Feisty Princess (Sexy Manhattan Fairytale #2) (6 page)

Darby laughs. “No wonder he likes her. She’s a feisty one.”

Aggie nods in agreement. “Aye. Maybe he’s found his match.”

I stand there, completely unsure of what to say.

“Come on, lass. Let me show yew to where you’ll be staying,” Aggie instructs and then turns toward the staircase. “Darby will bring your bags up to your room. I’m sure you’ll need to freshen up for dinner.”

Once at the top of the stairs, Aggie leads me down a wide hallway lined with paintings. Some of the paintings are abstract pieces, while a few focus on people. Each one is more beautiful than the last. One, in particular, catches my attention.

It’s Alexander.

He sits in a high-back leather chair, and the dark background causes the red tie he’s wearing to pop out against his gray suit. It’s uncanny how lifelike the piece looks. There’s a hint of mischief in his gray eyes paired with that signature cocky grin. Even in a painting Alexander King appears to be up to no good. It’s amazing how even a picture of him causes my body to do crazy things, like yearn his touch.

“These are beautiful,” I tell Aggie, who’s waiting patiently for me to study the pictures that I’m sure she’s passed by a million times. “Are they all the same artist?”

“They are.” Alexander’s voice causes me to jump.

Clearly, I wasn’t expecting him to be the one to answer me.

My back goes ramrod straight with the arrival of the unwelcome asshole who owns the place. The relaxed mood that Aggie and Darby had created the moment I stepped foot inside this building is suddenly gone.

Alexander comes strutting down the hall, wearing a white oxford rolled up to his elbows and the same dark slacks he had on earlier in the office. He’s clearly made himself more comfortable since the last time I’d seen him today.

He stops about a foot away and then turns to stare at the portrait of himself. “It’s a great likeness, don’t you think? I look pretty damn fantastic, if you ask me.”

I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes at his outward show of cockiness. “It’s very nice work. It’s too bad the artist didn’t have a better subject. If they’d had someone different, then perhaps this would be in a museum somewhere.”

A hint of a smile crosses his lips. “Margo, you have an uncanny ability to insult me and yet throw out a compliment. In this case, I’ll allow your snide jab at me to slide, considering you’ve just praised my little sister’s work.”

“Diem did this?” I raise my eyebrows, and it hits me instantly that I remember his sister from high school. Even back then, she was an artist, which made her stand out from all the other kids, and that’s how I remember her. Most kids I went to school with were obsessed with getting into top-notch colleges in order to be able to work for their family businesses, but not Diem. She was all about art and expressing herself.

He motions to the other paintings hanging on both sides of the hall. “She did all of these. She very passionate about her work, and she actually just sold her first piece shortly before we left for Las Vegas.”

“That’s fantastic,” I answer honestly. “She’s clearly very talented.”

This time when he smiles, it’s more reminiscent of a proud parent. It’s nice to know he’s not a heartless jackass in all facets of his life.

“Come,” Alexander instructs. “I’ll show you to your room.”

He turns to go back the way he came down the hall, and I follow, suddenly aware that Aggie is no longer with us.

We pass a couple of doors. Alexander explains that one is a bathroom and that there are seven in total in the apartment. The second door belongs to his little sister who still stays with him from time to time.

“I take it that the two of you get along well,” I state as we pass by Diem’s room.

He shrugs. “For the most part, we do. There are times when she tries my patience, but I guess that’s what little sisters do.”

“Does your mother still have to break up fights between the two of you like she did when you were children?”

This question causes Alexander’s body to stiffen. “My mother hasn’t been in our lives for quite some time.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I tell him as the feeling of pity for the loss of a mother wafts over me. Nowhere in my research about Alexander King did it talk about a strained relationship with his mother. It then falls upon me to lighten the mood since I seemed to have brought up a touchy subject. “Well, seems to be her loss, and Diem seems to be able to create in spite of her not being around.”

He nods but doesn’t say another word about the topic.

Clearly talking about his mother isn’t something that he likes to do. I make a mental note about that so I tread lightly on the subject stay on his good side. I want this little arrangement to go off without a hitch. In order for the board to believe that we’re a happy couple, we have to maintain what I like to refer to as a pleasant working relationship.

When we come to the third door on the left, Alexander stops. “This is your room. You may decorate it however you wish while you’re here. If you need anything at all, please feel free to ask Aggie or Darby. They will see to your needs. Unless your needs are of the sexual variety. In that case, I expect you to report directly to me so that I can assist you with that. I like for all my guests to be satisfied.”

“And there’s the asshole I know,” I say. “I wondered where you’d been hiding for the last few minutes.”

Alexander pulls a key from his pants pocket and then dangles it in front of me. “You know very well that I can be
nice
when I want to be, Margo. I thought I was very accommodating in Vegas.”

There’s no mistaking the teasing tone of his voice, and it pisses me off. I don’t like the fact that I gave in to this man, and I don’t like him throwing the fact that I’ve fucked him in my face. And I for damn sure want to make sure that he knows that he’s never getting inside these panties ever again.

I narrow my eyes. “Well, don’t worry about being nice to me while I’m here. I made sure to pack my own battery-powered happiness maker, so I’m afraid I won’t need you to accommodate anything relating to me ever again.”

That trademark grin returns in full force. “I seem to remember you making these same threats before, and we still ended up married.”

“For now,” I reply and then snatch the key from his hand. “That’s one problem I intend to remedy as soon as possible.”

He leans against the wall and folds his arms over his chest. “Well, Princess, I hate to be the one to burst whatever perfectly planned little bubble you’ve got going on in that beautiful brain of yours, but we’re not separating until I’m sure the board buys that we were at least madly in love when we said I do and we have to pay Yamada a visit on his island this coming Thurday.”

I twist my lips. I wish I could go back and punch myself square in the face during that part of our nuptials and scream ‘I don’t!’ because now King has me by the proverbial balls, and he knows it. I just have to keep cool and not lose my head, even though the man is frustratingly gorgeous and has a body that I wouldn’t mind seeing naked again. Being so attracted to him complicates the hell out of things.

I will not be lured into temptation. I still have a job to do. Winning back Buchanan Industries and securing my future must be my main focus. It’s time to keep my eyes on the prize and not on Alexander’s stunning physique or his promises of naughty pleasure.

“Don’t worry, King. This marriage is nothing more than a business relationship for me. I’ll uphold my end of the deal. By the time I’m through putting on a show, this whole damn town will believe that we’re the most in love couple on the planet.” I square my shoulders after my little mental pep talk and shove the key into the door. I pass Alexander and step into the room without saying another word.

Alexander

MARGO DIDN’T COME OUT OF
her room at all last night. Aggie got worried after a while and checked on her, but she still couldn’t convince her to come down to the main floor of the apartment for dinner. Instead, Aggie fixed a tray and took it up to her. She told me that I needed to give the girl time to adjust to the situation and reminded me that I’m not always the easiest man to live with.

This morning, I got the same coldness from Margo when I offered her a ride to work. I explained that it would be best to be seen coming to the office together since we’re a happily married couple.

I could tell that she was reluctant, but she agreed.

I steal a quick glance in her direction in the elevator. Her dark hair is down today, flowing freely in big waves over her shoulders. It’s such a stark contrast from the bright red dress she’s wearing that I can’t help but notice every curve on her body.

As if she can feel my eyes studying the contours of her body, she turns her head and points her gaze right at me. I don’t make any apologies when she catches me either. I never say sorry unless I mean it, and in this case, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with staring at the work of art that’s Margo’s body. So I might as well compliment her on it.

“Your tits look amazing in that dress. You should wear it more often,” I tell her.

She narrows her eyes. “Do you always have to be so crass?”

“Yes,” I muse with a smile. “It’s part of my charm.”

“Who said you were charming?” she jabs back at me.

I raise one eyebrow. “I seem to recall being able to charm you out of your panties on more than two occasions.”

“Well,” she scoffs. “Everyone loses their mind from time to time. If anyone ever questions me about it, I’ll plead temporary insanity.”

“Insane with lust, you mean.” I chuckle.

“Hardly,” she says as the elevator doors open.

When we step out into the lobby, Darby stands near the front exit. He smiles the moment his eyes land on us. I know what he’s thinking. God knows he and Aggie have voiced how beautiful Margo is enough times since they met her yesterday. Although they aren’t entirely pleased with the way I ended up married, they somehow believe Margo might be a suitable match for me since she doesn’t seem to take my shit. While their opinions mean a great deal to me because I consider them to be my family, I don’t think they know what in the hell they’re talking about. They obviously don’t know the bitchy side of Margo like I do. Once they see that come out, I’m sure they’ll be celebrating the day I get Margo to sign the divorce papers.

Without permission, I wrap my arm around Margo’s waist and pull her tightly against me.

She begins to pull away nearly instantly. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Acting married and madly in love, of course,” I reply as smoothly as I can.

She shakes her head. “There’s no one here to put on a show for.”

I swirl my index finger in a circle. “There are eyes everywhere. If we want to be believed, anytime we’re in public we need to make our relationship appear to be real. So get ready because these hands will be on you a lot.”

I can tell by the heated expression on Margo’s face that she would love nothing more than to smack my hand away. The woman seems to be very fond of inflicting pain to my face with her hands. I can tell this is killing her to allow me to grope her a little in public, but before she has time to argue much more, Darby steps in front of us to open the door.

“It’s almost working,” Darby says. “The two of you aren’t smiling. If you want the world to buy it, you’ll be needin’ to sell it a wee bit more.”

I glance down at Margo and plaster on the biggest grin that I can fit on my face. “Hear that, sweetie. We both need to smile. We’re in love, remember?”

“How can I forget,” she replies with a dry tone. “How’s this?”

She tips her head and stares up at me, and it gives me a moment to stare into those gorgeous blue eyes of hers. The moment she smiles, I swear to God my breath catches. I’ve never believed in the saying ‘You take my breath away,’ but it just fucking happened to me.

“You’re perfect,” I tell her, and at that moment, I mean it.

My honesty must surprise her because her usual sarcastic comment doesn’t follow. Instead, her eyes remain locked on mine as she swallows hard.

My heart is pounding like a thoroughbred’s hooves beating against the ground. I know it makes me sound like a complete fucking pussy, but if I had met Margo Buchanan in a different way, I could see myself actually being with this woman. Not only is she the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, but she’s wicked smart and has a witty tongue. Beauty and brains like hers are a rarity. She’s like finding a goddamn unicorn.

Darby clears his throat. “Your car has arrived, Alex.”

I shake my head, breaking out of my daze. I can’t seem to keep my head on straight when I’m with Margo, and I need to figure out a way to stop that. So much is riding on every move I make right now. I can’t afford to screw anything up. My head has to be in the game at all times, or I might lose everything.

The car ride to the office is quiet. I’m sure we both have a lot of thinking to do and neither of us find it necessary to make small talk. I appreciate the silence.

When we step into the elevator to head up to the office, I tell her, “Even though this is a work setting, we still need to maintain our little act, so I expect you to play your part of doting wife.”