Read Online Avoiding Mr Right by Sophie Weston - Free Book Online Page B

lobby.
    Pretend you haven’t seen it, Christina told herself. Pretend you are as naive as he clearly thinks you are. And get him away before he can see the Princess letting Stuart Define oil her back.
    ‘Hello,’ she said with what she hoped was the right touch of girlish enthusiasm.
    He detected the false note at once, of course. His brows flew up. ‘Hi. Can I flatter myself you’re following me, or have you decided to jump ship?’
    Christina chuckled. ‘Neither, just at the moment. I brought my employer’s children for swimming lessons.’
    A curious expression crossed his face. ‘Your employer was childless the last time I looked.’ He paused before adding deliberately, ‘And unmarried.’
    She stared. ‘The Princess is married to an Englishman called Richard Aston.’
    ‘Ah.’ His lids dropped but Christina caught a distinct glint in his eyes. ‘But your employer,’ he said softly, ‘is surely the Prince of Kholkhastan? Who, I understand, is still on his travels.’ It was not quite a question and there was a distinct edge to it.
    Christina made a face. ‘Well, if you want to be pedantic…’
    ‘Accurate,’ he corrected her. ‘I like to be accurate.’
    In the reports he filed for his paper? Christina wondered, and felt chilled. He had still not told her who he was and what he was doing here, after all.
    She looked at him levelly. ‘About everything?’
    He looked surprised. ‘Of course.’
    ‘Does that include yourself?’ she asked sweetly. He stiffened very slightly, but his voice was amused, even indifferent, when he asked, ‘Now, what do you mean by that?’
    It was the ideal opportunity to confront him with his apparent duplicity. Christina did not know why she hesitated, unless it was because if he admitted what he was she would have to put an end to any future meetings out of loyalty to the Princess. And she did not want to.
    She castigated herself furiously but it made no difference. He was high-handed, untrustworthy and much too sure of himself, yet she still wanted to see him again.
    But she wasn’t going down without a fight. ‘Are you saying you’ve told me the truth about yourself?’ she said heatedly.
    Luc did not even hesitate. ‘I have told you nothing inaccurate,’ he said smoothly.
    Her blue eyes darted fire and she curbed her feelings with an effort. ‘That’s not exactly the same thing,’ Christina said with restraint.
    He looked entertained. ‘That depends on your point of view. I didn’t think you were the sort of girl who would want a breakdown of my bank balance or my employment prospects.’
    Her chin came up indignantly at that. ‘Of course I don’t.’
    He smiled straight into her eyes. It was the dazzling smile again. Christina began to feel a little light-headed.
    ‘Then you know everything you need to make your mind up about me,’ he said softly.
    She swallowed. It was like being hypnotised. She could not look away. She moistened her dry lips.
    ‘Do I?’ It was not much more than a croak.
    ‘Oh, yes.’
    Luc did not touch her but from the way he was looking at her it did not make much difference. Christina began to feel that deep, inner trembling that had so alarmed her before. This time it did not feel alarming. If anything it was rather exhilarating.
    ‘Do you want me to prove it?’ It was a laughing challenge.
    Christina swallowed again. ‘I don’t know how you could do that,’ she said in a tone that tried hard to be sensible.
    ‘That’s my problem. Will you give me the chance to try?’
    This is crazy, she thought. I ought to tell him that I know his game. I ought to walk away right now. Instead she heard herself say breathlessly, ‘Yes.’
    The dark eyes blazed. He held out an imperious hand. ‘Then come with me now.’
    Christina felt as if she was in a dream, as if events would take their course no matter what she did. Slowly she put her hand into his.
    He gave a soft laugh. To Christina it sounded triumphant. Even that made no