The Cinderella Princess Read Online Free PDF

had forbidden him to return to the palace without a royal fiancée. His biggest asset to his family was being the scapegoat. He took the blame and diverted attention for his oldest brother—the so-called happily married and upstanding Crown Prince Bernard—from drug rehab stints to one-night stands.
    One big happy royal family.
    Luc finished his tea. “No one is planning to hurt me. My oldest brother might be a target since he’s heir to the throne, but I’m the youngest. Expendable.”
    “You’re a prince from a powerful and wealthy family. You could have been kidnapped or set up by scam artists or a woman.”
    “I’m not a child ignorant of the ways of the world.”
    “No, but you’re a man who likes to have too much fun.”
    “There’s nothing dangerous about the fun I have.”
    “Don’t test your luck.” Nick’s jaw jutted forward. “Next time you decide to take off, I won’t be puking my guts out and you won’t get as far. Handcuffs are not comfortable.”
    “You have experience wearing them?”
    Nick’s frown deepened. “This is nothing but a game to you.”
    Not really. A game had a winner, something that was out of reach for Luc. But others counted on him. With Emily Rodgers’ assistance, he wouldn’t let them down.
    “What else would you call being paraded in front of royal women like a stallion in need of a brood mare?” Luc asked.
    “Insane.”
    “Exactly.”
    But he would allow himself to be filmed by a reality TV crew in the name of D-U-T-Y. He had no other choice.
    His father’s ultimatum lay heavy on Luc’s heart. The consequences of failing were too great. He would find a royal to marry. He set his empty cup on the table. “Let’s go.”
    Nick handed him the duffle bag. “Wear these over your clothes and put whatever didn’t get packed into the bag. We’ll use the service elevator. A white van’s parked outside the hotel’s kitchen entrance. Emily will have the engine running.”
    “I pity anyone who crosses her path. Though watching her go after the paparazzi would be entertaining.”
    “There would be blood.”
    “Not while she’s wearing new shoes.”
    Luc smiled, thinking about the ad exec turned royal matchmaker. He could see the gears turning in her brain as she tried to figure something out. He hoped she would be as analytical finding him a bride.
    He had two weeks. Two weeks until filming ended. Two weeks until he needed to be engaged. Two weeks until life as he knew it would end if he failed.
    Emily Rodgers had better not disappoint him.

Chapter Three
    ‡
    E mily sat in the middle bench seat of the idling white van. The side door was open. A breeze carried the scents of basil and garlic from the hotel’s kitchen. She wanted to nap, but checked her cellphone instead. Nearly twenty minutes had passed since she left Luc’s hotel room. Nick had said he’d be down in ten. “Any word?”
    “No text.” Addie placed her cellphone in her pocket. “I hope they didn’t run into trouble.”
    “I haven’t seen anyone except the kitchen staff carrying out garbage.” Emily glanced out the back of the van, saw no one, and faced forward. “My guess is the prince isn’t cooperating.”
    “He’s…”
    “A pain in the butt.”
    “I was going to say handsome.”
    “Still a pain.”
    Addie shook her head, the way she’d done for as long as Emily remembered. “Since when did you start calling handsome, naked guys pains? You wanted pictures of that surfer taking off his wetsuit in front of us last year.”
    “I would have taken them except you grabbed my phone. You better be careful talking about another man like that. What if Nick finds out?”
    “I’m married, not blind. And that’s what I’d have to be not to notice a bare-chested, hottie prince.”
    “I’ll concede the point.”
    “You better since you were checking him out.”
    “Inspecting him.” Emily spoke carefully, considering each word. She didn’t want her friend to know how affected