Page 79 of The Prince Who Loved Me

“She’s …what?”

“In the lobby. Calling for you and Sebastien. Wendy hasher calmed down, but I don’t think that’s going to last.”

“My mom’s here?” Brandi looked to the bodyman, who gave a curt nod. “How did she know?”

“I don’t know,” Jordan answered. “She said something about an online site and the art show. I didn’t get much more than that before Wendy told me to call you and ushered her to a corner table at the bar.”

“Okay. Thanks, Jordan. I’ll be right down.” She hung up her phone. “I have to go.”

She slid out of bed before realizing she had nothing on. Massimo turned his back to the room.

“You can go,” Sebastien dismissed him. The man closed the door without looking back.

Brandi went to her suitcase instead of trying to find her underclothes among the evidence of passion so recently shared. Sebastien flipped back the covers and sat up, rubbing his hands through his mussed hair. “So. Your mom.”

She closed her eyes as she stepped into a pair of pants. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” He stood up and strode to the dresser, momentarily distracting her with his delectable ass.

“You don’t have to come with me.” She grabbed her sneakers.

“Of course I’m coming with you.” He pulled on a shirt.

No way was she going to let him. She hadn’t told him about her mom stealing her money. Hadn’t seen or talked to her since she left. She didn’t know what to expect, or who was with her, or what was going on.

“Wendy and I have been handling my mom for a while.” She ran a comb through her hair, hoping her voice was confident and steady. “I’d rather you stay up here. Who knows who’s staking out the lobby. Or who sent her.”

That stopped him and he frowned, searching her face. Shekept her eyes open, letting him see everything she could share.

“Can I send Massimo down with you?”

She nodded, pleased that he believed her and found a compromise. “As long as he’s just an observer.”

He smoothed her hair away from her face and put his hand so her shoulders. Desire still lingered in his eyes and she wished she could forget about her mom and just enjoy him.

“You’ll call me if you need me,” he stated. “For anything. A room. A limo ride to Wyoming. Even if you want to go back to the Hall tonight.”

The protest sprang up from her lips, but she held it in. Maybe once in a while, it was okay to let someone take care of her. “I will.”

She finished dressing and headed down the elevator with Massimo.

Jordan met them at the lobby and grabbed her arm as soon as the door opened. “This way.”

She led them to a dark corner in the hotel bar where Carolann sat with Wendy and Rob. Josh sat nearby, tapping his glass against the table top.

“There’s my baby!” Carolann rushed up, enveloping Brandi in a cloud of violet perfume and vodka fumes.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Where’s that handsome boyfriend of yours?” Carolann adjusted the straps of her red dress, making her neckline plunge a little bit more.

Brandi shot a look at Wendy, who said, “Aunt Carolann was telling me how surprised she was earlier tonight when she recognized you as the unidentified woman on Prince Sebastien’s arm on one of those celebrity web pages.”

“Honey, I’ve been telling you for years to land that cash cow.” Carolann took Brandi’s elbow and plunked her down in a seat. “He’ll set you up for life but good. And if you have his child?You’d be birthing royalty.”

A hot flush covered Brandi’s face. “Thanks for the advice, Mom.”

The waitstaff came by, holding his hands behind his back. “Can I get you anything else?”