And it’s frightening. James is a womanizer. He didn’t get the nickname Playboy Prince because he’s a saint. More like a sinner. I can’t have feelings for this man. Feelings are dangerous.
His breath ghosts my cheek, heightening the sensations coursing through me. “But if we do this, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. I know what the world thinks of me, but I promise, I’ll do everything I can to shield you from the paparazzi.” The sincerity and vulnerability in his voice solidifies my decision.
Taking a deep breath, I clasp his wrists. His pulse is racing. Could he be just as affected by me as I am by him?
“We’re in this together, James. There’s no going back now.”
Chapter Eight
James
Our date last week went better than I thought it would. Zara couldn’t be more different than the woman I first met with at the palace. The woman at the palace was hesitant, uncertain. But the Zara I’m meeting now is lively. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she got herself tied to the “playboy prince” and is responsible for helping clean up my image.
“So, have you bedded your future wife?” Oliver’s voice breaks me from my thoughts.
“Are you serious with this shite right now?” I look over at my oldest friend who has his long blond hair pulled back into a bun. He’s always trying to impress the ladies and appear more rocker than his Cambridge upbringing would care to suggest.
“I’m just messing with you. Christ, this woman has already got your knickers in a twist.”
I flip him off, taking a long pull of my drink. “The whole point of this is to prove to everyone that I’m ready to be King. If I bed her, as you say, that would be the exact opposite of what I’m trying to prove.”
“And how long do you plan to keep this up?”
“What do you mean how long? It’s a done deal.”
He gives me a cheeky look. “Come off it. You mean there’s no way that you can get out of an arranged marriage?”
“Would you want to cross my mum?” I give him a knowing look. Even when we were little, one cutting look from her and we’d fall in line.
“Fair point. So, you’re just going to marry some woman you don’t even know?”
“Ahh, that’s where you’re wrong. They were trying to rush us, but now they’re giving us until the fall to date and get to know one another before they announce the engagement. I’ll know everything there is to know about my future wife by then.”
“I’ve seen you take longer to decide where you want to eat dinner. There’s no way you’ll know enough about this woman by the fall.” Even in the dark club, I can see anger tighten his face. “I can’t believe you’re going along with this.”
“It’s not like I have any choice.” Bitterness laces my voice. “This is the last thing I wanted. But there’s no other option since Ellie fled.”
“How is she doing, by the way?”
“Pregnant.” As unexpected as it was, I’m quite looking forward to being an uncle.
“No shite. Missed the train on that one.”
“Oy! She’s quite happy as she is, so you can feck off.” Oliver wasn’t the only one of my friends I had to fend off Ellie. It seemed all my friends wanted to date her when we were growing up. One of the downsides to having a twin sister.
“Alright, alright.” He throws his hands up in defeat. “I wasn’t serious. But good to know she’s doing well.”
“Part of why Mum wants me to settle down. No one is going to take me seriously as the King if I can’t keep it in my pants.”
He snorts over the drink he just took. “Did she actually say that to you?”
I shake my head. “She didn’t, but my advisors did. Talk about an awkward conversation.”
“Shouldn’t you be used to everyone talking about your dick?”
“And on that happy note, I need to get going. I have to pick Zara up for another event this evening.”
“Wow, they’re not wasting any time.” Oliver stands, clapping me on the back.
