The Prince and the Working Woman (Desert Prince Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

could not refuse the request but she wished she had worn her heels instead of flats. Stepping on his foot wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. With the photographer poised to take pictures, she stepped into his arms for a slow dance. Something she hadn’t done since her junior prom.
     
    * * * *
     
    Dim lighting and soft music made a perfect backdrop for the final dance. As a rule he didn't care for slow dancing any more than the kinetic energy of a disco. He learned because he had to attend state functions in embassies where it was expected. More often than not he'd had to listen to his flavor of the month babble on about inconsequential matters or bat her eyelashes and make whispered promises in his ear. He didn't fool himself into thinking he was that much of a catch. Everything came with a price tag.
    The fact that his partner did not want to be dancing with him right now made him more determined to hold onto her even after the photographer had taken pictures. Several times she tried to pull out of his embrace but lacking the strength and apparently reluctant to make a scene she gave in and continued dancing. Resting her head on his shoulder, she swayed to the music. However when the band stopped she didn't.
    He pressed his lips against her temple. She opened her eyes. A breath caught in her throat. "It's over?"
    "It's only just begun."
    "I meant that party." She stiffened her spine. Conflicting emotions crossed her beautiful face. What was going through her mind?
    "Would you like to go out and see the beautiful capital?"
    “At one in the morning?" She shook her head it as if he were crazy. Perhaps the twelve hour day had been too much. He was reluctant to part ways so soon. Once she went back to her room he would not see her again for a month.
    “If you’d like.”
    “Are you sure you’d want to be seen with a chimpanzee?”
    He hadn’t planned on being seen by anyone except the driver when they got on the back seat. “For the record I was referring to my brothers, not you.” He took her hand. "I'll walk you back."
    "Let me say goodbye first."
    He wanted to say no. Once she joined the others, the women would offer to see her safely to her room. If he tried to give her an order she would likely refuse. He needn’t have worried. Although they did make the suggestion, surprisingly Mandy turned them down. Not that it would get him very far. Even if he was the arrogant bastard most people believed, he would not do anything in the house of his host.
    Scarf draped around her neck and shoes in her hand, she walked down the hall next to him barefooted. She moved with a graceful stride and delicate sway of her hips. The other couples went in different directions. They continued down the corridor towards the guest suites.
    Outside a carved wood door she paused. "This is me." She turned to face him. "Well I guess I'll see you in about a month."
    He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer. She didn’t resist. What was her game plan? "I am sure I will need to speak to you a few times before then."
    She arched her eyebrow. "About what?"
    "Well you never even asked how much you'd be making."
    “And I'm not going to ask now."
    "Why?"
    "Because you're going to kiss me. Discussing money at this point would be inappropriate for either of us."
    She expected him to try. Was he walking into a trap? "You're not going to give me a hard time?"
    She rolled her shoulders in a shrug. "I guess that depends on how you react whether it's hard or not."
    He laughed. Damn. He forgot she had no filter. He wasn't used to women who spoke their mind. He'd become proficient at competing in the battle of the sexes, but honesty had never been one of the rules. "You are unbelievable."
    “Actually all of it’s unbelievable. I know tomorrow morning I'm going to wake up and you will have turned into a toad. But today… is all a dream."
    Despite the lack of alcohol, she appeared to be intoxicated. The result of sleep deprivation and