“You’d be willing to see me secretly?”
She nodded far too enthusiastically. “Of course. The more I think about it, you’re right—we shouldn’t announce anything until we’re sure.”
I bit my lower lip and hoped I was pulling off pensive. “Well, I can’t abandon Wynn, that would be poor etiquette. We should talk more about this.”
Her hands were now splayed on my chest. “You’re on the island for another day at least, yes?”
“I am.”
“What about tomorrow night? I have a cabin near the water. I can take my kids to the sitter, tell her I’m going on a date. She won’t ask with whom, and I won’t say you regardless.”
This was coming together even better than I’d hoped. “That works well. I’ll wait until my security thinks I’m asleep; then I’ll sneak out.”
She fucking giggled. “Oh, this is sinfully sexy, Prince Julian.”
“I have a good feeling about us, Rona.”
She pressed up against me, and I wanted to puke. “My cabin is 12 Peppercorn Drive. It’s a private road, but there’s no gate code. Meet me tomorrow night—say, nine?”
“Nine it is.”
I could tell she wanted to kiss me, and I was so glad she didn’t. “Until then.”
Once she left, I went directly into the bathroom, washed my hands, and wished I could strip my clothes off and burn them. Her perfume was saturated into my suit.
When I returned to Wynn, he smiled sweetly. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, I needed to discuss her poor manners. I do apologize for her being so rude to you.”
He gave apfft. “Please, I get it. I’d be jealous of me too.”
My hand caressed from his shoulders to his lower back, and I loved how his pupils widened. “Perhaps we could spend some time alone after the dinner?”
He swallowed and nodded. “I’d…I’d like that a lot.”
Tomorrow night was for Rona. I wanted to spend tonight tasting, touching, and fucking Wynn Carter.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Wynn
It was latewhen we left the restaurant and while I was tired due to talking to so many people, I was relieved that the governor had ignored me for the rest of the evening.
We were currently driving toward Julian’s home…an honest-to-God castle. My mind was wandering, curious what it would look like.
“You’re smiling.” I turned from the window, where I’d been watching the island rush by, to see Julian regarding me with bemusement.
“I was just thinking about what your castle would look like. Then my brain went to moats filled with crocodiles, drawbridges, and a parapet.”
He hummed. “While there is no moat or drawbridge, as the castle has been remodeled through the years, there’s a parapet. We had a portcullis at this particular castle up until a decade ago.”
I knew from watchingGame of Thronesthat a portcullis was one of those heavy metal gates that raised and lowered.
“Is there anything original still there?”
“The bones of it.” He shrugged. “As the island crumbled, my family had to keep it strong, and that meant pretty much gutting it. The original was built from earth and wood, later restructured with rocks and stones. As time progressed, all our castles were altered for the times.”
“I have no doubt it’s gorgeous.”
