Holly Jacobs - Once Upon A Prince

As a matter of fact, the stubble on his face took the sheen off his clean-guy image and made him even more attractive in Shey’s estimation.

Not that she was attracted.

Not at all.

“I’m out here waiting for you,” he said with a smile. “So, what’s on the schedule today? Any chance we’re going to see Parker?”

She noticed he’d given up trying to call her friend Marie Anna. Maybe she was making a bit of progress in convincing Tanner that Parker wasn’t who he thought she was, that she wasn’t the woman for him.

“No, we’re not going to see Parker. I’m going to work and you’re going to call your goons and do whatever it is a prince does to fill his days.”

“Wrong. If you’re going back to Monarch’s, I guess I’m going to Monarch’s, as well.”

“Why don’t you just admit defeat and go home?”

“I swore I’d bring a fiancée back with me, and I plan on doing just that.”

“A wise man knows when the battle’s lost.”

“And a great commander would tell you that this particular battle hasn’t even begun.”

“Oh, shut up and climb on the ‘vehicle.’” She sneered the last word in an attempt to mock him.

The prince was far too dense to recognize a good mocking. He just laughed and said, “Having ridden it yesterday I agree, a Harley isn’t just a vehicle. It’s a way of life.”

Now he was mocking her.

Shey glared at him and stalked to the bike. She put her helmet on with a bit more force than necessary.

“If you’re coming, get on.”

“Any chance we can swing by the hotel first so I can grab a shower and change? You were sneaking out early, so I assume we have time.”

“Well, if I’m stuck with you today I might as well make sure you smell good. Fine.”

“You’re a truly gracious host.”

“I’m not a host. I’m your keeper.”

“I have always been a man who resented being kept, being trailed by guards, having my every movement shadowed. But this once, I’m finding I don’t mind it at all.”

“You’re perverse.”

“Maybe, or maybe it’s just…”

Whatever he was going to say was lost in the roar of the Harley. Shey kick-started it and threw it into gear.

* * *

Tanner surveyed the small dining area in Monarch’s. Everything was neat and clean.

He felt a warm rush of pride.

Or maybe that warm feeling was merely the wet area of his shirt where he’d sloshed water on it when he’d rinsed the last load of dishes.

Either way, the day hadn’t gone the way he’d thought it would.

He’d thought he was in control when he’d outwitted Shey and was waiting for her by her motorbike. He’d even felt rather triumphant when she’d taken him to his hotel so he could shower and change while she waited in the lobby.

But she’d thrown the first kink in his plans when she’d tossed a towel at him and taunted, “I don’t suppose a prince such as yourself has ever had to clear his own table, but I’m thinking you’re bright enough to figure it out.”

She shot him a grin that said she doubted he was, in fact, bright enough.

That taunting smile should have made him angry.

Instead, it made him wonder what it would be like to kiss her.

A highly inappropriate thought.

So, he’d ignored the fact that when she smiled she stirred up embers of feelings best forgotten and taken her challenge to heart. That’s why it was dinnertime and he’d not only mastered the fine art of bussing tables, but had also learned to run the monstrous dishwasher, and work the cash register.

He still had a tendency to splash himself when he used the nozzle to rinse the dishes, which is why his shirt was damp, but otherwise, he’d had a productive day.

Productive at least from the busboy end of things.

In terms of the prince finding his fiancée, he hadn’t been nearly as successful.

“Hey, if the ruling-a-country thing doesn’t work out, you might just have a career in the food industry,” Shey said as she joined him. “You surprise me, princy. I thought you’d sit around and mope all day, but you really pitched in and helped. Thanks.”

“A prince doesn’t mope. And believe it or not, I’ve put in a hard day’s labor in the past.”

“Right. Signing royal decrees and proclamations can give a guy writer’s cramp.”

“Do you work at being abrasive, or does it just come naturally?”

“What can I say?” she said with a shrug and a smile. “It’s a gift.”

He couldn’t help but smile in return. He could trade barbs with Shey all day. He rather enjoyed her prickly nature. Most of the women he’d dated in the past had bent over backwards to be agreeable, hoping to snag a rich prince.

He was pretty sure that Shey didn’t have an agreeable bone in her body. If he said black, she’d say white just to have a good argument.

He glanced at his watch. He’d been here all day. “When does Parker arrive?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention,” Shey said slowly, “that today was her day off? Tammy’s here to close up shop.”

She grinned, obviously she’d had this planned all along.

A moment before, sparring with Shey had delighted Tanner, now it had him gritting his teeth as he said, “No, you didn’t.”

“So sorry. But today is Parker’s day off. Guess you wasted time helping out here, didn’t you?”

She looked completely pleased with herself.

“You let me slave away all day on purpose, knowing she wasn’t coming in?”

“What part of ‘I’m Parker’s friend and would do anything for her’ did you miss? That doing anything includes putting up with you all day.”

He glared at the redhead. Somewhere along the line he’d lost sight of his ultimate goal and lost a whole day.

Now what?

Shooting an evil glance at Shey, he pulled out his mobile and called Emil to ask him to bring a car to the coffeehouse.

“You’re giving in?” Shey said. “Wish I could say I’d miss you, but I don’t tell lies.”

“Never?” he asked.

“Never.”

“I don’t either. So if I said that despite the fact you’re a highly annoying woman, I’ve been thinking about kissing you all day and that I find you to be a very attractive woman, what would you say?”

Tanner heard the words spill out of his mouth. He couldn’t seem to stop them. He waited, expecting some sort of outburst from Shey, sure she’d take offense.

Instead, she laughed and said, “I’d say you wouldn’t be the first to think I’m annoying, and you’re also not the first to think about kissing me, or to think I was attractive. I’m sure you won’t be the last to think any of them. But I’d add, I’m not interested in kissing you, although you’re more than welcome to continue thinking I’m annoying and attractive.”

“And what if I said that I don’t believe the not-wanting-to-kiss-me part of your little speech? That I felt your eyes on me all day.”

“I’d say, quite truthfully, that you were right. My eyes were on you. You know the old adage about not trusting a fox in the henhouse? Well…” She let the sentence hang.

“I’m familiar enough with American slang to know that you thinking I’m a fox could easily lead you to fantasize about kissing me.”

She didn’t even bother to respond. She just snorted and laughed again.

Tanner was thankful he’d never had problems with low self-esteem or else that snort might have put a dent in his psyche.

“I don’t know why I bother,” he said, shaking his head. “You’re easily the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met. And if you knew the last woman I dated you’d realize that’s saying something. So, as much as this has been interesting,” he said with just the proper sneer added to the word interesting, “I’ll have to say goodbye.”