Leopold: Part Four Read Online Free PDF Page B

isn’t for work—and I pull it on, tossing the clothes I wore today into a box near the dresser.
    He isn’t going to come into this room. I will not let things get that far tonight. I won’t. I can’t. Being with Leo might have been the best sex of my life, but it was only really one day. Nothing about that day I spent with him at my house meant anything about the rest of my life.
    And that’s what tonight is going to be. One date—a few hours to gain some closure. He obviously needs it as much as I do.
    But there’s a niggling little thought in the back of my head that maybe… Maybe I can let myself have one more night with him. If I go into it knowing it will be only one night, I might be able to let myself just enjoy it for what it is. A fling. A one-night stand. The best sex of my life.
    I’m getting ahead of myself, though. He invited me on a date. On his jet . Leo must want more than just two hours of talking, too.
    Of course he wants more . This is Prince Leopold we’re talking about.
    I shake my head to myself as I gather my things from the floor and throw them into the box. I’m making way too much of this. Overthinking things, as usual. I do believe I can do this date, though. As long as I keep things on my terms, I’ll be fine. I can shield my heart and not allow myself to be hurt again.
    I walk back out to the porch to see Leo sitting on the small wooden bench near the door. He’s unbuttoned his collar and has rolled up his sleeves to his elbows.
    He stands as soon as he sees me, grinning. His eyes roam over my body, and he lifts a brow. “I must say this change in clothing is rather lovely.”
    It’s difficult to cover my smile. “Thanks.” I let out a long breath. “Look, I thought about your offer. And I’m willing to accept on one condition—”
    “Anything.” He extends his elbow to me. “I’ll call Matthias to bring the car—the airstrip is rather close. We can be—”
    “No.” I fold my arms over my chest instead of taking his elbow. “The date …it needs to happen here.”
    “ Here ?” He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. After a moment, the silly grin returns to his lips. “In your dormitory? I can definitely be amenable to that—”
    “No, not in my dormitory. The walls are pretty thin in there, Leo, so don’t get any ideas—”
    “If memory serves, dear Elle, it is not I who would need to keep quiet should our date occur in your bed. Though I’d be more than happy to help you remember—”
    “Hilarious. You really missed your calling as a stand-up comedian, Leo.” I feign a glare in his direction. “I said I’d go on a proper date with you, and I will. But it has to be here . And by here… ” I motion with my hand down the street. “I mean in this town. Not in my bed.”
    “Not yet, at any rate.”
    I roll my eyes and try again to hide my grin. “We have two choices as far as restaurants are concerned. I assume by a proper date, you mean dinner?”
    “I did mean dinner, but I definitely did not mean for you to have but two choices in the matter, Elle. If you would just allow me to take you—”
    “No.” I shake my head, pressing my lips in a line. “The date is here or it isn’t happening. And you need to get it through your head that the date ends after dinner. Then you can get yourself back on your plane and fly back to wherever it is you came from.”
    “Montovia.” He smiles. “Though I’ll admit I made a few stops before coming here.”
    I let out a sound of exasperation before I edge around him and head back to the sidewalk, turning to walk back into town.
    He’s at my side a moment later. “You didn’t tell me what my choices are.”
    I glance up at him. “We can go to the pub where my coworkers went after the party or we can go to the Chinese restaurant across the street. Otherwise, we can get stuff for peanut butter sandwiches at the store and go to the park for a picnic.”
    “Hm.” He chuckles. “While I do have quite a