. Clearly, my news wasn’t earthshaking. Clearly she intended for none of the girls we had initially invited to come. Why?
“I talked to Tevin, Daryl. There’s only one girl he’s interested in seeing tonight.”
Was she going to…did he…?
“He wants to see you.”
He didn’t.
He did.
Oh God, was I in trouble?
Her smile widened. If I was about to be fired, would she be looking at me like that? “Daryl, it’s okay. I could see the sparks between you two at the last mixer. I’m a matchmaker. It’s my job to notice those things.”
Oh God. “I…okay, yes. Maybe there is a spark between us. You aren’t angry? I can still do my job--”
“Why would I be angry? I didn’t fail. I think I may have found Tevin a match. A great one. He’s a good man. And you’re intelligent. And beautiful. You deserve a good man as much as any of my girls.”
That wasn’t the response I was expecting. Had I been torturing myself this whole time needlessly? Should I have told Marguerite from the start? I pulled in a deep breath and let it out. A weight lifted off my shoulders, and I felt like I could finally breathe. While I suspected Tevin hadn’t told Marguerite about our secret dates, she knew enough now that I didn’t have to totally lie. But after a wave of giddiness washed over me, a wave of fear, of panic followed. If Tevin was no longer beyond my reach, then that meant…that meant…Was I ready for what it meant? Did I want to pursue a relationship with him? “He does seem to be a good man.”
“Trust me, he is.” She gave my shoulder a pat. “Now, let’s get you fixed up for your date. We don’t have a lot of time. And that hair…” She rolled her eyes. “Honey, how many times do you need to be told, you don’t wear your hair in a ponytail for a date?”
We shared a laugh at our inside joke as we headed into the dressing room, where we kept a stash of makeup, clothes, and hair stuff to help the girls with last minute preparations.
In fifteen minutes, I emerged from the dressing room looking completely different. My hair was a mass of bouncy, sexy curls, my makeup was darker and sexier, and I was wearing a knit top and skirt that clung to my curves perfectly. I had never felt so sexy.
Or so conflicted.
Yes, I was attracted to Tevin. Very. And now there was nothing keeping us apart. Or so it seemed. There was just one little issue.
That issue was me. I genuinely didn’t believe I was capable of having a lasting relationship with a man. Not only was there the issue with my parents. Being the daughter of two murderers tended to scare away most men. There was also something wrong with me. Which was why the few relationship I had been in ended so badly. This one, if it got that far, would too. And then what? Would Marguerite find out about my parents? Would she judge me? Would she fire me?
Oh God, was I in a worse position than ever?
When I heard the front doorbell chime, signaling Tevin’s arrival, I turned to my boss, and said, “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“You’re welcome.” She gave me a quick hug—something she’d never done before—then a little push toward the front lobby. “Now go. Have fun. Introduce that man out there to the beautiful, confident, intelligent woman that you are.”
Confident, I was not. Not in the least. “I will.”
Her expression sobered slightly. “Do I need to remind you of the rules?”
“No, of course not.”
She continued anyway, “Only one drink. Keep to public places.”
We’d already broken the second rule.
“No sex on the first date,” she warned.
My cheeks heated. That one, well, technically we hadn’t broken that one, since our first date had been the trip to Ludington. “No worries.”
“Good. Have fun.”
My heart started pounding again as I clattered down the hallway. I took a deep breath before opening the door leading out to the lobby. The extra oxygen did nothing to help settle the deranged butterflies zooming through my insides.
I pulled open the door.
Tevin was sitting on the couch, one ankle resting on the opposite knee.
He looked relaxed and so incredibly handsome. When our gazes met, a brilliant smile blossomed across his face, touching each feature. He pushed to his feet and started walking toward me as I clicked across the lobby’s polished stone floor.
“You look incredible,” he said, catching my hands in his as soon as I stepped within reach.
“Thanks.” Cheeks sizzling, I gave him a quick head-to-toe perusal. “You look pretty good yourself.” Laughing, even though my insides were a twisted up mess, I said, “I see you remembered our rules. Jacket, button down shirt, dress shoes.”
“I tried.” He motioned toward the door. “Shall we go?”
“Sure.”
He led me outside and into the waiting limo. Recognizing the driver, I gave him a little grin and a “Nice to see you again,” greeting as I ducked into the car. I watched Tevin climb aboard as I settled onto the buttery soft leather seat. He folded his large frame into the seat next to me and draped one arm over the back.
He smelled great. And, even though I was now more anxious than ever, I had to admit it felt good sitting beside him, the heat of his body warming mine. I gave an audible sigh.
“Am I that boring?” Tevin asked, laughter in his voice. He pinched my chin and turned it so I was looking at him.
Our gazes met, and my heart did a triple flip in my chest. I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off by slanting his mouth over mine.
My heart jerked. My lungs deflated. Then a surge of heat blazed through my body. I whimpered. I hesitated. And then, when I simply couldn’t fight it any longer, I surrendered. The kiss quickly changed from a soft seduction to a fierce possession. His tongue pushed into my mouth and filled it with his decadent flavor. As a rush of need blazed through my body, I melted against him, my curves pressing into his hard, lean bulk. A sigh slipped up my throat and echoed in our joined mouths when one of his hands cupped my breast. A buzz of electricity snapped and sparked all around us.
Never, not in my entire life, had I felt such overwhelming chemistry with a man. It was magical, and for one moment, I let myself hope it would never fizzle out, that it was real.
By the time the kiss had ended, I was breathless and a little dizzy and disorientated. Snuggling into his embrace, I murmured, “I’m so glad to see you. To be with you tonight.”
“I take it this means you’re not upset with me for talking to Marguerite?”
“No, I’m not upset. A little surprised, maybe. I thought you would pick someone
else. Another girl.” I tipped my head back to find that he was looking at me with the oddest expression on his face. A chill swept up my spine. “Tevin, is something wrong?”
“No.”
It was a short word, and yet it felt heavy. “Are you sure?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He cupped my cheek. “But there’s something we need to talk about.”
Random thoughts popped into my head. None of them made any sense, not after what he’d just done, talking to Marguerite about me. Was he about to give me the this-doesn’t-work-for-me speech? Already? Was he sick? Was he moving? Had he lied about something? “Okay.”
His gaze dropped. He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know how to say this. But I have to. I owe you the truth.”
The truth?
About what?
I swallowed hard.
I was about to be crushed. That had to be it.
The fantasy was over before it had barely begun.
Chapter 8
“Daryl, after what’s happened between us, I can’t…I have something I must tell you.” Taking my hand in his, he coaxed me to swivel to face him. He took my free hand in his as well. “I haven’t been exactly honest with you.” He visibly swallowed.
I’d never seen him like this. He looked unsure. Nervous.
Guilty.
My heart sank. A million possibilities raced through my mind, none of them good. A part of me wanted to clap my hands over my ears. Was this wonderful, magical thing about to fall apart? Already? Well…at least if it ended now, that meant I would avoid a crushing heartbreak, like I had suffered the last time.
It would only be slightly devastating.
My insides twisted. More than slightly devastating, maybe.
“What do you mean?” I asked, realizing, as my stomach churned and my heart thumped how much I did want this thing between us to go somewhere. As scary as it was, I didn’t want it to be over yet. I really, honestly didn’t. The thought of never seeing Tevin again…it made me feel a little sick.
“Well, I told you I owned a landscaping company. And I kind of led you to believe that I have less money than I really do.”
I sucked in a breath. Okay, this I could handle. Money. It was about money. He wasn’t telling me he had a fatal disease or was still legally married to some other woman or had asked for a date with me tonight so he would have the chance to dump me more gently before going out with one of the other girls. “But, you also admitted you’d inherited some money from a family member…?”
“The truth is I inherited a lot of money.”
“Okay.” So that was why he looked so torn? Was he feeling that guilty for lying to me? “Tevin, that’s not a big deal, though I wish I understood why you lied. It wasn’t necessary. I told you I understood your wishing to be judged based upon what you’ve accomplished for yourself, rather than what the balance of your checkbook reads.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was one of those guys who lives easy, drawing my trust fund payments and partying all the time.”
“Why would I think that? You haven’t given me that impression at all.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t. Maybe you’re different.” He shook his head. “No, I know you’re different. Now. Which is why I’m telling you the truth. In the beginning, I didn’t know if I could trust you.” Releasing one of my hands, he shoved his fingers through his hair. “I’ve had people judge me in the past. It got to the point where I didn’t know who was a true friend and who was after my money. This was especially true when it came to women. Women like Alexis. And Katarina. And Josephine.” He shook his head.
“Oh.” I swallowed, appreciating for the first time why he hadn’t responded to any of the girls Marguerite had selected for him. “In that case, I can’t blame you for not liking any of those women, if they gave you that impression. You apologized to me for pushing me into making that deal with you. Well, I’m sorry about pushing you into the Premier membership. I was being selfish, too.”
His gaze jerked away. “There’s more,” he said to the wall behind me. “A lot more.”
A huge lump caught in my throat. Where was this conversation going? He still looked so nervous and unsure and…guilty. What else had he been hiding from me? And why? “What is it?”
“My real, my full, name is Crown Prince Viktor Tijn of Mordova.”
Crown Prince?
Crown. Prince?
Crown Prince! Oh no.
Really? Really?
“What?” I felt like someone had just slammed me in the head with a brick. Crossing my arms over my chest, I held myself to keep from trembling as Tevin hurried through an explanation. I was so confused. I could hear what Tevin was saying, but my brain couldn’t comprehend it.
“I’m a prince, Daryl. Of a small country in Eastern Europe,” he said at the end of his speech.
My gaze zoomed up and down his body, looking for something, some sign that he was a prince, or wasn’t a prince. It had to be a lie. Or a game. Or a silly trick. Why would he lie? “No, you’re not. You’re not even foreign. You speak perfect English. American English. With an American accent. What is this? Some kind of trick?”
“I attended US boarding schools until I was thirteen.” His gaze finally found mine again.
“A prince?” I repeated, still not sure what to believe.
“Yes.”
“A genuine prince.” I could hear what I was saying but for some reason the words still weren’t sinking in.
A prince?
Really?
As in, royalty? As in…successor to some kind of kingdom?
No, please.
If he was a prince…my mind raced. I recalled all the media attention Kate Middleton got after becoming Prince William’s fiancée.
The press would have a field day with me. Daughter of two convicted murderers. There was no way his family would allow him to marry someone like me.
He cleared his throat. “Daryl, you aren’t saying anything.”
“I’m not sure what to say. Is this for real? Please tell me this is some kind of prank?”
“It’s real, Daryl.”
“Your name. It isn’t Tevin Page?” My hands were shaking harder than ever.
“No.”
“It’s…?”
“Viktor.”
Viktor. Did he look like a Viktor? No. Okay, maybe. Did this beautiful man with that gorgeous body look like a prince from someplace in Europe? No. Okay, maybe.
“Daryl, what are you thinking?”
What was I thinking? That I’d just stepped into some crazy reality TV show? That my dream, which I had only begun to believe might come true, was now completely obliterated? “Where did Tevin Page come from?”
“I had a friend named Tevin in school. And Page just popped into my head.”
“Does Marguerite know?”
“She does. She’s known me since I first came to the US, since before Tevin Page. I’ve been living here for almost one year. Eleven months ago my parents told me I had to be married. They had selected three potential brides for me. Unfortunately, when I met them, I felt no connection to any of them. While arranged marriages are still very common in my culture, particularly among members of the royal family, I wanted more. I wanted a true marriage, based on respect, admiration, yes, but also friendship, chemistry, love.”
“Marriage? Love?” My head was spinning. It was too soon to be hearing those words. Much too soon. Like…a year too soon. When he found out the truth about my family, he wouldn’t be saying those words to me. “Tell me you aren’t--” I couldn’t get the words out.
“Asking you to marry me? No. Not yet. But I would like you to come to my country to meet my family.”
“Meet your family?” All I could do is repeat what he said. I still couldn’t grasp the reality of what was happening. Yes, I’d suspected he wasn’t telling me the truth about the house and the car and the plane and the boat. But I figured he was maybe some rich guy’s son who had been smart with his inh
eritance. I’d never, not in my wildest dreams, thought he might be from another country, let along the potential leader of that foreign land.
What countries still had kings and queens, anyway?
I looked at him then down at my hands. They were clenched together, knuckles white. As my confusion lifted, I gradually became aware of the disappointment simmering below it.
“Daryl, I’m asking you to meet my family because—“
“Tevin, Viktor, whatever, you don’t know me, and I obviously don’t know you. But you want me to hop on a plane and go to some foreign country?”
“I wanted you to know me, just me, first. Then I wanted you to meet Prince Viktor. Because if you had met Prince Viktor from the start, you most likely never would have known me as just a man. A man who wants you so much I can barely think about living a single day without you. Maybe it’s crazy to be saying this after such a short time, but I think I’m falling in love with you, Daryl.”
I was so shaken by what he’d told me, I couldn’t speak. Dozens of questions were whirling around in my head. What would he do when he found out about my mom and dad? What would his parents think? Did his potential girlfriends have to meet some standard? But one thing I knew for certain. Tevin, the man I had spent the last week dreaming about, believed he was falling in love with me.
And, as insane as it was, I knew I was falling in love with him. Already. After only spending a few precious hours with him.
God, I was petrified.
I had to tell him about my parents. He had to know.
Tevin took my hands in his once again. His thumbs stroked across the backs. This time, as his gaze met mine, I saw no guilt, no doubt, no shame. “Daryl, I’m sorry for keeping my true identity a secret. It was hard, and there were times I wanted to tell you everything. But I held back until I felt you knew me well enough to know whether you really liked me for who I am inside.”
“I kind of understand. Sort of. Because…” I swallowed. “There’s something you don’t know about me, too. And maybe I haven’t told you because I was afraid of how you would judge me.”
“What is it?”
My insides twisted into a knot. It was hard to breathe, let alone speak. “My parents are in prison.”
