As she exited the elevator, the huge press crowd was there again. “What would happen if we just walked through the group?”
He shrugged. “I could shoulder our way through it, depends on how tame they are. Some crowds go nuts, trying to grasp at souvenirs.”
“Surely not these guys.” She eyed the camera equipment, the notepads. “They just want a story.”
She patted Stephen’s arm and said, “Let’s go talk to them.”
“Okay, but if I say hit the deck, you do that.”
She didn’t think that would ever be necessary.
He opened the door and created a space for her to stand. She stood a step higher than him and still couldn’t see over his head, but she began talking. “So, Prince Thad planned the first date and it was nothing like I’ve ever been on before, I mean, come on, singing at Times Square, dancing. I was enchanted. And he and I were kind of teasing back and forth in the car and he let slip he is willing to try anything, that he’s a daring kind of guy. Soooo…”
They all waited expectantly.
“You will just have to keep up and see if he lives up to that promise.”
They shouted out questions but let her pass, intrigued with where she was going next.
Her driver moved through the streets slower than she would like. But at last the car pulled up at Thad’s building.
A similar crowd had gathered, but they parted easily enough and cheered him all the way to the car. Her driver held open the door.
When Thad stepped in, she tried to fight his magnetism but found herself grinning openly anyway.
His smile started slowly and then grew larger and more relaxed. “Are we okay?”
“No.” She shrugged. “Everything is a disaster. But tonight isn’t about that. You’re right. Tonight is about playing a part, and honestly, having a little fun.”
He nodded, hesitantly. “Can we…talk about things…soon?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know.” She didn’t know if she could trust him. Would he be honest with her? “I mean we can, of course. Later.” He could talk. She didn’t have to believe him.
He settled back in his spot and seemed more relaxed. “So, are you going to tell me what we are doing tonight?”
“No way, not yet.” She loved having the upper hand. “But remember, you said you were perfectly comfortable doing things you’d never done before.”
His eyes brightened. “That’s right.”
“Well, prepare yourself for a night full of things I’m pretty certain you have never done before.”
“Awesome!” Thad eyed her in appreciation. “You really know how to plan an amazing date.”
“Ha! You don’t even know what we are doing yet.”
“No, but your opening is enough. I’m always open for new experiences and rarely find them.”
She believed that. With money at your disposal and a whole country at your feet. The man lived on a Mediterranean Island.
They pulled into a nondescript junkyard.
Teams of cars raced in after them, people pouring out with their cameras already flashing. The sun was a warm glow on the horizon and the poignant smell of sour garbage lingered when the breeze hit just right.
“Um, Sage?”
“This, Thad Valdez, is our first challenge.”
His eyes lit. And he eyed the area with new interest.
A large van with flashing lights and camera equipment on the roof pulled in, honking people out of the way.
Then a man in camo and a group of six other people joined them. He waved to the crowd, obviously enjoying the attention way too much. “We don’t usually get this much coverage. I’ll have to thank you later.”
Then he turned to Thad and Sage and gestured that four of the others join them. “You six are my challengers for the evening.”
Thad reached for Sage’s hand and squeezed it. Cameras flashed from all directions. His whisper sent happy shivers across her shoulder blades. “Good call, Sage.”
The man introduced everyone to each other and then his team laid out a table, complete with tablecloth, beautiful cutlery, and all the settings in a matter of moments. They placed a covered dish in the center.
Sage swallowed twice. She hadn’t been considering that some of the challenges would be uncomfortable for her as well.
The men brought old barrels from the junkyard and each contestant took a seat.
The other challengers were difficult to read, and quiet. Sage wondered where all these people came from. Then the dish cover lifted and she forgot everything else.
In the center of the plate a massive pile of wiggling writhing worms made their way off the plate and looked so altogether disgusting that Sage fought back a drive heave.
Thad chuckled under his breath. “I can take this one.”
She opened her mouth, then promptly shut it. “You sure?”
He nodded. “I’ve had worse.”
So relieved she could kiss him even though he might be blackmailing her and ruining her career, she squeezed his hand.
The man said, “Okay, one of you gets to have a good meal before we begin. You decide which of the pair eats a worm.”
Discussion began between the other four which Sage and Thad mostly ignored. She was staring into his face, and the hopeful expression in his eyes mesmerized her. She didn’t get “Bad guy” vibe from him in any way. But his actions, and all evidence pointed to the fact that he was.
While watching her face, he reached his hand out, grabbed a worm and tossed it in his mouth. With barely a chew, he swallowed it whole.
Cameras clicked, and many applauded. He nodded his head, accepting their cheers.
Sage was amazed, and less inclined to ever kiss him after seeing a wiggling worm dangle from his mouth. But then a space underneath the worms opened up as they wiggled off the plate, and she saw what was underneath.
Their director smiled. “Oh yes, and the other one of you will eat our locusts. They have been fried, buttered and sprinkled with a heavy amount of seasoning.”
Sage swallowed.
Thad whispered in her ear, again leaving her with delicious goosebumps. “Just pretend it’s a cracker.”
She looked at the crowds around them. Several cameras were zooming in close to her. Thad’s eyes gave her confidence. So she straightened her shoulders, took a huge breath, grabbed a locust, closed her eyes and dropped it in her mouth. The wings poked out through her lips and she almost spit the whole thing out, but Thad’s voice calmed her. “We’re going to do something fun next. I bet we build something, or they might take us out on the water. Keep chewing. It’s just a crunchy cracker. You got this.” His low murmuring voice kept her distracted until she swallowed.
As soon as the others had each eaten their starting meal, the man gave them bottled water. Gratefully, Sage drank the whole eight ounces as quickly as possible.
They moved to the junk yard next and were given a building challenge. Thad looked more than impressed when she knew how to weld.
And the night progressed with one challenge after another. They lost one of the other couples because they spent time in a dog kennel for one of the challenges and she was allergic to dogs . As the challenges continued she felt closer to Thad than she ever had. They sat close together, relied on each other for strength and held hands as often as they could. She felt as if nothing this afternoon had ever happened. The press faded away in the background, and everything felt real and right and important. What they had this evening was special, and she never wanted it to end. She didn’t let herself face their coming conversation.
Their leader told them they were now headed to the final challenge. “This challenge has only a sixteen percent completion rate”
Sage predicted Thad’s muscle flexing even before he began.
They drove in the van across town towards the Bronx. They parked outside the High Bridge. The pedestrian walkway all but empty tonight, they made their way quickly to a man who had a set of harnesses at hi
s feet.
Thad walked slower.
Sage reached a hand out around his waist. “What is it?”
“You’ve done it.”
“Done what? Oh! Found something you’ve never done before?”
“Worse. I’m awful at this.” His widened eyes found hers. “We’re bungee jumping, right?”
“With a twist.”
“What do you mean?” He walked slower.
“We are going together.”
He started to shake his head, then stopped. “This is not my thing.”
She searched his face. He wasn’t just teasing her or slightly nervous. His hands shook. His face drained of color and he had stopped walking, his eyes darting to the harnesses and back to her.
“Thad, you don’t have to do it.”
He nodded.
“But we might not win unless you do.” She felt her mouth crook up in a twisted smile and he groaned. “You didn’t just say that.”
“I did. I have to admit. I knew there would be something that would break you.”She took a risk, jabbing him like this, but she suspected it was just what he needed. He had five brothers.
She reached for his hand. “Come on. At least walk over there.”
He clung to her fingers in a tight grip. And they inched toward the edge.
“It’s like the locust. We’ll close our eyes and think of other things.” She choked on her laugh.
“Yeah right, like that’s going to help while I am free falling through the air.”
“Well, it was worth a try. Look, I’ll be right with you.”
He tentatively grabbed a harness, and they each put them on as instructed. Then the man attached them together, facing each other. Thad didn’t speak, but his face still had no color. His breathing was shallow and a line of sweat beaded on his forehead.
Sage started to worry about him.
They moved over to the edge, the water moving below, well over 100 feet down. When they were at the very edge and Thad closed his eyes, he said, “Okay, I’m here. I still don’t know Sage.”
She reached her hands out around his back and hugged him to her, “You don’t have to.” Then she tipped them both over, head first down off the bridge.
“What!!” His shout continued for most of his fall.
Sage felt energy course through her as they fell, heading for the water below. Then, when she thought the tips of her hair would break the water’s surface, they bounced back up.
Thad whooped. She turned her attention back to him, and he was all smiles. “I love you Sage Parker!!” He wrapped his arms around her as they fell back down with the second bounce and pressed his lips to hers. “Thank you for this. No one has ever gotten me off the edge.”
Her whole body tingled. The adrenaline coursed through her, and his kiss zinged everything with extra electricity. That was a jump she would not soon forget.
The other couple refused to jump and so Sage and Thad were the winners. They took pictures for the crowd, smiled, and laughed.
Then their driver picked them back up and all the press ran to their cars, pulling out after them.
“Stay at my place tonight.”
“What?” She half wanted to accept, but couldn’t believe he meant what he just said.
“No, stay at my apartment in your own room, we’ll bring your bodyguard.” He waved at the cars following. “I’ll feel so much better if you are with me and the penthouse security. We’ll do something to get rid of these guys in the next couple days.”
She couldn’t imagine what he thought he could do about freedom of the press, but she believed he could handle it.
“We need to talk, Sage. It might be late. Just stay.”
They pulled into his building garage, the door shutting behind him and the blessed silence and very aloneness of the space convinced Sage. “Okay. I’ll have to borrow a toothbrush.” She looked down, “And a pair of sweats.”
“You’ve got it.”
They took the elevator straight to his apartment. And again she admired the beauty and comfort of the space.
“I got a new hot tub installed, wanna try it out while we talk?”
She laughed, but then recognized he was serious.
“There are several women’s suits in the bathroom area. I’m sure one of them will work, if not I won’t mind the alternative.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and she laughed.
“We’ll make one work.”
His pretend disappointment lightened her mood.
She changed quickly and grabbed a towel. The hot tub sat at pool deck level, and a lovely steam lifted off the top of the water. He joined her, his muscles rippling, his abs tight and firm, his thighs thick and his arms so nicely tanned, she had to force herself not to reach out and run a finger along his bicep.
They stepped in the water and it felt wonderfully soft and rich and did not smell of chlorine.
“We use a special blend of minerals. This is actually good for your skin.”
She sunk in the water up to her chin and the jets started. “Oh this is lovely.” The bubbles rose up all around her, gently caressing her skin while the harder jets sent pulses through her calves. “I could stay here a long time.”
Thad sat down across from her. And disappointment jabbed that he was so far away. She chastised herself but then gave up. Of course she noticed he was handsome.
“So, Zachary.”
Her gaze snapped back to his face. “Zachary.”
“He’s quite a character.”
She considered him. What was he saying?
“I’m afraid I won’t be with him much longer.” The words came out before she had even thought her decision through, but as soon as she said them, she knew that was the direction she had to take.
His eyes narrowed. “Just take your cut and run?”
“What?” Her anger rose. “Is that what you’re gonna do? Sell out, take an unfair percentage as the buyer and the seller and then retire in luxury?”
He laughed. “I’m already retired in luxury. All I do is “retire in luxury.”
She pressed her lips together, considering. She didn’t know anything about the very wealthy. Everyone she knew was always out to get more, to increase their portfolio and their total wealth by as many million as they could. And here was someone who laughed at the idea?
“Sage. I don’t have to work. The Valdez family fortune is solid for generations upon generations, with a steadily growing wealth none of us will ever use in any Valdez lifetime.”
She paused to consider all he said. “Then why are you considering such an unethical sale and purchase of those properties?”
“I’m not.” He grinned. “And if Zachary fed you those lies, then he also fed me the lie that you are taking a forty percent cut of the profit so that you stay quiet?”
“He told you that? What a weasel.” She was ill to think she had supported that man, stood on his arm at any event ever.
“So he played us both, played us off each other.” She wanted to slap his face.
“And all he ever really wanted from any of this was a chance at those properties.” Thad shook his head. “He talked to me about it even before I came. There is one the crown would like to sell actually, but to a good buyer.” Thad shook his head. “Not Zachary.”
“So you aren’t trying to blackmail me into keeping your secrets?”
“Well now, I didn’t say that. I’d love to blackmail you into keeping my secrets.” He moved across the water to come sit beside her. “But, I’d have to tell you my secrets first.”
“That could be fun. What kind of secrets do you have Thad?”
He lowered back in the water in the middle of the hot tub and then turned so that he could put one arm down on each side of her. “My secrets are the kind I only tell a special woman.”
Her heart moved up closer to her throat.
He moved closer to her mouth and face, but mostly mouth.
The steam rose up between them and she was mesmerized by his closenes
s and the lovely hot water. It lapped between them, tickling her neck and soon he was a breath away, his mouth hovering over her own. “I meant what I said in our free fall.”
She thought for only a moment and then gasped. He covered her lips with his own and pulled her off the bench and up against him in the water, cradling her body against him. She responded to his attention with equal urgency. While she kissed him, a great light filled her. If he wasn’t involved in anything unethical, then she really had no reason not to pursue whatever they had between them as long as she wanted. And he loved her? How could he mean that? Or know that?
But she didn’t care. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sank lower while he moved his mouth over hers.
With swollen lips, she pulled away, laughing. “That was a long time coming.”
He reached for her hand. “You’re not kidding. I’ve been wanting to kiss you soundly since I first saw you.”
“Oh really? While you were up hand checking and fist bumping the audience?”
“Exactly. I saw you and thought, now, there’s a woman who needs to be kissed soundly.”
She smiled. “MMM. I like the sound of that.”
He sat back against the hot tub and reached for her hand. “What are we going to do?”
Sage frowned. “I’m so happy I’m not alone in this, but the problem remains that we are currently both CEOs for a company that tried to blackmail and trick us into unethical practices.”
“I think Zachary’s going down.”
“The whole company has to go down, and it’s killing me.”
“I don’t see why.” Thad twisted his lips. “I think we can pull this off so that Zachary is portrayed as the crook, you are the hero, and I’m the jester.”
She squeezed his hand. “Hardly a fair part for you.”
“But someone must be the jester.” His eyes held sadness. And she regretted with a huge wave of pain, all the things she had said to him earlier.
“I must apologize. Thad, I have never given you the respect you deserve. I am sorry. And if we ever get to be CEOs again, I promise to support you like you deserve.”
His eyes twinkled. “We may yet share this same position. I don’t think our choices are limited to quit or break the law.”
A small puff of hope hovered about in her heart. “I really would like to salvage my career.”
The American (Billionaire Royals Book 6) Page 8
