The Cinderella Princess (9 page)

Conrad nodded. “And no kissing, either.”

Emily looked at the two cameramen. “You’ve been filming for a month. Surely there’s been something going on.”

Luc’s stomach twisted. Princesses weren’t going to do anything to risk their reputations unless they were willing to see this through to the end. None had wanted a second date. That meant no kissing him or touching or…

“He’s kissed a few hands,” Conrad said.

Wes nodded. “Escorted them by the arm.”

Brad rubbed his chin. “Too bad we didn’t dress them in Regency period clothing, and use a Jane Austen slant. There’s a niche market for her fans.”

“If you want skin and scandal, don’t forget we have cellphone video from the strip poker game,” Dylan said. “One of the women left her phone behind. All we’d have to do is enhance the film.”

“Let’s hope she was the only person taping. Make sure that footage disappears forever.” Emily’s voice hardened. “All we need is for that to wind up on the Internet.”

Guilt stuck in Luc’s mouth like peanut butter. He shouldn’t be thinking about Emily as a potential or former lover. She was here to help, and her protectiveness made him feel not so alone. Bodyguards were paid to look out for him. The crew wanted only a hit show. That left no one in his corner. No one except Emily.

“Show me the date footage.” Her tone was curt, but professional. “We need to figure a way to salvage this before I leave on Tuesday.”

That was only a few days from now. Luc moved closer.

Conrad typed on a keyboard. “You’d better have lots of coffee nearby or you’ll fall asleep. We’re talking b-o-r-i-n-g.”

“Whose fault is that?”

Emily’s pointed question to the crew surprised Luc. Unexpected warmth flowed through him. Few, less than a handful, had ever taken his side. The only person he could count on was his mother, but his father constrained her actions.

“Being on a reality TV show doesn’t come with an instruction manual, yet you expect Luc to know what to do instinctually. He’s a prince looking for a wife, not a frat boy looking to hook up for the night.”

Each word she spoke in Luc’s defense made him feel as if he’d found a new friend. Friends were…rare. Most others were acquaintances and hanger-ons.

She squared her shoulders. “Did he watch dating reality shows before starring in one?”

No, Luc hadn’t, but he kept his mouth closed. Emily could handle this.

The crew looked at each other as if confused.

“Your silence says he didn’t.” Her tone reminded him of a former tutor when he hadn’t studied hard enough. “Did you tell Luc what you wanted with the show?”

“Yes.” Brad punctuated the word with a nod. “I told him drama, sexual innuendoes, and hot kisses so viewers would be enticed to watch week after week.”

“And what did Luc say?” she asked.

This was his cue. Luc walked across the tiled terrace. “I told him any respectable princess qualified to be my wife isn’t going to open up on camera, let alone be affectionate. We’re taught from birth to be private and be on-guard in front of cameras.”

And most were, unless partying. Talking in front of cameras, unless for a scheduled interview or appearance, went against his nature.

“That explains the lack of interesting conversations and romance.” Emily crossed her arms over her chest.

The action brought more attention to her breasts. He took a peek, then raised his gaze to her face.

“Why didn’t you listen to Luc?” Emily asked Brad.

The producer shrugged. “The royalty consultant thought Luc was being difficult.”

Emily’s gaze narrowed in on Brad. “This was the same consultant you fired for incompetence, correct?”

“Yes, but this was before we found out she knew nothing about royals, but was one of Kendra’s BFFs from college.” Brad glanced at his cellphone, not the least bit apologetic. “We’d better figure out a new strategy for his date today.”

See you here at bedtime tomorrow night.

It’s a date.

No one would know about Luc’s exchange with Emily last night. Brad must be talking about something else. “I have a date?”

A satisfied smiled formed on Emily’s lips. “Yes, with Princess Brigitte of the Isle d’Etoile.”

Emily amazed him, and her smile suited her pretty face better than a frown. “How did you set up a date for today when you arrived yesterday?”

“WiFi. I contacted princesses during layovers. I should hear from more soon. I’m hoping to find you a dinner partner.” She motioned to him. “But right now, you need to come with me so we can figure out the best way for you to sweep Princess Brigitte off her feet.”

Luc shook his head. “I know how to romance a woman.”

“How?”

He thought about his most recent dates. None came to mind, only women he’d met at parties or clubs. Most, if not all, had come onto him. Zero had played hard to get. A drink, a compliment, maybe a dance but that didn’t seem to be a deal breaker, and he’d be set for the night.

“So…” Emily said.

Damn. Luc didn’t want to tell her he was the one pursued by women. Nor did he want to lie about not having to go to much effort or romance. “You’ll see when it’s time. Until then, tell me your ideas on how to woo a princess.”

*

Standing on the
terrace next to Luc, Emily struggled for something to say. Random ideas swirled through her head like water disappearing down a drain. She’d expected him to tell her how he romanced women, and they would go from there, not have to come up with something from scratch.

Luc looked at her expectedly. “You do have a plan.”

“I always have a plan.” And she would, as soon as she had time to think. She’d never been romanced Reality TV style. Her dating life was more about convenience and companionship than romance. But she’d imagined perfect dates more than once. She would have to do the same here.

“But since this is your date, let’s start with you.”

He drew back. “Me?”

Emily nodded, as ideas became more concrete. “Take me to your favorite place at the villa.”

“I have two.”

She wanted to see both, but there wasn’t time. “Which one would be best for tea?”

His mouth puckered as if he’d eaten a lemon. “Tea is not what I’d call a romantic first date.”

“Anything can be romantic.” She remembered helping Nick surprise Addie on her birthday with dinner on the beach. Not even wind or a bunch of navy trainees running across the sand could spoil the meal. “The right frame of mind and a thought-out setting can make all the difference.”

He gave her a look. “You don’t know what Princess Brigitte is thinking or what kind of date she expects.”

“She suggested tea because she has another obligation tonight and is busy this weekend.”

His brows furrowed. “She told you this?”

“Her secretary did. While you have tea, I’ll be meeting with her to get a crash course in European royalty.”

“Follow me.” He led her down a path in the opposite direction from the kitchen garden. “Why are you leaving on Tuesday?”

“I have a meeting to attend on Wednesday.”

“Reschedule the meeting.”

His regal tone made her feel like one of his minions. “I can’t. The client set the date.” If she signed them, nothing would stand in the way of her promotion. Succeeding with the show would be the icing, rather a bonus in her paycheck. “It’s…important.”

“I need you here.”

His words touched something deep within her. She liked feeling needed, but she’d rather feel like a minion with him.

“Don’t worry.” She climbed down a short staircase. “I’ll have your calendar filled before I leave. Addie is staying. She’s more than capable to handle this. Everything will be fine.”

Up ahead, she saw an old clock tower that looked like something from the Renaissance time period.

Luc walked a little farther, then stopped on a secluded brick patio that was in the clock tower’s shadows and surrounded by bushes and trees. “This is the spot.”

“Lovely.” Roses scented the air and provided splashes of color to all the green. “Perfect, actually. Wes and Conrad can hide with their cameras. That might put Princess Brigitte more at ease. Too bad there’s nothing we can do about the microphone packs. Can’t risk bad audio.”

“You never stop working.”

“Just doing my job.” If she didn’t, she might find herself working on more of these stupid shows in the future. Being a partner meant her boss couldn’t give her these “extra” assignments. “You’d make it easier if you’d talk about the foundation, but I know that’s not a possibility. Yet.”

“We’re not close to that being possible.”

True, but she wasn’t giving up on figuring out how to bring the foundation into the show.

Emily looked around, then closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?” Luc asked.

“Imagining what would make this spot more perfect.” She opened her eyes. “This is a romantic setting, and I want to up that. If we arrange a small round table with two chairs, you can sit close, knee to knee, during tea.”

He stepped closer to her. Heat emanated from his body. “Forced proximity.”

His scent circled her head, making her feel like she’d drunk a mimosa for breakfast, not orange juice. Her mouth went dry. “Close seating sounds less calculating.”

“The entire show is calculated.”

“The reality in Reality TV is a misnomer.”

She expected Luc to move away. Instead he came closer until he stood right next to her. “Calling it Pretend TV would turn off viewers.”

“You’re catching on to how this works,” she said.

“Unfortunately.”

The depths of his blue eyes mesmerized her. Her stomach tingled, as if a butterfly had gotten loose inside and was trying to get out. Being with Luc didn’t feel quite real.

“But I’m game,” he continued. “Let’s go all the way with the romance. I’ll give the princess a bouquet of roses.”

Another idea popped into Emily’s head. “No bouquet. One flower. A perfect red rose from a bud vase on the table.”

“That won’t look calculated?”

“A single rose is still a romantic gesture.”

“You’d like that?”

“Very much so.” Emily imagined Luc handing her a flower. His gaze would be intent upon hers like now. His fingers would brush across her skin. Warmth balled at the center of her chest.

“We should dance.”

Luc’s words brought her back from the daydream. Anticipation spurted through her. “Dance?”

“After tea, I’ll ask the princess to dance.”

The princess, not Emily.

Talk about feeling ridiculous thinking he meant dancing with her. She was here to work, not be romanced by the prince. She needed to tattoo the words on her forehead. Well, in invisible ink that only she could see.

“Dancing would be very romantic,” she agreed. “Dylan can figure a way to pipe in music.”

“Or we could dance without it.” Luc took Emily in his arms.

She stiffened. “What are you doing?”

“Seeing if there’s enough space to dance.” He moved her around the small patio like they were at the ball in
Cinderella
.

She tried to remain rigid and in control, to not think about being in his arms or that in her head she heard music and in her heart…

“There’s room to dance.” She stopped, but he continued leading her around the patio. “We can stop now.”

“If I practice, this will feel more natural later.”

“You’re doing fine.”

“Thank you.” He grinned wryly. “Though I hope Princess Brigitte isn’t as tense as you are. Relax.”

Emily had to stay tense. If she let her guard down she might forget this was nothing more than practicing. “The princess might be nervous.”

He gently rubbed Emily’s shoulder blade. “If she is, I’ll do this to help her relax.”

Emily bit back a moan of pleasure. She fought the urge to lean into him. The man had magic fingers.

“Once I feel her loosening up, I’ll compliment her dancing. Tell her she’s light on her feet and moves like a ballerina.”

A lump formed in Emily’s throat. She knew he was making up lines, but he sounded surprisingly sincere. “Those words will make her feel special. Women like feeling that way.”

“I won’t stop there.”

Emily shouldn’t ask, but curiosity got the best of her. “What else will you say?”

“That you’re beautiful.” Strands of her hair sifted through his fingers. “And your golden hair is softer than silk.”

“G-good.” Emily forced the word out. Her voice sounded raw, almost husky. She couldn’t help it, even though he was talking about Princess Brigitte.

“I’ll pull her closer, watching to make sure she’s okay with what I’m doing.” He did, and Emily was. “Then I’ll…”

She reminded herself to breathe. “What?”

Luc stopped dancing. He lowered his mouth, pressing his lips against hers before she had time to turn her head or back away.

Tender. Sweet. Oh, my.

Luc’s lips caressed hers like she was precious and fragile. Surprisingly, unexpectedly…gentle.

She soaked up the taste and feel of him. Warm and male. Luc.

Somewhere a warning sounded, but she ignored it. One kiss wouldn’t change anything.

He pulled her closer, pressed his mouth firmer against hers. The gentleness disappeared, replaced by hunger.