Chapter Seven
Charlotte
Holy shit his jacket smelled good. Swimming in his masculine, earthy scent, I had to fight to put two words together.
“I see. Running a charity is an entirely different matter than simply starting one. If you want to do the work, and I mean really get your hands dirty in paperwork and funding and tax exemption, then you need experience. I’d suggest shadowing the director of a charity for a few weeks and see if it’s something you truly want to do.”
That made sense. “Do you have any other recommendations?”
“Only that you should choose a charity that’s similar to the kind you’d like to start.”
I nodded, and for a moment, lost myself in his gorgeous midnight-blue eyes again. I kept doing that. He made it so easy to melt into his gaze.
A quick, hard knock on the glass door between the veranda and the ballroom snapped me out of it. A huge man stood in the doorway, barrel-chested and imposing with a scar over his left eyebrow. “Your Highness, the event is nearing its end. It might be prudent to make another appearance in the crowd.”
Ash nodded. “Of course, Nathaniel, thank you. Charlotte,” he said introducing me, “my head of security, Nathaniel, who along with a host of other duties, likes making sure I show enough face at events. Nathaniel, this is Charlotte. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of her. Put her on the all access-list.”
“Of course, Prince Ash. Ma’am.”
I nodded to the bodyguard, head spinning at what the prince had said. He wanted to see more of me?
Ash offered me his elbow again, and I took it, leaning into him, soaking up every bit of him before I had to end it.
I’d have this night. I’d bask in his attention and silky voice and that exotic accent for one night. That was all I could allow.
As we reentered the party, Ash asked me to dance. Well, he didn’t quite ask. He leaned in and whispered, “Dance with me,” in my ear.
I nodded. What harm could come of a single dance?
He led me to the middle of the room, and just like in every cheesy movie, the upbeat dance track turned to a slow love song. Ash held out his hand and pulled me into him, leading me across the dance floor with ease.
I’d had every kind of dance training under the sun. Most were quick and dirty basics focused on making actors seem like they knew what they were doing on camera, but in my modeling days, I’d taken a few waltz and ballet classes to help the constant criticism that I didn’t know how to move. I didn’t truly learn how to waltz, and the only thing I took away from ballet was stiff muscles, but it didn’t matter. Ash led in such a way that I knew exactly what to do. I didn’t worry about stepping on his toes or moving in the wrong direction. I simply lost myself in the moment, in the music, in him as we floated across the floor.
“You’re a natural,” he breathed into my hair.
“I’m not. You’re an exceptional lead.”
He pulled me closer as the song melted into the next, and we kept dancing. He moved us across the whole floor like it was second nature, and as we passed by the few others out there with us, I noticed how many eyes in the crowd were on us. I tensed up, realizing we’d drawn so much attention and stumbled.
“Relax,” Ash said, gripping my waist to keep me steady. “They’re watching because you’re absolutely stunning.”
My heart thudded in my chest. As much as I knew my peers would rather die than sell secrets to a tabloid lest the same happen to them, the fear that it could happen still made me squeamish.
“What’s wrong?” Ash asked.
“I—I just don’t like to be watched,” I said.
He gave me a sideways smile. “You’re an actress.”
“Yes, but—can we just get out of here? Please?”
“Absolutely.” He nodded to his bodyguard across the room, and we made a dash for the door.
I didn’t have my phone or my bag or anything, and I didn’t care. I just wanted to get out of there. Serene would notice and grab them for me.
As his bodyguard waited to get in the front seat, Ash opened the door to a dark sedan with what I presumed to be Trisean flags on the hood, and we sped away uptown. I leaned against the prince’s shoulder, breathing slowly and letting my pulse settle.
“Are you alright, Charlotte?”
I took a deep, trembling breath. “I will be.”
Ash nodded. “Where would you like to go, my lady?”
I smiled and gave the driver an address. Ash smiled back. “Where are you taking me?” he asked.
“You’ll see.” I leaned back and let myself revel in the excitement again.
I knew I couldn’t let it go on. Maybe in a few months, maybe, but I knew if we were to get caught, the paparazzi would blow it out of proportion. We’d be engaged in a week, according to them at least, and I’d be painted as the girl who falls too fast and the serial relationship killer yet again.
I didn’t want that. But I would enjoy a single night. One innocent, chaste night couldn’t hurt.
When we arrived at my building, I nodded to the doorman and led Ash to the elevator. I pressed the button for roof access and watched as each the indicator scrolled through the floors.
The doors opened to my private oasis in the middle of the city. I had a garden with lilies and moonflowers that made the whole roof smell like paradise. Fairy lights hung around the iron guardrail, giving the roof a cozy, warm glow. “This is my private rooftop deck. It’s my favorite place in the world.”
Ash smiled, taking in all the flowers and shrubs.
I glanced at the dark night sky. “They only thing that could make this spot better would be if I could see the stars,” I said.