“You can go ahead and say it now: I was right.” Ariel’s voice came over on the comms clearly. I could see her seated in the corner at what the club called an intimate bar. Whatever the hell that meant.
“I will not say that you were right, but it did get the job done. I was able to plant bugs. So that was handy.”
“Oh come on. You know you want to say it. I am a genius.”
I took a sip of my drink even as I started to giggle. She was a bloody genius. But I didn’t want her getting a swelled head about it. “What you are is diabolical. I think he was so focused on the fact that I was wet, he couldn’t really process much of anything else.”
“I told you. It’s not about you actually doing anything. It’s about getting in and getting as close as you can. Like simply give him the impression of your nakedness, and his brain will short circuit. He’s a guy.”
“How come you aren’t using your skills to torture some guy on a permanent basis?” I wanted to recall the question as quickly as it stumbled out of my mouth. I knew why, because for as long as I could remember Ariel had been in love with Michael. I was pretty sure my big brother was the sole reason she went to the Royal Guard. When we were kids, Ariel had always talked about adventures with the perfect-looking adventurous boyfriend. She wanted to chase something grand and fun, and she’d never once mentioned being a Royal Guard, at least not until Michael joined. But then it was all she talked about. The honor, the duty … Back then it had been kind of cute. Growing up, Ariel hadn’t had it easy. She’d completely transformed herself.
As we got older, I couldn’t understand why my brother didn’t see how awesome Ariel was. After all, she was my best friend. The times I’d tried to fix him up with her were numerous. Before Ariel had completely transformed herself, I’d thought he was a shallow twat who couldn’t look beyond the physical. Now, I knew differently.
I used to arrange to have Ariel meet me at home when I knew Michael was already there, and then I’d be conveniently late. I had her over for family dinner as often as possible. I had more of an excuse when Ariel joined the Guard with me because Ariel was all on her own on the main island. Her parents lived about forty-five minutes away by a ferry, a couple of islands over. So really, it was hospitality. But no matter what I tried, Michael wasn’t interested.
Now you know why. I still hadn’t figured out the best way to tell her yet. No matter what I said or did, it was going to hurt. She’d formulated her whole life around the possibility of being with my brother. No way in hell I would let her feel the same pain that I had or anything remotely close to it.
“Never mind about me torturing anybody. My plans are all centered on your brother.”
“You know, you should actually date other people. I mean Michael has Emily.” And was also making out with my boyfriend.
“You know I am a firm believer in one night stands. Nothing permanent … nothing is gonna hold me down. So as soon as Michael is ready, I’ll be there to pounce.”
That was Ariel in a nutshell with her single-minded focus. For years, I’ve been her sidekick on the Michael chain, trying to figure out all the scenarios in which I could make my brother love her. The problem was I couldn’t seem to make that happen.
“Okay, enough talk about your one day very hot relationship with my brother.”
“Fine. If you insist. Can you get any closer to them?”
I sighed. “I’ll give it a go, but it’s really crowded.”
“Welcome to the big city, country mouse. Not at all like back home, is it?”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” I said. “I’m starting to miss home.”
“We’re not in Kansas anymore.” Ariel laughed.
* * *
Penny
“My feet hurt.” I spoke into the hidden mic as I sipped my drink. I asked the bartender to give me plain apple juice in a highball glass with a couple of those big ice cubes to make it look like I was drinking something expensive and full of liquor. But alas, I wasn’t there to play. I was busy trying to keep an eye on Sebastian and his new buddy. Lucas. The two of them had developed a real bromance, and they were hitting the club and hitting on girls.
Ariel chuckled into my ear piece. “That is the cost of beauty.”
“Is it possible that the cost is too high?” I mumbled.
“This whole conversation is why I gave up on shoes, makeup and tight clothes. All that stuff screams uncomfortable,” Ariel groaned.
“Yes well, you can say that when you have perfect skin, look like a model and don’t need all the shopping because you look great in everything, including our uniforms. For the rest of us, those things are necessary. Right now I wish I had my tennis shoes on.”
“Well, those wouldn’t have gotten you into the club.”
Ariel had a point. As it was, we’d had to move heaven and earth to make sure that we got in. Never mind. I was there, and it was pretty cool. I didn’t ever get to go to places like that.
“You have our boy?”
“Yeah I’ve got him with his new boyfriend. They’re at the bar.”
Ariel chuckled. “Who is that guy to him? This is the third time this week.”
“Lucas. I heard him use his name. That’s all I got, but we need more information. Especially if this dude is going to spend more time with him.”
“Yeah, I think one of us is going to have to follow him soon,” Ariel said.
“Or we can ask the boys at Blake Security for a little help.”
“Get closer. See if you can hear them.”
“I’m not getting any closer,” I mumbled.
“Come on. You know you want to.”
And that was the thing. There was a part of me that did want to. The zing of electricity when our hands had touched the first day we met was undeniable. And now, every time he picked up his drink I watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. And when he smiled, I noticed how one corner of his lip tipped up before the other. I also spent an inordinate amount of time watching his full lips. And God help me if he laughed. Can you say, panties wet? My stomach clenched every time that happened.
You need to get your shit together. I was not here on a dating show. I was here to protect him. And it was time I started doing so.
“Okay. I’m going in.”
“Come on, Penny. Let’s get the show on the road. If you’re lucky, maybe he’ll hit on you and try to take you home. Your lucky day.”
No way was I telling Ariel the idea made me tingly. Because I was a damn professional.
It seemed I wasn’t immune after all.
Well, I just had to steel myself against it. I had zero interest in being in the legion of his admirers. Not that I could be anyway, because I was Royal Guard and he was the Crown Prince of Winston Isles, so I needed to get my shit together and stop daydreaming.
I finally took Ariel’s advice, picked up my drink and headed down to the other end of the bar. I took a seat a couple stools away from him, making sure to keep my face averted. A little redhead sent visual daggers my way as she pushed onto the stool next to Sebastian. I spoke softly against my glass. “Are you happy now? Looks like someone’s making her move.”
Ariel laughed. “Yep. I can see what’s happening. You going to let her steal your man?”
Sebastian’s friend leaned back and gave me the once over. Who was this guy? He and Sebastian were similar in a lot of ways. They were both tall and ridiculously good-looking. And there was something familiar about Lucas, but I couldn’t place it. Had he been to the Winston Isles? He wasn’t likely a member of court because his accent was thickly American.
But given everything the king had told me, I didn’t trust him or his motives. I didn’t trust anyone when it came to the prince. And that included the man himself. I took another sip of my drink and leaned over to hear more of what they were talking about. Something Lucas said made Sebastian laugh, and he threw his head back. The redhead used that opportunity to bump into Sebastian, spilling a little of her drink.
<
br /> In my ear, I could hear Ariel. “She’s pushy.”
I didn’t dare respond now that Sebastian was looking in my direction.
The redhead leaned toward him. “Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t get my drink on you, did I?”
Sebastian’s gaze slid over her. “No, you’re good.” He turned back to Lucas, but the redhead caught his attention again.
“Let me get you another one.”
With a cough, he reassured her. “You’re good. I promise.”
For the next five minutes, I was forced to watch the redhead keep trying to gain Sebastian’s attention. The whole flirting, hands-on handling. It made me grit my teeth, but Sebastian seemed mostly unaffected.
Before I was forced to endure more flirting, I noticed a quick slight-of-hand. At some point, Little Miss Too-Touchy-Feely had ordered the same drink as Sebastian. She fiddled with her glass one minute and the next with a nearly imperceptible movement, she switched their glasses. I blinked for a moment, not entirely sure what I’d seen. But then Ariel said, “Did I just see what I think I saw?”
Ariel jumped from her bar stool, presumably coming closer to give me back up if I needed it. I shook my head slightly, trying not to draw attention to myself. I could handle this. I made my move, spilling my drink very deliberately and precisely over the girl’s lower back tramp stamp.
The redhead jumped a mile high and lost her balance, tipping and nearly falling off of the stool.
“What the fuck?”
I leaned down to give her a hand. “I’m so sorry. Oh my gosh. Are you okay? I got it all over your back.”
She screamed. “You did that on purpose.”
“I promise I didn’t. I’m kind of a klutz. Ask him.” I indicated Sebastian.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Hey, Len. What are you doing here?”
I forced my expression to a sheepish one. “Meeting a friend. I didn’t see you. How’s it going?” I turned my attention back to the redhead. “I’ll buy you another one. If you want, I can take you to the bathroom and get some club soda on the stain.”
But Little Miss Touchy-Feely was it not having it. She shrugged out of my hands and stood on her own accord. “I can handle it myself.” She didn’t spare me or Sebastian and Lucas another look before she took off.
Sebastian grinned. “I’m pretty sure I should be thanking you, right now.”
“Like I said, it was an accident.” I turned away slightly and muttered into my comm unit. “Sent the girl to the bathroom, can you deal with her?”
“You got it. I’ll keep her occupied and Noah’s guys can grab her and wrap her up nice for the authorities.” Who knew that girl was a run of the mill asshole or if she’d been sent by someone. Either way, no way I could let her slip him whatever it was she put in his drink.
When I turned back, Sebastian was laughing. “I’ve seen your accidents. I believe it.”
I very deliberately slid my glance to his friend, and Sebastian clapped him on the back. “Len, meet Lucas. Lucas, this is my new neighbor, Len. I met her when her door was trying to best her.”
Lucas’s brows drew up. Then his gaze slid over me, and I met the look with an appraising one of my own. “I should meet that door.”
I ignored him.
Sebastian grabbed the drink the redhead had doctored, and I warned him. “If I were you, I wouldn’t drink that. I watched her. She switched your drinks. For all you know, she roofied it.”
Sebastian stared at me. “Are you serious right now?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
He frowned. “You know what? I’ll get a new one.”
“Lucky I was here.”
“Yeah, lucky.”
Sebastian stared at me for a long moment. “Join us for a drink.”
“Nah, I’m going to find my friend. See you around.” I tried to book it from the bar, hoping that Ariel had eyes on him. I needed to try and find the redhead. She’d probably gone to the bathroom. I hadn’t entirely believed the king when he said Sebastian’s life was in danger, but now … What had that girl put in his drink? After what I just saw, I was pretty sure the king hadn’t been overreacting all.
“Hey, wait up,” Sebastian called.
I turned around. “What is it?”
“Where are you running off to? I want to say thanks.”
“Told you. To find my friend. And really, it’s no big deal.” I shook my head.
“Oh, but it is a big deal.” His brow furrowed. “That could have been bad in ways you don’t even know.”
“No big deal, like I said.”
He stared at me. “I’m still trying to figure out what it is about you.”
“Just doing a good deed for the day.”
The crowd bustled us until we were forced to scuttle down a slightly darkened hallway. One of the busboys carrying a large basin ran by us. Sebastian whisked me out of the way. Unfortunately, that brought his body into direct contact with mine. Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
The moment his muscles were pressed against my breasts, my whole body went to red-alert mode. Or more like hyper-alert mode. Pulse racing. Breathing erratic. Brain on the fritz. Lady parts … well let’s not discuss the lady parts.
So when he leaned down closer to my face, I could only squeak in response. I stared at him as my body betrayed me, and I bit back a moan.
This is the crown prince. Get your shit together. I was his Royal Guard. I needed to remember that. Except none of that worked to cool the heat of my skin or the decidedly unprofessional tingling in my panties.
This is a job. This is a job. You will not lust after Sebastian Winston. My body had zero interest in obeying. Our eyes locked for just a moment, and his lips parted. “You smell incredible. Do you know that?”
That? Know what? He was asking me something. I wasn’t sure about the context of what he meant, or perhaps his proximity was clouding my brain. This had to be the way that he got away with murder. He would dull the senses and the rationality of any woman in a six-block radius. As superpowers went, I had to respect his. Because even though I was professional, even though I knew better, I still couldn’t help myself. I nodded my head. But when he leaned closer, the rational part of my brain clicked into focus and I said, “What are you doing?”
Sebastian leaned closer still, and my eyes fluttered shut. But instead of pressing his lips against mine, he shifted his head down a little further before dusting his nose along the skin of my neck. Heat pulsed between my thighs, and my knees wobbled. Air. I needed more air.
He blinked in confusion. “There’s something really familiar about the way you smell,” he whispered against my skin, and then he backed off, deliberately taking several steps away from me. “I’m sorry.” He frowned. “Now I’ve come across as a total creeper.”
I shook my head to clear it. “I’m just going to the ladies’ room.”
He began to open his mouth as if he wanted to protest, but then he shook his head. “Look, if you change your mind, please let me say thank you. I’ll buy you a drink.”
I shoved away from the wall and forced my legs to move toward the restroom. “Nope. I’m good. See you around.” And then I ran to safety. Far away from the prince. Far away from the job I was supposed to be doing. When I shoved into the restroom, it was crowded as usual.
Ariel pushed away from the sinks. “Where have you been? Your comms were down. Are you okay?”
I stared at her for a long moment. “You are not going to believe what just happened.”
Chapter Twelve
Penny
I wiped my hands on my jeans as I paced Ariel’s apartment. “Okay. So, what do I do?”
Ariel just stared at me and blinked. “You mean about Prince Hot-as-Fuck sniffing your neck?” A giggle escaped her lips.
“Would you stop laughing?”
Ariel threw up her hands. “I don’t have the playbook for this. I mean, he didn’t sniff my neck.”
“And if he had?”
Ariel flus
hed. “Let’s not talk about what I would do. Let’s talk about what you did. Looks like my plan worked.”
I gave up and just flopped back on the bed. “I need to figure out how to play this. I know the directive was get close to him. But I mean, how am I supposed to do that?”
Ariel grimaced. “Well, there’s the obvious way. It’s all dependent on how far you’re willing to go for the job. The shower thing got you into his place.”
I raised a brow. “What exactly do you mean by how far I am willing to go for this job?”
My friend shrugged. “Well, I’m just saying. We know that Sebastian is kind of a player. You’re cute, live next door, and you plan on being in his space twenty-four seven. Not to mention, I could feel the chemistry crackle the first time you met. Use it.”
I blinked rapidly. “I’m not going to sleep with him. That’s …” I couldn’t even come up with the right word. “Unprofessional,” I finally settled on.
Ariel chuckled. “That it is.”
I threw a pillow at her head. “I am not doing that.”
Ariel gave me one of those glances that said, ‘oh, sure you’re not.’ “Seriously though. No one is saying you have to sleep with the guy, but you can flirt and throw on a little feminine charm. You said it yourself: King Cassius says he’s in danger. So the sooner we can get him home the better.”
I sat up on the bed and pointed my thumbs towards myself. “Have you met this girl? I have zero charm. The Duke of Essex will attest to that.”
Ariel chuckled. “Yes, but even your craftiness and your general Calamity Janeness are kind of charming in a way. All you have to do is be you. Relax.”
I frowned. “I’m going to need more than that. This is the prince.”
“I mean obviously you’re smoking hot. But the moment you get around him, you get all tongue-tied and bumbling. It’s not like I didn’t hear the audio from your first meeting.”
That made me bristle. “Well, I was trying to play the part. And my shit was trying to run away from me.”
Modern Fairy Tale: Twelve Books of Breathtaking Romance Page 83