Entranced by the how nicely the bright silk showcases Alexis Thane’s perfectly curved derriere, I let Tessa lead us away from the milling crowd to a room near the far end of the lobby.

She stops by the open door and motions for us to enter. “I’m sorry, your Royal Highness,” she murmurs. “The hotel tried talking me into a larger and quieter space they felt was more appropriate for a meeting. I insisted on this one. It’s important that I can hear what’s happening in the lobby.”

I brush past her and survey the room.

The last time I conducted business from the Luminous Hotel, it had been held within the penthouse. This room, while nowhere near as large or as grand as that, was well appointed.

There was a small desk with a writing pad and two dark green sofas. My guess is that the room is used primarily by the guest speakers who attend the assortment of conferences the hotel hosts.

Alexis perches on the edge of one of the couches and places her martini on the coffee table beside it. Her expression makes it easy to see that she wants to get this meeting over with as quickly as possible.

“I saw the signs about an auction. Are you involved?” I direct the question at Tessa, sensing that she’s more willing to talk to me than Alexis. She nods and launches into an explanation about how she organizes a charity auction the benefits the local spina bifida organization wherever the antiques business she and Alexis takes them.

“A noble cause.” I make a mental note to leave a donation before the night ends. “You’re taking part in the auction?”

Some of the brightness in Tessa’s eyes dims. “No, not tonight.”

A glance at the door confirms that Brock and Joe, my long-time body guards have taken up their customary positions on either side of the doors. A red-headed man about ten feet past them has caught their eye.

Confident that they’re ready and able to stop anyone who tries to disturb me, I sit beside Alexis. The heavily stuffed cushion gives way beneath my weight, causing her to tip in my direction. Her shoulder brushes my upper arm.

She shoots me a glare. “You’re crowding me,” she hisses.

Interesting.

If she’s that sensitive to an accidental touch, I wonder how she would react to the feel of bare skin against bare skin? Would she snarl, and try to bite my hand off? Or would she lean into me and demand more?

My hands itch to find out. My body aches for her.

“It’s a small couch.”

Fire flashes in her eyes and her lips curl. I brace myself for a verbal barrage, but at the last moment she swallows her words and reaches for her drink. She swallows the contents in one long pull.

Tessa, by contrast, simply settles on the second couch and crosses her legs. The thoughtful expression creasing her face suggests that I’m not the only one interested in Alexis’ reaction to my proximity…

“I’ve been ill and don’t feel up to a night out on the town, but Alexis agreed to take my place. That’s why we requested this room – so they can easily alert us when it’s her turn to go up on the block.”

“Which is why we can’t waste time talking about things that aren’t important to Prince Lucas,” Alexis says. “The point of this meeting was to decide if I should take the Queen up on her offer, and I’m not. End of discussion.”

She shoots to her feet and sways slightly. Looks like she’s had one too many vodka martinis…

She steadies herself, angles a glare in my direction. “Please tell your mother thanks, that I appreciate the offer – but no thanks.”

“Hold on one second,” I growl. Before Alexis takes even a single step, I wrap my long fingers around her narrow wrist, halting her in an instant.

“Tessa –” I say, my instincts screaming at me that I’ll have an easier time getting through to her than to Alexis.

“After Alexis left the castle this morning, I had some of my aides take a look at your consulting firm. Each one came back with the exact same information. That it’s a well-run business that’s always on the edge of financial disaster. Is that correct?”

Tessa straightens immediately, going into business mode. Her post strikes me as defensive. “I don’t know what you think you know, but –”

“But,” I finish for her, “that’s the name of the game in the art world. Old money doesn’t like paying to maintain their family trinkets. And so they are left to decay – along with companies like yours.”

I see Alexis’ forehead crease almost imperceptibly as she throws a glance my way. But Tessa replies, stealing my attention back.

“We do very well, I’ll –”

“But an influx of say, an additional 30 thousand dollars a month would go a long way towards putting your business in the black?”

Tessa nods, as if half-stunned.

Beside me, Alexis tips her head back and stares at me with bugged out eyes. “Thirty thousand dollars,” she mumbles as if she can’t quite believe her ears.

“That’s what the pair of you would be paid for each month you spend establishing a museum.”

“Pair?” Alexis’s brow furrows. “But the Queen only mentioned me this afternoon.”

“When I delved into your background, I learned that you’re best as a team. Since I want the museum to be the best, it makes sense to bring both of you on board.”

“Yeah, that’s great,” Tessa interjects, a hard-edged tone to her voice. Apparently she’s made it past her shock. “But I’d like to return to the original topic. Thirty grand a month. Each or combined?”

“Combined. You would have to meet with the accounting team my family uses and hammer out the paperwork, of course.”

Alexis shakes her head. “I’m sorry. Truly, but there are people, actual experienced curators, who are better qualified.”

She wants to agree, I can see exactly how badly she needs to say yes. But there’s something standing in the way – perhaps just basic honesty.

I can’t think of a single time that anyone, particularly someone who stood to gain financially, has ever been so honest with me.

It’s stunning.

Most people assume that since I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, that it’s their right to take me for as much as possible. They barely try to hide it. I guess that’s why I can be such an ass. Just a defense mechanism, really.

But Alexis is different. She’s better. I thought so the second I saw her, but now I know it’s true.

Her honesty touches something deep and unfamiliar deep inside me and makes me more determined than ever to go ahead with my plans.

I stand, the movement bringing us practically chest to chest. The scent of her strawberry shampoo tickles my nose. I lean closer and inhale deeply. She shifts away until her legs press against the couch Tessa is seated on.

“It’s a good offer,” I say in a low undertone, practically begging her to agree.

Alexis bites her lip, the movement betraying her desire to accept my offer. “Really, the idea is just … ludicrous.”

“Ignore her,” Tessa barks. “We’ll take the job.”

“Tessa!” Alexis tries to whirl around and glare at her business partner – but instead ends up simply overbalancing and falling awkwardly on the couch.

Inwardly I smile, but outwardly I carefully maintain my poker face. I’m inches from victory. I’ve out maneuvered Alexis. With Tessa on my side, she doesn’t have a chance.

“Excellent," I smile, barely able to contain my glee. I tap my forehead with surprise, as if there’s something I can’t believe I’ve forgotten. “Wait – there’s just one condition I need Alexis to agree to.”

“Oh really?” Tessa says in a guarded tone, arching her brow as she slides a sideways glance at her business partner. “And what precisely is that?”

I crouch beside the couch and pick up Alexis’s left hand. My fingers interlace with hers while my thumb traces intricate patterns onto her soft palm. Her hand trembles and her plump lips part.

Good. Satisfaction warms my blood. You’re not as immune to my touch as you pretend to be, you just haven’t realized it yet.

“Marrying me.”