Once Upon A Diamond (Prince Uncharming Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that to a man thing.
    After many break ups, exactly the point where she hit mad instead of sad, she'd dressed up and gone out to party. If a handsome man flirted with her, she didn't discourage him.
    But she'd never been so in love she looked at a man and thought, “he's my forever.” Ballet had always been more important. Then getting her business off the ground. Then she just had to accept loving someone that deeply included...a mess. Lives, emotions and family would have to intermingle.
    What happened if things imploded? What happened if she let herself want someone, need someone with her everything? Her depression over Julliard would be a cake walk in comparison. She shifted in the chair and wished the thoughts away.
    Greg flipped to the last page and signed. “Everything is spelled out pretty well. Who did you have put it together?”
    Comfortable with the change, she answered, “I did. I had an agent up until five years ago and learned a thing or two about crafting contracts.”
    “I'm impressed.”
    Her stomach felt it was necessary to flip-flop at the praise. “I'm smart and pretty.”
    He leaned back in his chair. “That suspiciously sounds like fishing for compliments.”
    Her face heated. “No. I know I'm smart and pretty.”
    He smiled in a way that let her know he'd told the truth about being a charming bastard. The lift of his lips mixed with the sultry light in his eyes sent her on a trip to Swoon City.
    “Bluster,” he said.
    “Only a little,” she confessed with a shrug. “Do you want to know the next step?”
    He shook his head. “You call me when you've made the sale or if you couldn't.”
    Yeah. That meant she wouldn't have an excuse to talk to him again. She sighed and rose from her chair. “Exactly.”
    She didn't want to examine the emotion rolling in her gut at the realization. Instead she stood, ready to escort him out of the store. He remained seated, relaxed in the chair, watching her.
    “Do you have any questions?” she asked, now standing maybe a foot or two away from him.
    He rose from the chair and that foot shortened. “So this means I probably won't hear from you for a while.”
    “Yes.” She'd picked up on cologne or maybe his aftershave that first day, but this close his musky scent seemed to sink into her. Woodsy, crisp and all man. The kind of scent that made her want to pace while trying to talk herself into behaving. Because really, she wanted to lick him just to see if he tasted as good as he smelled.
    “Not exactly,” she corrected herself. “I tend to play hardball. I'll likely go a few rounds with local stores. If they don't want to ante up, I'll work my magic to get them to settle for a decent price instead of a really nice one. If I have to do the latter, I'll contact you first with the best offer. You can take it or encourage me to do my worst.”
    He tilted his head as though some facet of her personality suddenly made sense. “It's how you get repeat business. You give them first crack and they return the favor in a way.”
    “You understand.” And he did. That edgy restlessness made her hands itch to touch him. “What exactly do you do?”
    “Financial analyst.”
    “Really?” He didn't seem that straight-forward, but then again, she was a borderline hippie. No one would look at her and think former dancer, much less ballerina. Yet he had .
    His shrug was slow but it fixed her attention on the broad expanse of his chest. He asked, “Exciting, aren't I?”
    He spent his career making calculated guesses. Just another description for a gambler. A good one if she went by the original price of the engagement ring. He was solid, but had a wild streak. And he had the most soulful eyes. She wanted to get lost in them as he continued to hold her stare and steal her space.
    She said, “Then I must be mellowing in my old age because I do find you interesting.”
    The corner of his mouth crooked up and he shifted closer. “You should only worry if you start