To Steal a Prince (18 page)

“Natalia doesn’t think so.”

“Natalia wanted a wedding. And a prince. Not me.”

I absentmindedly trace a flower’s petals. As awful as Natalia is, it must have been painful to be left at the altar like that.

“Do you want another rose to make up for the one I gave her?”

I let go of the flower. “Of course not. I’m happy with mine. Besides, it was freely given. That has to be worth at least a hundred hijacked roses.”

“I’ll have to check the conversion rates.”

I laugh. Everything seems brighter with Damon around. Or maybe it’s the absence of Natalia.

“Why did she make such a big deal out of a rose?” I ask. “Has she never gotten one before?”

“Not from me. I’ve only ever given one.”

My heart leaps. This day just got a whole lot better.

“I do apologize for Natalia’s theatrics. Besides that interlude, has your day gone well?”

“It’s been pretty good.” I don’t really want to tell him that his father’s trying to chase me away. If I’m not strong enough to deal with that on my own, then maybe I’m not cut out for this after all.

“I could improve it, I wager. Will you escort me to my room?”

“Of course.”

We walk toward the palace, arm in arm. I should be happy, but I can’t ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. I’m no longer worried about whether I can remember enough dance steps to keep from looking ridiculous. Instead, I fear the number of Damon’s exes I’ll have to meet.

12

Damon closes the door behind him. We’re in his room, alone at last. I breathe out, letting my shoulders relax. I didn’t realize I was so tense.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Damon breezes over to his liquor cabinet, passing the hidden safe.

“No thanks.” This is no time for alcohol. As much as I’d like to lounge poolside with drinks, that safe’s making my fingers itch. I want to check that the crown is still there, but I don’t want to insult Damon’s security measures. I’m sure the safe is top of the line, and the challenge is beckoning me. Plus, there’s some unfinished business in there. But how am I going to get time alone with it?

“How’s the dress Eris made?” Damon pours himself a glass of scotch. “Has she outdone herself?”

“She told me not to tell you anything.”

“Not even the color?”

“Especially not that.”

Damon sets down his glass. “But don’t you want us to look like a couple?”

“Are we?”

He clasps his hands around my waist. His proximity is heady. “Aren’t we?”

How can I argue with that? “I’ll pick out a tie for you.”

“You will?”

“On the condition that you don’t look at it until tomorrow night.”

“I can live with that.” Damon’s grin is infectious. I actually feel excited to dance with him. Maybe this ball won’t be so terrible after all.

The prince loosens his tie. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Care to join?”

I glance at the safe. Its siren song is louder than that of Damon’s abs. “I think I’ll take a rain check.”

“All right.” Damon lays his blazer on the bed, then pulls off his shirt. “Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone.”

He walks into the bathroom, and I have to use every ounce of restraint not to follow him. I wish he had undressed out here.

There’s no time to daydream. Crossing the room, I turn the lion figurine’s head. There’s the click in the wall. I press the panel, just as Damon did, and the safe reveals itself.

I don’t know the combination, and there’s not enough time to figure it out. My best chance is the keyhole. I’ve been carrying around my sleek lock pick set in the hope that I would get a chance to crack this safe. I had no idea my chance would come so soon.

Placing the tension wrench in the keyhole, I listen for Damon. The water starts running. I probably have three to five minutes to get in and out. I turn the wrench, then stop. Should I really do this? Damon told me to stay out of trouble. I don’t think breaking into his safe counts.

Then again, I only want to help him. And this way is much more fun than asking for permission. Slipping the pick into the lock, I feel for the number of pins. Eight. I grimace. This may get dicey. I’m going to have to be fast and accurate. Pushing the pins, I feel for the stubborn one. It feels like it’s the third one in. I push it until it sets. One down, seven to go.

The pins click as they fall obediently into place. Once the last one sets, I turn the wrench. I frown as the door swings open. A prince’s safe shouldn’t be so easy to crack. I have perfected my tools, but I thought this would be a challenge.

Damon whistles in the shower. The first part may have been easy, but I still have work to do. Setting my picks aside, I look inside the safe. One of the crowns is here, and I assume its double is secure in the Jewel Room. Even though I returned the real one to Damon, it still feels like my responsibility to protect it. I like knowing that our treasure is safe and sound. My racing pulse gradually slows.

There’s just one thing left to do. Gingerly picking up the pink thong, I throw it behind the bed. Some hapless maid will find it someday, but I’m sure they’ve found worse. I shimmy out of my lacey black panties, and toss them on top of the crown. Next time Damon looks in here, he’ll be forced to think of me.

I close the safe, pleased with my handiwork. That went perfectly. It’s only now that I notice how quiet it is. The water has turned off.

“Did you pick out a tie?” Damon stands next to me, dripping, a towel around his waist.

Shit, I completely forgot about that. Of course, that seems like a minor issue when I’ve been caught red-handed tampering with his safe. “How long have you been here?”

“Long enough. What were you doing?”

“Well… I am your new security advisor, aren’t I?”

“And why were you trying to get into my safe?”

At least he doesn’t know I succeeded. I wish I could tell him that I did, but I’m too embarrassed to admit why I felt the need to open it. I’m not sure the prince would think that a panty swap was worth the security scare.

Damon closes his eyes. “Do I need to check in there?”

“No…” Shit! If he opens it, he’ll catch me in a lie when he sees the panties. Why do I keep digging this hole for myself?

“I don’t normally do this, but I’m going to take your word for it. Because if your word isn’t good, then neither are we.”

I really shouldn’t have lied. The guilt is a far worse punishment than his anger would have been. Plus, now I can’t tell him that his safe was dangerously easy to break into.

Damon takes my picks off his nightstand. “Why do you have these?”

“I never know when I’ll need them.”

“You won’t need them here.”

“You don’t trust me?” Why would I say that? I wouldn’t trust me at this point.

The prince puts his hands behind his head. “My whole life, I’ve been taught how unwise it is to trust people.”

I smile grimly. “It sounds like some of our lessons overlapped. Do you trust anyone?”

“Nic.”

“What about your father?”

Damon starts pacing the room. “He wants what he thinks is best for me. In the past, he’s been known to connive to reach those ends.”

Even in a bath towel, he looks so regal. I wish I could comfort him. I know how lonely it can be when you have no one to trust.

“Can I give you something?” I ask.

“Is it the crown?”

I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be a joke, but it feels like I’ve been punched in the gut. I try to hide how much it hurts. “No. I want to give you these.” I hand him the set of lock picks. I haven’t been without them for the last fifteen years. There’s no way he could ever fathom how huge of a gesture that is from me.

“Keep them if it makes you feel better. Just know that you don’t have to pick locks to get by anymore, Grace.”

His disappointment is eating away at me. I stare at the river as it tumbles into his pool. “Could you ever trust me?”

“I just did, didn’t I? Don’t give me any additional reasons not to. I’ll try to do the same. Next time, just ask me to open the safe for you.”

“Okay.” I pointedly set the picks on his nightstand. I’m going to leave them there whether or not he accepts them. “Do you still want me to pick out a tie for you?”

Damon walks into his closet to dress. “Like you said, I’ll see your dress tomorrow night. I’m sure I can select something acceptable.”

There’s no one to blame for this mess but myself. I feel like I should walk into the pool and let myself sink to the bottom.

Damon emerges fully dressed. I can’t read the expression on his face.

“Do you want me to go?” I ask.

“Come here.”

I run to him, and he holds me tight. It’s such a relief that I have to hold back sobs. I don’t want to upset him. He’s given me so much.

“Grace, you’ve gotten a taste of life here. I’m beset on all sides by backstabbing, intrigue, and people out only for themselves. I don’t want to have to hide anything from you, and I want you to be able to tell me anything.”

Like how his safe isn’t all that safe. But I want to start with something more innocuous.

“Can I tell you something now?”

“Like I said, anything.” He squeezes my arm in reassurance.

“Even in a bath towel, you look very regal.”

“Good to know. I’ve always wondered about that.” Damon runs a comb through his hair. “Now that I’m freshly pressed, would you like to escort me to the paddock? I want to check that Felix is being conditioned properly.”

“I’m not sure I should.” Really, I doubt he wants to spend time with me after the stunt I just pulled.

“You should. Everyone needs to get out of the palace now and then. It can get a bit too insular, and before you know it, you’re blowing small things out of proportion.”

I hope this means that he forgives me for tampering with his safe. “Do you mind if I change first?” There’s no way I’m riding a horse in a dress while going commando.

“Of course. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Before long, Damon is driving us through the rolling hills behind the palace.

“Are you sure you don’t want Nic to come?”

The prince steers the golf cart onto a dirt path. “We aren’t leaving the property. I’ll be fine.”

I try not to show how pleased I am at Nic’s absence. I’m not looking forward to facing the bodyguard again, especially knowing that he’ll try to pay me to leave.

Damon parks the cart, then retrieves Felix from his stall. The horse lowers his huge head, nosing my shirt.

“Hey,” Damon tugs the lead rope. “She doesn’t have any treats. Maybe later, if you’re good.”

Felix blasts hot air from his nose to inform us of his displeasure.

“You want to ride?” the prince asks. “I’ll show you how to put him through his paces.”

Damon helps me onto the horse. He calls out instructions, and together we get Felix to walk, trot, and canter around the paddock. I pat the horse’s muscular neck. Felix is magnificent, but the magic is gone this time. Maybe it’s because I’m not riding double with Damon along a beach. Though I did prefer that method, I’m more concerned about how much longer I’ll be welcome here. Damon may be a prince, but I’m guessing that the King’s word is final. No doubt Darius will find a way to get rid of me sooner or later.

I’m also distracted with trying to remember the dance steps I learned. I’ll need them tomorrow. Maybe I should have begged off horseback riding and practiced instead, but it’s too late now.

“I think you’ve got the hang of it. Can you get him to stop?”

I tug on the reins. “Whoa.”

Felix stops, though he stamps a hoof in protest.

“I’m not sure he’s done.” Damon swings up behind me. “Would you like to go on a trail ride?”

“Sure!”

Damon flicks the reins, guiding Felix from the paddock. The horse sets out over one of the hills like he knows where he’s going. I try to keep a count of three in my head, envisioning myself sweeping across a ballroom.

“We’re having over 200 guests tomorrow,” Damon says.

“That many?” The number alone unsettles me. And I’ll have to dance in front of all of them?

“I don’t want you to be overwhelmed with the new people. This seems like the perfect time to run you through the guest list.”

“Right now?”

“Not all of them are nobles or dignitaries. I’ll just list their names, titles, and countries of origin. You’ve already met Lady Natalia Fa of Andova. Her father won’t be joining us, but her cousin Carlo might. He’s nothing like her, so don’t worry.”

I try to remember how to execute a Left Closed Change while Damon continues his list. He sometimes drops in tidbits, such as how a certain diplomat is known for sneaking tarts from the kitchen, or the time a young Reggie startled a baroness in the bathroom.

Battered by name after name, my brain feels like it’s turning to mush. There’s no way I can retain all of this, though Damon is enjoying the telling. By the time he finishes regaling me about the Zaleski family of Ukraine, the sun is sinking, casting a pink glow over the hills.

“Time to turn in, Felix.” Damon guides him back toward his stall.

We dismount, and the prince hands me a carrot.

“Thanks?”

“It’s for Felix. Unless you’re low on vitamin A.”

The horse has already found his treat. He noses me impatiently.

“Here you go.” I hold my palm flat. Felix snatches the carrot, chomping greedily.

Damon pulls a blanket over the horse’s back, securing him in a stall. “We should turn in early too. Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Maybe I’ll have some time to practice solo waltzing.

The stars start to emerge as we drive back to the palace. The night air smells like roses. Fireflies glisten all around as Damon pulls up to the stairs outside my room. The prince parks the cart, then walks around to offer me assistance.

“You do know that I can get out myself.”

“I know.” He holds out an arm. “But I don’t want you to have to.”

I’m secretly pleased by his chivalry. I know helping me out of a cart is a small gesture, but I don’t know anyone else who would do that for me without being paid.

I take his arm, and we walk up the steps. It’s still hard to believe that the prince is even willing to acknowledge a nobody like me.