The Playboy Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

Sisters, Abigail and Madelaine. Brother, Trace.
    Hannah frowned and continued to watch. She had full background information on the entire O’Hurley family, except the brother. There her sources had closed tight. In any case, Chantel O’Hurley was a talented actress with an impressive list of screen credits and no known affiliation with any political group. Nonetheless,Hannah would keep an eye on her.
    “She’s found the heart of it,” Eve murmured. “I’d finished the play and was trying to work up the courage to produce it, when I saw her in her last film. I knew immediately she’d be the perfect Julia.” On a long breath Eve leaned back again in an unprincesslike slouch. “I can’t believe she’s here, reciting my lines. There isn’t an emotion that voice can’t pull out.”
    “I’m sure she’s honored to be performing in a play written and produced by Princess Eve of Cordina.”
    On a half laugh, Eve shook her head. “If the play had been lousy, I could have been Empress of Europe and Chantel wouldn’t have accepted the part. That’s what I’m hanging on to.”
    “A member of the Royal Family doesn’t write lousy plays.”
    At the sound of the voice behind her, Eve was springing up and reaching out. “Alexander! What are you doing here?”
    “I, too, have an interest in the Center.” He kissed the hand he held before turning to Hannah. “Please, sit, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
    “No.” Eve sighed and glanced back at the stage where rehearsals continued. “You meant to check up on me.”
    It was, of course, the truth, but Alexander only shrugged. In the dim light, Hannah saw his gaze sweep over his wife’s head to the guards placed at several strategic points. “You forget,
ma mie
, that I am still president of the Center. In addition to that, my wife’s play is in rehearsal. I have a small interest there as well.”
    “And you came to be certain I wasn’t staying on my feet.” Over the frustration came the tug of love. Eve rose to her toes to kiss him. “Thank you. Hannah, tell His Highness I’ve been taking care of myself in the four hours and forty minutes since he last saw me.”
    “Your Highness,” Hannah began dutifully, “the princess has been taking excellent care of herself.”
    A smile softened his features, but he continued to stand protectively near his wife. “Thank you, Hannah. I’m sure the credit goes to you.”
    With a low laugh, Eve tucked her hand through Alexander’s arm. “Hannah, you can see that I wasn’t jokingwhen I said that Alex thinks I need a keeper. If you hadn’t come I have no doubt he’d have hired a two-hundred-pound wrestler with tattoos.”
    “I’m glad I could save you from that.” What was this? Hannah wondered. A tug of envy? Ridiculous as it seemed to her, she recognized the emotion as she studied Alexander and Eve. So much in love, she thought. The power of it all but cast an aura around them. Did they realize, could they realize, how rare a thing they’d found?
    “Now that I’ve interrupted,” Alexander was saying, “I was hoping to convince you to join me for my luncheon with the American senator.”
    “The Yankee from Maine.”
    With a smile, Alexander stroked her cheek. “My dear, it continues to fascinate me how your country divides itself into sections. But yes, the Yankee from Maine. We should be finished by three and be back at the palace when Marissa wakes from her nap.”
    “But you had a meeting this afternoon.”
    “I canceled it.” He brought her hand to his lips. “I wanted to spend some time with my family.”
    The glow of pleasure all but lit up the theater. “Give me five minutes to get my things. Hannah, you’ll join us?”
    “If it wouldn’t inconvenience you, I’d really like to stay and watch the rest of the rehearsal.” Her mind was already shooting ahead. Alone, she could take a casual tour of the complex. If there were vulnerabilities, she’d find them.
    “Of course, stay as long as