Royal Seduction

by Donna Clayton

  They laughed like school chums all the way back to the dressing room.

  From behind the curtain, Faye continued with the important part of their ongoing conversation, “If it’s any consolation, Riley really was stuck in an all-day meeting. I was stuck there with him.”

  Catherine held a fuzzy pink top in place under her chin and looked at her reflection while waiting for her friend. “That doesn’t explain why he’s been sidestepping me at every turn. Makes a girl feel unwanted.”

  Faye stepped out of the cubical, and Catherine gasped.

  “It’s perfect,” she told Faye, excitement energizing her tone. “That color makes your eyes just pop.”

  “I don’t know—”

  “Don’t be ridiculous! It’s perfect.” Catherine edged around until she was between Faye and the mirror. She hoped she wasn’t being too intrusive, but she asked, “Faye, would you take your hair down? I’d like to see how long it is.”

  The woman’s blue eyes darted toward the floor.

  “Oh, don’t go all shy on me now.” Catherine plunked a playful fist on her hip. “I’ve bared my soul about Riley and how he’s made me feel. All I’ve asked you to do is try on a few clothes and take the pins from your hair.”

  “Okay, okay.” Faye removed the clip securing her twist and shook her head, releasing her brown tresses.

  “Wow! It’s so shiny.” Boldly, Catherine reached up and slid Faye’s glasses off her face. “Have you ever thought about contacts? These glasses hide your lovely eyes.”

  Faye flinched, but she allowed her eyeglasses to be removed.

  Catherine blinked. “Faye, you’re beautiful.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Oh, but you are.” Catherine circled her friend. “And the cut of that dress!” She let out a low whistle. “Really accentuates the back stairwell, if you know what I mean. I vote that you buy it.”

  “I can’t buy this,” Faye said. “It would be a waste of money. I don’t wear clothes like this to work.” Her mouth twisted ironically. “And I barely have time to go home and feed my cat, let alone find time for a life outside the clinic.”

  That stopped Catherine in her tracks. “But why?” Faye was only six years older than she; surely she had a whole life in front of her.

  Uneasiness had Faye’s body tensing. Catherine knew immediately that she’d probed into something much too personal.

  She was about to apologize and back her way out of the subject when Faye softly said, “It’s my own fault.”

  A perceptible heaviness had the air in the small dressing-room area feeling thick. Catherine waited to see if Faye intended to tell her more.

  “I’ve been working on getting the health clinic off the ground for years,” she told Catherine. “People don’t realize how much planning goes into such a business endeavor.”

  “You helped with the inception of the idea?” Bewilderment knit Catherine’s brow. “But I read the newspaper accounts. Your name wasn’t mentioned once. It was, um—” she tapped her chin, trying to remember “—a Dr. David—”

  “Graham.” A storm churned in Faye’s blue eyes. “Yeah, once the clinic received approval and the plans were drawn up, he sort of took over as spokesperson. Whenever the public was involved, anyway. But I was the one in the trenches.”

  “How unfair.”

  Faye shrugged. “All that mattered to me was to see my idea come to fruition. Anyway, back to why I don’t have a life. Early on, I hawked my proposal to anyone who would listen. First, I had to convince the hospital administrators and the Board of Directors. And once they’d approved the idea, I had to meet with city officials and persuade them that the clinic would be a good thing for Portland.

  “And after everyone gave the go ahead,” she continued, “I was up to my neck in meetings with architects and engineers, building permit people and Board of Variance committee members, contractors and building inspectors.”

  She sighed, her shoulders rounding. “I became like a madwoman intent on seeing my vision fulfilled.” Faye paused, moistened her lips, concentrated on her reflection in the mirror as she softly revealed, “It cost me my marriage.”

  “Oh, honey.” Catherine placed a comforting hand on her friend’s arm. “I’m sorry.”

  Faye’s spine straightened and her chin tipped up courageously. “It was my own fault. I didn’t give my husband the time he needed. The time he deserved. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late.”

  Giving her arm a squeeze, Catherine murmured, “I’m sorry about the divorce.”

  “I’m not divorced. Yet. We’re separated. But I get sick to my stomach every day when I collect the mail, sure that the papers are going to arrive.”

  There was no proper response she could think of to make, so Catherine simply remained silent.

  Absently, Faye smoothed the cuff of the shirtdress. “Anyway, Mark had left, so I bent my head into the wind and kept working on getting the clinic built. It was difficult. Since the construction industry is a male-dominated world, I made myself as professional as possible.” She turned to face Catherine. “The result is the no-frills, no-fun, take-no-guff woman standing before you.” She attempted to smile, but the result was kind of sad.

  Catherine’s thoughts started whirling as she tried to think of a positive spin to place on all that Faye had said. Finally, she blurted, “So it’s all a mask. The real you is hiding in there somewhere.”

  Quietly, but firmly, Faye said, “And that’s exactly how I want to keep it.”

  Confusion knitted Catherine’s brow. “But why, Faye? You’re a beautiful—”

  “I’m not,” Faye insisted, cutting Catherine off. “I don’t like the real me, to tell you the truth. The real me got her priorities all screwed up. She messed up everything and now she just has to live with what she’s done.”

  Empathy made Catherine’s heart go all warm and fuzzy. “You’re being way too hard on yourself. The clinic is a wonderful place. And you were the one who made it happen.” She shifted, her head tilting a fraction. “Faye, since the clinic was your baby, why aren’t you running the place?”

  “Oh, that was David Graham’s idea,” she said. “He felt we needed someone flashy in the job. That’s why he had me recruit Dr. Richie. And I was made second in command.”

  Catherine could tell the subject was a bone sliver that stuck in Faye’s craw.

  “But now he’s gone,” Catherine couldn’t help but point out, “and Riley’s in the position. Does Dr. Graham even know you’re interested in the job?”

  “I’m a woman, Catherine. Dr. Graham hasn’t promoted a woman to a top managerial position in, well, ever.” Faye raised an agitated hand to her hair, fidgeting. “It doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that the clinic is open to the public.”

  Catherine opened her mouth to respond, but Faye exclaimed, “What am I saying? Of course, it matters. Running the clinic should have been my job.”

  Meeting Catherine’s gaze in the mirror, Faye’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. That was a terrible outburst.”

  “Don’t apologize. I’m just happy you feel safe enough to confide in me.”

  “I like Riley,” Faye rushed to say. “And he’s doing a great job at the clinic. It was actually good of him to accept it since things are such a shambles.”

  “Yes. But he’s not really happy there.”

  Evidently, Faye hadn’t noticed. “Really? Wow, what I wouldn’t give to become director.” She heaved a frustrated sigh. “But Dr. Graham won’t go for it.”

  “Surely he knows of all you’ve done up to this point.”

  “I’m not sure he does. Although I have no idea why he wouldn’t. He’s got this way of overlooking me.”

  “Well, we’ve got to change that,” Catherine announced. “And wearing this dress to work on Monday—with your hair down—is just the start!”

  “I don’t know that I want to be noticed for my physical attributes, Catherine.” Faye attempted to take a backward
step. “I want to be respected for my brains and my ability.”

  “As you said, you’re a woman. And as a woman you have to use your brains and your ability and whatever attributes you can to get ahead.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Get in there and try on those other outfits.”

  For several long seconds, Catherine feared her friend would refuse. But suddenly Faye’s beautiful eyes lit with excitement, and something else, too. Determination? And with a new purpose, she spun on her toe and disappeared into the cubicle.

  Not too much later they were back out on the sidewalk with several new shopping bags in tow.

  “Thanks, Catherine,” Faye said, her cheeks flushed with marvelous color. “That was so much fun.”

  “The fun isn’t over. We passed a salon.” She indicated up the street with a jerk of her head. “Let’s go have a facial—my treat. And then I want to show you how a little makeup can set off your best features.”

  Faye admitted, “I’ve never been big on makeup. Never really had the time.”

  “If you want to be noticed—and you deserve to be, Faye—then you’ll start taking the time. Besides, you don’t need a lot,” Catherine assured her. “It’s all in the technique. And believe me when I tell you that there was a time when technique was all I had going for me.”

  “Oh, stop.” Faye smiled, and when Catherine didn’t return it, she looked askance. “You are kidding, right?”

  Catherine shook her head. “I was a real ugly duckling all through my teens. But I like to think I’ve conquered most of my problems.”

  “But…I don’t understand. You’re gorgeous.”

  Laughter was Catherine’s best defense against her dark past. “Yeah, well, I’m obviously not gorgeous enough for some people.”

  Luckily, Faye was astute enough to pick up the particular person to whom Catherine was alluding.

  “Listen, I shouldn’t say too much. Riley is my boss and all that.” Faye’s voice lowered as she said, “But I think we should talk about…you know…what you can do.”

  “I wish I knew what to do. I can’t even seem to capture his attention. Mmm, maybe if I walked into the clinic stark naked…?”

  Faye laughed. “No, please. We don’t want the police involved. But what I was thinking was a lure of some kind.”

  Intrigued, Catherine slowed her steps, not wanting to miss a single word.

  “I know that Riley’s a sports buff,” Faye continued. “I see him reading the sports pages. He particularly likes basketball, but the Trail Blazers don’t start playing until the end of October.” Faye paused, then said, “How about tickets to an air show? There’s one going on just outside Portland this weekend. Airplanes are big and loud. And these do fancy spins and loops and other death-defying stunts.”

  “I agree that would be very much a man-thing.”

  “And they sell hot dogs, too.”

  “Hot dogs? You mean like sausages?”

  “Sort of. They’re a foot long, served on warm toasted buns and smothered in mustard.”

  “And American men like these foot-long hot dogs?”

  “They love them!”

  “So, trick planes and hot dogs? Why, you wicked woman.” Catherine chuckled. “I think I love you! How and where do I get tickets?”

  A smile flashed across Faye’s face. “We can ride out to Hillsboro Airport this afternoon and pick up tickets for tomorrow’s show.”

  “Okay, but I still have a bit of a problem. If I buy tickets for tomorrow, how do I reach Riley to invite him? He’s gotten awfully good at evading me. “

  “I know the man’s schedule like the back of my hand,” Faye bragged. “And he’s fairly consistent. He doesn’t actually work Saturdays and Sundays, but he always shows his face at the clinic, walks around greeting everyone, checking things out. I know exactly where he’ll be tomorrow morning at nine. If we coordinate this right, he’ll be trapped.” Her eyes glittered as only a cunning woman’s could. “He’ll be ours.” Murmuring, she quickly corrected, “Or rather, yours.”

  A bold and daring thrill shot through Catherine clean to the tips of her toes. “Air-show tickets, foot-long hot dogs and a fiendish plan of attack. I’d say Riley is one man who is pretty much done for, wouldn’t you?”

  Catherine stood at the end of the long corridor, her heart in her throat. What if, she wondered, Riley turned her down after she’d gone to all this trouble?

  All this trouble?

  The only trouble she’d gone to was to conspire with Faye in order to be alone with Riley. Scheming and conniving were so out of the realm of normal for a von Husden. Catherine knew her father would be appalled. She also knew she should feel wretched about cornering Riley like this.

  As she waited for Faye’s signal, Catherine was plagued with many emotions. She grinned. Excitement, yes. Exhilaration, yes. Mischievousness, oh yes! But shame? Not even a smidgen.

  Well, maybe a smidgen, but it wasn’t enough to keep her from going through with her plan.

  When Catherine saw Riley enter the clinic, she took a quick moment to ogle those broad shoulders of his and then she ducked back behind the corner so he wouldn’t see her. She had no idea what it was about Riley that had her feeling this overwhelming…something.

  She couldn’t even put a name to what he made her feel. All she knew was the urge to see him, to be with him, was great. She felt like a schoolgirl in pursuit of her first beau.

  But you aren’t a schoolgirl, the voice in her head warned. You’re an adult. A grown woman.

  “All the better,” she whispered gleefully. The tactics employed by a mature woman could be oh-so-much-more seductive. Catherine had to slap her hand across her mouth to keep from snickering out loud.

  True to her word, Faye fell into step with Riley when he was about halfway down the hall. Catherine listened as they greeted each other and then chatted about various issues pertaining to clinic business. They stopped, as Faye had predicted, right in front of the door that led to the staff break room, not two feet from where Catherine was hiding.

  “So everything’s running smoothly,” Faye said.

  “Thanks for the update. But what are you doing here on a Sunday?” he asked.

  Catherine tensed, but Faye’s tone was completely relaxed as she replied, “Oh, I didn’t have any plans and I thought I’d just check in. How about you? Do you have any plans today?”

  What a nervy woman that Faye was, Catherine silently surmised. If the von Husdens ever wanted to usurp a country some day in the future, Catherine wouldn’t hesitate to recruit Faye as a spy.

  “Nah,” Riley said. “I’m just going to get a cup of coffee and then head to my office. There’s a stack of journals waiting to be read.”

  “Sounds exciting.” There was a smile in Faye’s voice. “Well, I’ll see you around, then.”

  “Faye—” Riley paused, then Catherine heard the leather soles of his shoes scuff as he shifted his weight. “Did you change your hair? It looks nice.”

  Elation welled in Catherine. Riley was sweet to notice that Faye was wearing her hair down today. It would boost Faye’s ego, Catherine knew.

  “Thanks, Riley.” Pleasure brightened Faye’s words, and then Catherine heard her friend’s footsteps retreating down the corridor.

  The handle of the break-room door clicked and the hinges gave a slight squeak. Then Catherine heard the door close, presumably behind Riley.

  He was in the break room. All alone.

  Trapped.

  With her heart thudding a powerful beat, Catherine stole from her hiding place and stood in front of the break-room door. Faye turned around, gave her a smile and a thumbs-up sign for luck. After returning the signal and adding a hasty wave of thanks, Catherine inhaled deeply and focused all her energy into launching her attack.

  Riley’s dark gaze widened when she entered the room.

  “Catherine.”

  Surprise, surprise!

  A smile trailed over her lips. She coul
dn’t have stopped it had she wanted to, which she didn’t. For some reason, she didn’t care if he spoke her name with surprise or happiness or irritation. All she knew was that she liked the way her name rumbled from his throat.

  “Hi, there,” she greeted softly, silkily. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I feel like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”

  “Yeah.” He looked nervous as he poured coffee into his mug. “I’ve been busy with meetings and…well, more meetings. Coffee?”

  “I’d love some.” She sauntered across the tiny room, pulled a foam cup from the stack and held it out toward him. Rich steam wafted and Catherine made a big deal of inhaling it, closing her eyes, expanding her chest and playing up her breasts to their best advantage by arching her spine just the slightest bit. She guessed that was how a woman would use her wiles to capture a man’s attention.

  “Smells good,” she murmured.

  She glanced up at him through lowered lashes, pleased to see that his gaze had zeroed right in on the pair of bull’s eyes she’d presented just for him. She’d worn a fine-gauge sweater in palest pink, and her trousers fit her rather snugly. She’d chosen the outfit to show off all that she had to offer him. Clearly, he’d noticed.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Welcome.”

  Although he hadn’t actually added anything to his cup, he stirred the liquid almost vigorously. Catherine wanted to chuckle at his agitation, but she didn’t.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “Yeah, well…” he began to say as he backed up a half step, “I’ve been busy—”

  “With meetings,” she finished for him. She moved forward a half step, luxuriating in the enjoyment of just being close to him, even if it might end up being only for a moment or two. “You know, sometimes you have to make time for your friends. We are friends, aren’t we, Riley?”

  “Of course, Catherine.”

  “I mean, I didn’t do anything the night we went out that upset you, did I?” She splayed her free hand on his chest and felt the heat of him penetrating his shirt.