“King, over.”
“Benoit, over.”
The three who would be accompanying us on the red carpet, and were already in their cars, answered first, and a sigh of relief washed over me. The reminder that my brothers had my backtonight was exactly what I needed to calm the nerves that had been just beneath the surface.
“Lachlan here. Just arrived. Moving up to position now. Over.” He sounded as though he were taking the stairs two at a time, which he likely was. When we’d picked tonight’s venue we’d made a strategic move, making sure to choose a space that had a vacant building opposite the red carpet walkway.
We wanted to have a vantage point. We wanted Lachlan’s eyes and gun trained on whoever might show up, just in case Ari was that fucking stupid.
Then I heard the one voice that could make my body both relax and sit up and take notice at the same time.
“Shep, over.”
I closed my eyes and imagined him sitting beside me in the car, his warm, strong hand in mine, and couldn’t help my smile. I couldn’t wait until we could arrive at one of these functions together. To show the world who had finally snagged the most eligible bachelor in America. But tonight I had to play the game. I had to act the friend to the sexiest man alive, and I wasn’t sure I could pull it off.
Here Shep was all worried about Ari and what he had in store for us tonight, and one ofmymain concerns was that I wouldn’t be able to keep shit professional.
It wasn’t like a royal could just announce a relationship without looping people in.Putain, my family would have my ass. If they found out about our relationship through sources other than me, they would be horrified.Mother would claim a diplomatic disaster, even if she loved Shep.
There was a way to do things, proper protocol to follow, and for the first time in my life I found myself wanting to do it right.
I loved Shep. I wanted this—whateverthiswas—between us to have every opportunity to succeed. So I would do my best tobehave tonight, which would be a monumentally difficult task, given how phenomenal he looked in that tuxedo.
“Theo, you there? Over.” Alessio’s voice came through the com a little firmer than before, letting me know I’d missed my check-in while busy daydreaming.
“Theo here, over.”
The limo made a turn one block from the event, moving closer to the drop-off point.
“Okay,” Alessio said, “Lachlan’s got eyes on you all from above. I’m in position across the street and we have each of you walking in one after the other. Theo, you’re up first, then Shep, King, Lucien, and Benoit.”
We all confirmed, and as the limo drew to a crawl and then finally stopped at the exit point where crowds of paparazzi and onlookers had gathered, I took in a deep breath and let it out.
This was it. This was our chance to get this fucker, and as my door was pulled open and the cool night air rushed in, my pulse began to race.
“Okay, let’s do this,” I said, and climbed out of the limo. The second my foot touched the sidewalk, camera flashes went off in a frenzy of bright lights and my eyes shifted to where Shep was exiting his vehicle, his smile in place, gaze sweeping the crowd and finally zeroing in on me.
I gave a cordial nod and smile as though we were two friends who hadn’t known the other was coming tonight, instead of two men who would be going home tomakeeach other come tonight. Then I headed toward the red carpet for my first stop in the step-and-repeat lines.
“Who are you wearing tonight, Prince Rinaldi?”
“Prince Rinaldi, are you happy to be back in the U.S. again?”
“Now that your brother’s married, are you next?”
My eyes caught and held on the lady who’d just asked about my marital plans, and I couldn’t help my smirk, my years of charming the press kicking into full gear.
“I’d need a boyfriend first, don’t you think?”
She smiled at me, pleased I’d engaged with her. “So you’re single, then?”
It took everything I had not to look at the gorgeous man who’d just stepped onto the red carpet behind me to a roar of questions and flashing cameras.
Instead, I winked at the woman and threw her a quote she could run on. “I didn’t say that.”
Before she could get out a follow-up, I slipped my hands into my pockets and moved along, careful to scan the crowd, looking for anything and anyone out of place.
“Over here, Prince Rinaldi.”
