What the Prince Wants

by Jules Bennett

  Which was why last night’s little chat with Colin left her aching in ways she’d never thought possible. She’d been with one man, and even during their intimacy Darcy had never felt an inkling of what she’d felt last night on the phone with Colin.

  The man wasn’t just chipping away at the defensive wall she’d erected, he was blasting through it with a sledgehammer. He’d started opening up just a touch over the past several weeks and he’d become playful, flirty and flat-out blatant regarding what he wanted.

  Because she hadn’t slept very well, she was awake even earlier than usual and in the gym. Of course, during her entire workout all she could picture was Colin down here last night. How long had he been sweating and working out while thinking of her? Did he regret calling her? Had he assumed she’d come running to him and they’d enter into this affair without giving the consequences another thought?

  When she glanced at the time on her phone, she realized she’d been working out for over an hour. A great improvement over the first day. Granted, she’d had a hard time concentrating with Colin flexing his perfectly honed muscles all over the place.

  If she could keep up this regime while she was here and continue eating healthily, she just may be on the fast track to getting her life back. In such a short time she already felt better about herself and had more energy.

  More energy was something she would most definitely need if she was going to continue to battle Colin and his bold advances.

  Darcy headed back upstairs, careful as always to be quiet while Iris and Colin slept. Grabbing a quick shower would give her time to get her thoughts in order before facing Colin. She knew the mutual desire would not go away. And as if fighting her urges wasn’t enough, he wasn’t playing fair. How could she keep putting up a strong front when he’d pretty much laid his cards on the table?

  Lathering up her hair, she slid the strands through her fingers beneath the spray. She’d been worried about getting entangled with Colin after her last romance debacle, but Colin was so different from her ex. She only had to look at his interactions with Iris to see how loving he was. And he wasn’t out to use her for anything because at this point he knew she had nothing to give.

  Maybe he wanted her for no other reason than to satisfy his curiosity...just as she felt with him.

  Darcy rinsed her body and shut off the water. Quickly she toweled off. She’d just pulled her hair into a messy topknot when fussy noises blared through the monitors.

  Iris was crankier in the mornings than any other baby she’d dealt with. Of course, Darcy hadn’t personally worked with a vast number of children under two, but Iris was certainly special. The toddler was happiest when she got her food. Darcy could totally relate.

  Darcy wrestled her sports bra back on and yanked up her shorts; she didn’t have time to find something else. When she turned the corner of her room and hit the doorway of the nursery, Colin was lifting Iris from her crib. That toned back with ink scrolling over his shoulder continued to mock her, because every time she saw it, she wanted to trace it...with her tongue.

  The way he gently spoke to Iris, the way he held such a delicate little girl against his hard, strong body really hit Darcy. Even rumpled from sleep, Colin Alexander was a man who demanded attention without saying a word.

  When he turned and caught her gaze, his eyes did some evaluating of their own. Darcy was reminded she stood before him in only her sweaty sports bra and shorts. Not her best look, considering she wasn’t perfectly proportioned or toned in any way.

  “I just got out of the shower and threw on the closest thing,” Darcy stated, keeping her eyes locked on Colin as he continued to close the gap between them. “Give me one minute to change and I can take her and feed her.”

  Colin’s limp was a bit more pronounced this morning. Most likely he’d slept wrong. How had the man slept after that call? Maybe she was more revved up with this sexual tension than he was.

  “You’re flushed.” His eyes traveled to the scoop in her bra and back up. “Looks good on you.”

  “Colin—”

  “Go change,” he urged. “I’ll feed Iris and you better be fully dressed next time you’re around me.”

  Darcy stared at him for another minute, which was a minute too long because he reached out, trailed a fingertip across her collarbone.

  “Go, erastis, before I take what I want.”

  That was the second time he’d called her that and she wanted to know what it meant. She had a feeling it was a term of endearment or something sexy because his voice took on a whole other tone when he said it. She was drowning where this man was concerned and she knew it was just a matter of time before she succumbed to all of the desire and passion that kept swirling around them.

  Darcy turned and all but ran into her adjoining bath. The man was killing her. She dug out a pair of jeans and her favorite pink T-shirt before heading back downstairs, praying she’d have control over her emotions. She should be praying Colin would have control over his.

  She didn’t see them in the kitchen, but the sound of the patio doors sliding open drew her attention. Through the wide window she spotted Colin with a banana in one hand and Iris holding onto the other as he led her out onto the stone patio. He’d just placed her on the settee when he lost his balance and went down. Darcy ran out the door and was crouched at his side in an instant.

  Had he reinjured himself? Worry flooded her. How she would get him back up without hurting him further?

  With a muttered curse in his native tongue, Colin pushed her away. “Don’t. Just take her inside and feed her.”

  Darcy reached for him. “Let me help you up.”

  “Leave me be,” he shouted, meeting and holding her gaze. “I’m not paying you to coddle me, I’m paying you to care for Iris.”

  Darcy jerked back and came to her feet. Iris started to climb off the chair and Darcy reached down, taking the little girl’s hand.

  “You’re right,” Darcy replied, swallowing the hurt. “I’ll remember my place from now on.”

  Colin shifted and stood, wincing as he did so. Even though his jab sliced deep, Darcy waited until he got his bearings. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Darcy turned.

  “Come on, baby girl.” Darcy swiped the banana from the ground where Colin had dropped it when he fell. “Let’s get you some breakfast.”

  No way would Darcy make the mistake of trying to get close and help Colin again. If he wanted to run hot and cold with his emotions, he could do so with someone else. Darcy wasn’t here as an outlet for his frustrations and anger over his accident.

  Ten

  Disgrace was a bitter, nasty pill to swallow.

  After his spill that morning, Colin didn’t know what he was angrier about, himself for falling and possibly hurting Iris or the fact that Darcy was there to witness his humiliation. He’d taken his anger and embarrassment out on her for no reason.

  Hadn’t he hired a nanny in case something like this happened? The real possibility that he would fall in the presence of, or God forbid, while holding Iris, had been his main concern. What he hadn’t planned on was having his hormones thrown into the mix. And he hadn’t been forthcoming with Darcy about his injury because he’d prayed there wouldn’t be a mishap while she was here. He didn’t want to be seen as weak or crippled.

  Colin sneaked into the house through the back door after Darcy had taken Iris in for breakfast. After he’d showered and gotten his damn leg and back under control with some stretches his doctor and therapist had shown him, Colin felt somewhat human again.

  This morning his goal had been to carry on the plan of seduction that he’d started on the phone last night. Then his past had come back to bite him when he’d fallen, completely erasing any impact he may have had on Darcy last night because of his inability to handle this entire situation like a mature ad
ult. Wow, wasn’t he just the king of all things sexy? Now instead of Darcy viewing him as a strong, confident man, she saw him as a cripple, as someone who couldn’t even care for himself, let alone a child.

  If the paparazzi back in Galini Isle ever caught a glimpse of his inability to stand on his own two feet at times, he’d be ridiculed, questioned and thrust into the limelight even more. They’d already speculated that he and Karina were falling apart, but since her death, they hadn’t left him alone and he was sick of the pity, the way they portrayed him as helpless and lost.

  He was an Alexander. They were strong men, determined and focused. Nothing would stand in the way of him getting everything he wanted.

  Needing to get back on track and spend time with his daughter, Colin figured today would be a great day for a little outing. Darcy might not like men who threw their weight and money around, but he wanted to treat her. Out of every woman he’d ever known, Darcy most definitely deserved to be pampered, even if only for a few hours.

  If she was working for him, then she was going to be treated like royalty.

  Which reminded him, he needed to have a serious talk with her. He’d decided to attend the ball and he wanted Darcy to come with him. That conversation would have to take place at just the right time. He didn’t want her to feel as if he’d lied to her...though he had by omission.

  Just as Colin reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard Darcy’s laughter and Iris’s sweet giggle. That combination slid a new emotion through him—one he wasn’t sure he could identify and one he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

  When he found them on the floor in the living room, Colin stopped in the wide, arched doorway to take in the scene. Days ago the sight of freshly picked flowers, obviously from the landscaping, all over his floor would’ve had him enraged. But now, seeing those vibrant petals in Darcy’s and Iris’s hair had him smiling. These two were like kindred spirits and he could easily get wrapped up in watching them.

  There he went again, sliding down that slippery slope even further toward Darcy. He had lost control somewhere between opening the door that first day and the first time she’d verbally matched him with her banter.

  “Daddy!”

  Iris squealed, scooped up all the flowers her little hands could hold and sprinkled them on top of Darcy’s head.

  “Deedee pitty,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

  Darcy glanced his way, but quickly darted away. “I’m Deedee. It’s much easier for her to say.”

  Colin hated how Darcy wouldn’t even look at him. He’d done that to her when he’d sworn he wouldn’t hurt anyone again over this injury. Because of his inexcusable actions, he’d driven a wedge between them.

  The fact his daughter had adopted a nickname for Darcy added another layer of bonding that was already wrapped so tightly around them. All part of the nanny-child relationship, nothing more—or at least that’s what he needed to keep telling himself. Darcy wasn’t part of this family; her presence was temporary.

  “Darcy, go get yourself and Iris ready. We’re going out for the day.” He moved into the room and slid his hand over Iris’s dark curls. “I’ll work on cleaning this mess up.”

  Darcy came to her feet, catching the flowers as they fell down her chest. “I’m sorry. We went for a little walk and picked some flowers from the gardens. I planned on cleaning—”

  Colin held up a hand, cutting off her words, and offered a smile so she didn’t think he was angry or a complete jerk after how he’d treated her earlier. “I’ve got it. Really. Go on.”

  “Okay.” She bent down, lifted Iris into her arms and turned back to him. Finally, she met his eyes with a worry he didn’t want. “Are you feeling all right?”

  She didn’t come out and ask about the fall, but he knew that’s exactly what she was referring to.

  He gave her a brief nod. “Do you want to know where we’re going?” he asked.

  Darcy’s lids lowered. “My place isn’t to ask questions. You’re paying me to care for Iris, so I’m going to get us ready.”

  Colin absolutely loathed the words he’d spouted off to her earlier out of anger and humiliation. There was no taking them back now that they were out in the open. All he could do was show her he wasn’t the ogre she thought he’d become.

  Darcy left the room without another word. He needed to apologize, but words would only go so far. He would show her that he wasn’t a terrible person. He’d make her see that she didn’t have to work her butt off for nothing.

  And by the time she left him at the end of her term, she’d never have to worry about her business or her finances again. If he did nothing else, he’d make damn sure of that.

  * * *

  He had to be kidding. That dress—as stunning as it was—cost more than an entire month’s worth of groceries. Colin had talked her into shopping, but she’d had no idea he’d pull her into the most expensive store she’d ever seen in her entire life.

  After working for him for several weeks now, one would think she’d have the courage to stand her ground and decline.

  On the flipside, though, she’d discovered with each passing day that Colin was impossible to resist.

  “At least try it on,” he urged, holding up the elegant, one-shouldered, bright blue dress.

  Darcy wasn’t in the mood to be shopping, but Colin had claimed this was just another work incentive and he truly wanted her to have new clothes. After the morning they’d had, she really had no clue why they were here.

  “I won’t wear that dress,” she told him, though she loved it. Being stubborn could go both ways.

  On a sigh, he hung the dress back up and inched closer. “I already apologized, but I’ll keep saying it until you realize I am honestly sorry for how I reacted. I know you were only trying to help, but my pride usually doesn’t allow me to let others come to my rescue.”

  That she could understand. She, too, had her pride and he had come and apologized shortly after she’d completely ignored him.

  “I just find it convenient you’re getting me clothes today and calling them incentives,” she shot back, talking quietly so the salesclerk didn’t hear. Iris squealed and chewed on the baby doll in her stroller, oblivious to the turmoil.

  “I’d planned on this anyway,” he told her. “The timing is just wrong. If you’re not in the mood, we can do this another day. I figured we could both use a break and to get out and do something fun.”

  Something fun? What man found shopping fun? Darcy chewed on her bottom lip as she considered how to approach this. She could be childish, the way he had been the other day, or she could accept the olive branch he was extending.

  “Fine,” she conceded.

  With a wide smile, Colin lifted the dress back off the rack. “What size do you need?”

  Darcy laughed, gripping the handle on the Cadillac of strollers. “Nice try, buddy. I’m not telling you my size. It’s not in the single digits and I doubt that dress will look good on my frame.”

  His eyes scanned her body. “Your frame looks fine and you’ll never know how it looks if you don’t try it on.”

  Darcy shook her head and turned toward another rack. “Everything in here is so pricey. Why are we even here?”

  Colin’s hand came around, gripping hers over the handle. Darcy threw a glance over her shoulder and saw he was much closer than she’d thought.

  “Pick out whatever you want.” He held up a hand when she started to argue. “I’ll take Iris to the toy store next door. Text me when you’re done. The clerk has my credit card number.”

  Darcy closed her eyes. “There’s nothing I need that will take me that long. Just give me a couple minutes.”

  “You may not need it, but you deserve it.” His thumb stroked over her hand. “I’m not trying to buy you. I’m trying to put a smile on your face, to let y
ou have whatever you want for the entire day. I’d bet my entire savings that you haven’t bought anything for yourself for years.”

  Darcy glanced down to their hands. The contrast between his dark skin and her paleness was minor in comparison to their many differences.

  “I’m not sleeping with you.”

  Colin jerked her around, his fingers digging into her shoulders. “I’m not offering this shopping trip as a bribe, Darcy. You going to bed with me has nothing to do with this. I’m here because I want to give you nice things while you’re with me. If you want to leave everything when you go, then do that and I’ll donate the clothes to charity. You were told up front you’d be getting bonuses along the way. Don’t argue.”

  “Yet again, does anyone ever tell you no?” she asked.

  A smirk flirted around the corners of his mouth. “You’re the only one who keeps trying.”

  On a sigh, Darcy closed her eyes and nodded. “Fine. I’ll pick out a couple of things. Seriously, though, we could find a cheaper store.”

  His eyes traveled over the racks, the displays and mannequins. “Do you not like this store?”

  Darcy laughed. “Everything in here is gorgeous. I just think we could find one with smaller numbers on the price tags.”

  “Don’t look at the price tag. Focus on how stunning you’ll look, how beautiful you’ll feel.” Colin’s intense gaze lasted a minute longer than she was comfortable with before he moved around her and gripped the stroller. “Take your time. I’ve got Miss Iris.”

  Darcy stared at his retreating back. He paused at the counter and spoke to the pretty female employee. Of course she batted her lashes and laughed at whatever Colin said before he slipped out the front door. The man seemed to have that effect on every female.

  Colin was way too charming. Not only did he have that devastatingly handsome, sexy arrogance about him, he had a beautiful baby girl. All he had to do was be the loving, doting father he was and women’s ovaries started weeping.