“And the world,” Heath added.
“Indeed.But let us speak of contemporary issues.”A change in the other man’s tone made Heath glance at him, wary.
“Oh?I thought you were on vacation since there’s been no press about you meeting with local officials.”
“You know very well I’m here to woo the princess.”
Heath had to give it to Quinn that her instincts had been right.When she’d declared herself already engaged, it must have thrown a wrench in the arrogant duke-let’s plans.
“Well, that’s too bad for you since I got there first.”Heath didn’t even try to keep the smugness from his voice.“And I love her for herself, not for some title she doesn’t want.”The words just spilled out, but he meant them.
Viktor grabbed Heath’s arm, pulling him to a stop.With narrowed eyes, Heath looked at the man’s hand and then met his gaze and held it.The two bodyguards shifted, but the duke-let shook his head and dropped his hand.
“You cannot offer her what I can,” he said.
Heath almost wished Quinn were there.While he took a couple of seconds to calm his thoughts enough to speak without raising his voice, he turned on the recorder he’d programmed on his phone.In case she’d want to hear this.
“How do you know she wants what you have to offer?You don’t know her.Ido.”And that was true too.Hedidknow her, just as she knew him.Lia had been his sounding board until she’d married Coop.Quinn had taken his sister’s place, and he thought he filled that role for Quinn.
“I knowwomen,” Viktor said smugly.“They are mercenary creatures at heart.Youcannot compete withme.”
Heath’s first instinct was to punch the man at the insult.None of the women in Heath’s life were like that.Fortunately, two precocious younger brothers had taught Heath impulse control.
“I feel sorry if you’ve only known shallow women, then,” he said.“As for Quinn, if you think she’s mercenary, why hasn’t she replied to your king’s emails?”
“The princess is merely maneuvering for the best position.She may be the eldest, but she cannot rule.As her father wishes a union between our families, he will be inclined to reward her well for making thecorrectchoice.”
“Wow.That sounded like you’re spouting off what someone else said.But you’re in for an unpleasant surprise.Quinn is an independent American woman.She has only disgust for your world of arranged marriages.I don’t think there’s anything you could offer her that would make her change her mind about that.”Heath tilted his head and put on the best smirk he could, something he’d mastered against his sister.“Besides, she’s engaged tome.”
“Engagements can be broken.”
“Knock yourself out, dude.She thinks you’re creepy.”At Viktor’s shocked and furious expression, Heath wished back the words.Quinn still had to work with the man tomorrow, and Heath might have made it worse for her.
“If you were a man of honor, I would call you out for that.”The man’s words were low and ominous, and his bodyguards edged a little closer.
“If you were a man of honor, you wouldn’t be trying tobuyanother man’s fiancée away from him.”
Heath didn’t wait for a reply but jogged up the Citadel’s front steps.As soon as he was out of the public section, he dialed Quinn’s number.She didn’t answer, so he left a message.
“We need to talk.Call me when you get this.Whatever the time.”
Yawning,Quinn stepped from the shower, disappointed it hadn’t invigorated her.She still had so much to do, but she could barely keep her eyes open.Maybe she could take a power nap.
Once she’d dressed in her pajamas, she slid into bed.She reached to turn out the lamp and noticed the message light blinking on her phone.It couldn’t be the viscount because she hadn’t given him her number.He couldn’t have gotten it somehow, could he?The business card she’d given him listed her office phone, which was downstairs.
With a sigh, she grabbed her cell to see who it was.Heath.Quinn sat up and listened to the brief message.What had happened?Wide awake now, she got out of bed and dialed his number.
“What’s up?”
Heath didn’t waste time but went right into the conversation with Viktor.The more she listened, the angrier she got at the man.And the more she respected Heath.
“You really said all that?”If he’d been there, she’d have kissed him for coming to her defense.
“I recorded it.Just so you’d know I wasn’t exaggerating.If you want, I can send it to you.”Heath had been somber up to that point, but then he laughed.“You should have seen the look on his face when I said his behavior was creepy.”
“It is, though.Especially his attitude about women.”Quinn sighed.“It’s so… I don’t know.Medieval?”
“I was thinking Neanderthal,” he said, his tone flat.
