Kendra’s short blonde hair bounced on her cheeks as she shook her head vehemently. “I never said that. Honey, just be realistic, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt if he slips out the back door while you’re brushing your teeth.”
Dressed from the waist down, Xander stood at the top of the stairs listening to the conversation below. Avoiding Kendra was no longer possible. It looked like he would have to win her over. He plastered a charming smile on his face and went downstairs to meet Kendra before she talked Reanna into not trusting him.
He recognized her instantly from her photos in Reanna’s file. Xander was sure many men found Kendra attractive, but she lacked the sweet innocence of Reanna. Everything from the stylish cut of her short blonde hair, to the provocative nature of her attire, was brash. He doubted the two women had much in common. However, looking at them together, he could tell their bond was real. From everything he’d read about Kendra, she’d been a good friend to Reanna, and that made Xander like her more than he would have, had he judged her by her outward appearance.
Kendra dropped her phone when she saw Xander. Her mouth fell open, and she shook her head a couple of times. “Oh, my God,” she said to Reanna.
He met Reanna’s eyes across the room and flashes of the night before flew through his head, making him momentarily forget her friend was there. He wanted her again, and from the flush on her cheeks, she wanted him just as much. He loved that she didn’t look away from him now. She met his eyes boldly, not hiding at all how she felt.
Kendra looked back and forth between them. She bent to pick up her phone, then fanned her face with it. “Yeah, that’s him.”
Xander walked over and greeted Kendra first, raising her hand to his lips. “You must be Reanna’s friend, Kendra.”
“Wow,” Kendra sighed.
Xander released her hand and chuckled. “Sorry about my appearance. I would have gotten dressed had I known we had company.” He pulled a bemused looking Reanna to him and gave her a quick kiss. “I was disappointed when I rolled over and you weren’t there.”
Reanna returned the kiss, then put a hand to his chest to push him back. “Do you have anything you want to tell me?”
He’d heard enough of their conversation to know exactly what she wanted him to admit, but he decided to have some fun with her and raised one eyebrow instead. “Nothing immediately comes to mind.”
“Being next in line to the throne doesn’t sound like something you think people should know before they sleep with you?”
That amused him. “It’s not catching.”
She glared up at him. “I feel like an idiot. I mean, I knew you were too good to be true, but I didn’t know you were that too good to be true. Is being with me some kind of joke to you?”
He gripped both of her arms and held her before him. Her words touched him, but he didn’t have the luxury of being honest with her. His beautiful little scientist had been disappointed by many in the past, and that had left her with insecurities that only time would heal. He told her as much as he could. “Last night I didn’t want to be Prince Alexander Demande with you. I wanted to be myself. Just a man who couldn’t stop thinking about you. No matter what I told myself was the right thing to do, I couldn’t walk away from you.”
“Is that the truth?” Reanna asked, and Xander felt a stab of discomfort at his deception.
He pulled her to his chest because he couldn’t look her in the eye while he said, “Yes.” She relaxed in his embrace, and he reminded himself her life would be better in Rubare Collina. He had the power to give her everything and anything she wanted.
“Wow,” Kendra said again, with similar awed inflection. “I’m sorry. I’d like to say something more intelligent, but you are just beautiful.”
Reanna buried her face in Xander’s chest and murmured, “He is, isn’t he?”
Xander kissed the top of her head. She fit against him perfectly. He was still constantly surprised by how much he liked being with her. “You ladies are too kind. Did I hear you were joining us for breakfast, Kendra?”
Still obviously surprised by the scene before her, Kendra said, “That was the plan, but I don’t want to intrude.”
Xander looked down at Reanna. “It’s up to you. I have all day.”
Reanna raised her head and gave her friend a pained smile. “Would you mind if we did this tomorrow?”
Xander cut in, “Tomorrow? I was hoping you’d agree to join me on a little vacation, Reanna. You just finished a project. I have time off before my next commitment. I realize this is unexpected, but I would love to show you my country.”
Reanna tensed beneath his arm. She searched his face then looked to her friend for a sign of how to respond to his offer. “Visit your country? As in go away with you? I wouldn’t know what to do. I wouldn’t know how to act.”
He held her eyes. “Just be yourself. There is so much I want you to see.”
“Is this how royals date? You meet someone and fly off with them?”
Xander caressed one of her cheeks with his hand and made sure he appeared adoring as he said, “I never have, but then I’ve never met anyone like you. Come with me, Reanna. Let me show you my world.”
“Holy shit,” Kendra said. “Sorry. This is like watching a movie. Is this really happening?”
“Only if she says yes,” Xander said, not taking his eyes from Reanna’s.
Xander kissed her thoroughly then turned back to Kendra. “Please don’t tell anyone where Reanna is going. There are those who would hurt her just to get to me. That’s the heavy price that comes with a title and wealth. If we can keep this a secret for now, Reanna will be safe to accompany me as she pleases. And if she decides to end our time together, she can return to her old life without worry of the paparazzi or someone kidnapping her for ransom.” Xander hated lying, but when it came to family and country, duty came before honesty.
“I won’t say anything to anyone,” Kendra promised.
Reanna looked from Xander to Kendra. “It should be safe enough, right Kendra? It’s not like we don’t know who he is.”
Kendra waved a hand by her face again and said, “Reanna, if you don’t go with him, I will.”
Xander hid his smile. At least for now, Kendra was no longer a problem and getting Reanna to Rubare Collina had just proven easier than he’d ever imagined.
Chapter Six
Life doesn’t get better than this, Reanna thought, as she woke in Xander’s arms a few hours later. Kendra had left with her notes and samples, promising to deliver them to Biostern for her. Which meant Reanna would never have to return there.
Instead of grasping at any excuse to leave her, Xander had asked his driver to deliver a change of clothing and toiletries. She and Xander had showered together, then made love slowly, tenderly on her bed before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
Reanna didn’t open her eyes. She wanted to savor every moment of being with Xander. She knew too well that pleasure, by nature, was a fickle and short-lived entity.
“What do you want to do today?” Xander asked, his deep voice still thick from sleep. She’d never heard anything sexier.
“Besides this?” Reanna said, slowly opening her eyes and meeting his.
She felt his chest rumble with a soft chuckle. “I like the way you think.” He ran a hand through her hair absently. “However, I don’t have many chances to travel for pleasure. I was hoping you could show me your town before we leave.”
“My town? You mean Boston?”
“Isn’t that where you grew up?”
“Yes, but I’ve never given anyone a tour before.” She chewed her bottom lip nervously. “What would you like to see? I know the historical significance of many of the buildings. Have you heard of the Freedom Trail?”
With a finger beneath her chin, he tipped her face up to his. “That’s not the tour I was looking for.”
Reanna swallowed hard. “Of course not. You’re a prince. You probably don’t want to hear about ho
w we broke off from the king . . .” She paused when nothing came to mind. “See, I told you, I’m an awful tour guide.”
He smiled and caressed her jaw softly. “You misunderstand. I want to experience the area through your eyes. I want to see it as you do.”
“I don’t understand.”
