Prince's Addiction (The Exiled Royals Series Book 2) (3 page)

Kate held her breath as he left. She hadn’t intended to follow up so fast. He’d been the one pressing for the date but, as with the fall, she was taking advantage of the opportunities that the world was affording her. She had planned to spend more time in recon, but to be honest, that was more her own fear and anxiety talking. She needed to commit and commit now.

The operation date was approaching and it was do or die time now. Besides, she’d been surveilling him for over a month. She knew the ins and outs of his schedule and had observed him from afar. To truly pull off everything she needed, she needed to get to know him very closely. As a result, dating him—while not something she’d thought of initially—was the right move. It would get her in to his life and let her figure out what he was doing and how to prove it.

So far, with just observation and watching from afar, she’d hit dead ends.

Still, she hadn’t wanted to look too obvious or like she was pushing a ploy. Kate was, after all, doing just that, but it wouldn’t work worth a damn if Alex suspected he was being duped. If she’d jumped at the
Nobu
offer, then he’d have expected her to be easy and might have found her boring. She couldn’t risk that he might think she was some gold digger.

God, the truth couldn’t be further from that assumption, but she couldn’t afford to have him grow cold on her now that this avenue was open. So playing hard to get was the best way. Besides, she needed to set up things on her turf, her territory. It would help her keep her perspective. This was a mission after all, and it wasn’t about romance or the flutter in her chest or the heat in her belly when he’d been massaging her calf. It certainly hadn’t been about the way she’d imagined, despite her best efforts, exactly what other things fingers that strong and skilled could be doing to her.

No, she needed the territory she controlled. A friend of hers from high school was a floor manager at the
Zora Bar
and so she could have one of the key pieces she needed in place by tomorrow. It would be easier not to fall for him when he wasn’t the one controlling the horizontal and vertical, when Alex wasn’t trying to impress her on his home territory. He was a selfish, arrogant gambler. That was all. This whole Prince Charming act today was unexpected, but it changed nothing. He was probably just trying to seal some deal with her. He’d been so eager to get her out and to dinner this very night, even!

Once she was sure he was gone and his broad back had disappeared down a corner, she stood up and walked over to the counter. The woman on duty was tall and willowy, all spindly arms and legs and pale skin. She had striking brown eyes that belied her Japanese heritage. Joan Akimoto and Kate had been friends since middle school. Of course if she were going to be dropped off anywhere, especially freaking pantsless—or almost—she was going to opt for being in the company of her BFF.

Speaking of, her friend grinned and handed her a hot Chai tea, her actual favorite drink, even in the heat of the summer. “So, kiddo,” Joan said. “I didn’t expect him to be that attractive. I mean there’s hot and then there’s three-alarm fire. He’s just
damn
.”

Kate rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. “This is a job. It’s not supposed to be pleasure, not at all. He’s still a scummy guy. We just need to make sure everything goes to plan.”

“Does that plan involve the thong I got you but you’ve never worn till now?” Joan chided as Kate slipped behind the counter and away from far-too-prying eyes.

“That was an accident, but I ran with it. To be fair, you’re not wrong and it’s something that most men definitely cannot resist. That’s a huge plus in my book.”

“Then you should have listened to me years ago, kiddo.”

“Yeah, that two year age difference practically makes you ancient,” she chirped back. “Where’s your walker already, Joan?”

Her friend chuckled and it was a light, tinkling sound, almost like bells. That laugh had gotten her through the dark night of her soul, through the worst thing that had ever happened to her and her family, at least until now. “That’s cold. I think I have a few spare pairs of sweats up in the apartment above if you need to find a way to spare your dignity; if you can even do that at this point.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped, her eyes narrowing at her friend.

“It means that you were pretty coy there. I’m pretty sure faking a sprained ankle was smart and helped you lure him here, but there’s no reason you needed to score a free massage. That was just getting bonus perks.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing going on between us, and there’s not going to be. You know that old expression where ‘you catch more flies with honey?’ That’s
exactly
what this is.”

“That’s a hell of a lot of honey,” Joan said, reaching over and pulling lightly on a lock of her newly blonde hair. “I’m not sure I like the look, Kate.”

“Oh, I don’t look too bleached do I? I sprung for an actual salon and honey gold. I really needed to make sure he didn’t think I was cheap.”

“Yes because nothing screams ‘class and sophistication’ like a thong.”

“One you picked out,” she countered, chuckling a little. “Look, I’m doing whatever it takes for Lily.”

“Still, I don’t know how you had the willpower to resist one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors. I mean, that’s a freaking prince and you must have shot him down about three times in a row.”

She smirked and stood taller. “Guys also love what’s hard to get. The point is, I needed him to take the breadcrumbs, be desperate, and I accomplished that.”

“But resisting a prince like that? With that much determination? You’re like the complete
opposite
of a Disney princess.”

“I’ve never needed a hat, let alone wanted a crown in my life. I think it’d mess up my new ‘do.”

“True, but if I didn’t know about how much Lily needed everything, I’d have you pegged completely as the wicked witch in this scenario.”

“I’m doing everything for her, and the plan has to work. He just needs to be officially disinherited by July 10
th
. I’m not waiting for the chance he’ll be caught randomly doing something so terrible that his parents won’t take him back; I’m seeing to it.”

Joan sighed and squeezed her hand. “I know, but it seems cold now that I’ve seen what a gentleman he is—and hot, Jesus, did I mention hot?”

“You did, but that’s the way it has to be. He loses his crown and then
Ops for Kids
helps save Lily. So, you know what I say?” Kate finished, heading to the stairs in back.

“What?”

“Game on, prince.”

He hissed as the dealer simulation on his laptop screen flipped his cards. The damn computer had a straight flush, and all he had was a pair of sevens. Alex cursed and brought his fist down hard on the wood of the desk beside him. Pain lanced through his fist instantly, but damn if he wasn’t frustrated. He’d been playing video poker for over two hours on this machine, and he’d been riding a high streak; he was actually up a couple grand after coming up with a full house in the clutch. Now he’d had three shitty hands in a row and was back in the red. Alex shook out his hand and was about to click the mouse to start another round when he saw the clock in the corner of the screen.

Damn, seven o’clock already
.

He had showered that morning but he’d skipped shaving. Fuck it; he’d just risk the stubble. His five o’clock shadow wasn’t that drastic. Rushing to his closet, he shoved on some dark jeans and a black silk button down shirt. Grabbing his wallet, he hurried out of his room and to his car that was parked in the private section of the garage his cousin managed. The Porsche was waiting for him, a silvery number he’d actually won betting the Prince of Monaco over the results of a polo match three years prior.

That had been one of his greatest victories.

Forget the car.

The shit-eating grin on that stuck up bastard had been more than enough reward. The sweet ride was only a bonus. Pushing that baby to first gear, he sped into Vegas traffic and hoped it’d be decent enough even on a Monday night to get to
Zora Bar
in a timely fashion. He wanted to show Kate how serious he was, and blowing her off or making some weak excuse about traffic would never do.

It had been damn hard to pull away from the game though.

It always was.

Even after therapy and threats—from rehab to washing out here in America—he couldn’t resist betting. Whether it was a quick chess match like in the park or the myriad online accounts he kept up even now, despite the fact he wasn’t nearly as wealthy as he had been. Oh, he had savings, and it was more than most people would see in a lifetime, but it wasn’t a royal estate anymore, and if he kept burning through money like this, then soon enough he’d be in real trouble.

God, he might even have to get a job.

Not like he had any damn skills to offer, unless some place on the strip was hiring dealers.
That
he knew how to do.

But he should give it up. He’d promised he would when he ended up in Vegas and on his cousin’s charity, but he’d failed. Even after the spectacular fight and disowning by his parents, even after his exile, within two days the siren song had been too much and he’d been lured back to everything, starting his own online accounts under filters so secret that he prayed to God that no one ever found them.

Publicly, with his cousin—also his jailer of late—he was always avoiding casinos or even watching sports because he had the tendency to make gentlemanly bets on those as well. In secret? He was a damn mess and he knew it. He had the credit card bills from a dozen gambling sites to prove as much.

It was costing him everything,
literally
, but he couldn’t get away from it.

He craved the high of a good streak more than anything else, and he had fuck all idea how to break that hold over him. To be fair, no so-called professional had ever offered anything to help him that had done a damn bit of good either.

Pulling into the valet parking out front, he tossed his keys to the attendant and walked into the bar. It was then that his face fell. He hadn’t realized that
Zora Bar
had a casino attached to it.

It was nothing grandiose like the
Bellagio
, but there were slot machines whirring, a roulette wheel spinning, and cards tables almost beckoning him with green felt so bright it was like looking at grassy and open fields in the low light.

He almost made a beeline directly for them.

Instead, he clenched his fists at his side and walked over to the hostess and asked where Kate Morrison was. She gestured to a black lacquered table that was situated very closely to the card tables. Of course he’d have the luck to have a front row seat to
other
people gambling.
The devil wouldn’t want his creative punishment to go to waste, would he
?

He forced himself to smile and, once she stood, it wasn’t hard to let it fall into a real one. She was beautiful, dressed in a short red dress that hugged her curves, especially that delicious ass of hers that he’d had such promising glimpses of the day before. It was also cut high on her thighs and he loved seeing even more of the expanse of unblemished skin there. There was a wrap on her ankle, and he noticed she’d worn sandals instead of heels, and he couldn’t blame her for that.

“You look amazing, Kate,” he said, giving her a polite kiss on the cheek before helping push in her chair. Normally, he’d have kissed her outright, but she was skittish already. She clearly wanted control and to play things slowly. He was going to have to play along to get her to trust him; that much he knew.

She sat and grinned up at him. The mascara really brought out the sparkling sapphire of her eyes; Kate was a damn revelation and, suddenly, his pants were far too tight.

She smirked and gestured to her dress. “This old thing?”

“Really?”

“God no. I can admit that. My friend and I went on an emergency mall trip and raided three department stores. This is what her expert eye could find.”

“At least you’re honest,” he said. He gestured for the waiter and paused long enough to order a Scotch before adding, “Wasn’t that hell on your ankle?”

“Well, uh,” she said, oddly fumbling a little. “First I did the urgent care thing and it’s just a sprain, but we went and I found some places to sit while she did the dress pulling so it was team work, but I’m glad you like it. I was afraid it might be a bit too short.”

It’s not short enough, not with your legs
.

But he couldn’t say that out loud so he continued to smile. “I think it’s perfect. Actually, your whole story makes me feel better.”

“Does it?”

“Yes, yesterday it felt like pulling teeth. I thought you’d only set this up as a nice way to blow me off—but you don’t stress shop in that circumstance. You’d have pulled out something from your closet, so I have to admit I feel much, much better about that.”

“Well, you never know. Maybe if this date goes south I can pick up one of the high rollers at the table,” she said, grinning as she gestured to the nearest Black Jack table.

Alex watched, mesmerized as the dealer revealed his second card. He had fifteen and the guy playing was at sixteen and the idiot was going to hold. Like that was smart—just wait to recoup another round? Yeah right.

Ask for a hit and you won’t bust, idiot!

“Alex?” Kate asked, concern coloring her words. “You got so quiet. Your drink is here, don’t you want it.”

He wiped at his brow. God, had he just zoned out like that? Was he sweating? It was taking everything he had to stay in the seat.
Just a game or two…would that really be so bad
? But he knew it would be. His cousin had connections all over town and would figure it out and then report it to his parents. And he could kiss any chance of being king goodbye.

“I’m fine,” he said, assuming his biggest, most polite smile and then taking a sip of Scotch. It burned down his throat but he welcomed it. The acidity of it kept him from panicking and feeling terrible. He wasn’t going to be weak, not here. He was
not
going to lose everything. “So, when you’re not jogging, what do you like to do?”

“Well, I work at one of the hotels. It’s not that exciting, just reception stuff. I can find you any deal on a show in Vegas though. I know everyone.”

“I don’t need it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Money, huh? I could tell with your Rolex and stuff, but can I say ‘ouch?’”

He bit his lip and nodded. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to say it like that. Some things just come out.”

“Maybe you need to work on that,” she teased. “But, yeah, and I have a sister I look after named Lily. I exercise or watch movies—unfortunately too many Pixar and Disney of late when I bite the bullet and go to the theater. What about you?”

“You know, the usual. In this climate? I admit the pool’s pretty fun. I’ll go to dinner with my cousin and his wife, nothing that exciting.”

“Play chess,” she pointed out. “Don’t take this personally but you do not look like the chess type.”

“And what does the chess type look like, princess,” he asked, amused by that statement.

“Pale, never seen sunlight and about ten pounds skinnier than me. You look like a damn body builder, you know?”

“I’m not a gym rat, myself, but I don’t know…chess was always something I shared with my father. Besides, it’s the ultimate mental competition, the test of will and instinct but also logic. It’s heady; don’t let anyone tell you different.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it because I really don’t think that’s true,” she countered.

“Maybe,” he said, glancing over to where the dealer had twenty and the terrible player was busting at twenty-three. He watched the dealer sweep all those blue chips back to his side and Alex just shook his head. He
knew
he could do better.

Damn it
.

“Ma’am, sir,” a voice called.

He smiled back at the waiter. “I’m not sure if we were going to order any appetizers from the bar yet.”

“No, it’s not that, sir,” the guy said, and he was young, maybe twenty-two if he were a day. “These are yours,” he said, handing them about a hundred dollars in chips. “You’re our lucky two hundredth customer of the day and we do a promotion. So please enjoy our tables.”

Alex took them because the kid scurried away too fast to refuse.

“I’m not sure if we should,” he said, passing them to Kate.

She grinned devilishly and stood. “Nah, let’s be wild. After all, Alex, what’s the worst that could happen?”