to reach the street. If she could do that, she could blend into the crowd and disappear.
She was almost to the door, almost free. Another couple of steps. A uniformed guard stood near the door, talking to a patron.
And then a voice rang out behind her. “Stop that woman!”
* * *
Luca expected obedience. And the guard did precisely as he commanded, though this was not Iria and Luca did not have the power of command over a hotel guard. He grabbed the woman and held her tight while she jerked helplessly against him.
“Let me go,” she demanded.
The guard did something—tightened his grip, perhaps—and she gave a little gasp. Luca closed the distance between them and glared at the man with barely disguised anger. “You may do as she says.”
“Did she rob you or something? Because if so, I’ve got to haul her in.”
“No. She did not rob me. It is a private matter.”
The guard shrugged and let her go. She spun around then—and he felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water on his head.
“Charlotte?” He’d thought it was her, but he hadn’t been sure. Until now. Memories crashed through him. He’d never forgotten her. She’d been the only person in his life who’d treated him like he wasn’t a rarified being. She’d made him feel normal, ordinary, at a time when official pressures had been ratcheting up higher as he’d grown from a boy into a man.
He’d enjoyed her company. And her body.
Her blue eyes flashed fire. “Yes. And I have nothing to say to you, so I’m leaving. Right now.”
She spun and marched toward the door, but Luca was there first. Blocking her way. She glared at him. “You can’t keep me here against my will.”
He felt a sudden flash of heat as he considered doing just that. If they were in Iria, he could have her taken to his rooms in the palace. And then he could kiss her senseless.
But the woman staring at him with murder in her eyes wasn’t about to let anyone kiss her, senseless or otherwise.
“Is this any way to greet an old friend?”
She put her hands on her hips, emphasizing her lush curves. “You are no friend of mine, Luca De Santis.”
His gaze traveled over her full breasts, the dip of her waist, her generous hips. Killer curves. Lush curves. Curves he suddenly wanted to explore. He’d had her once, and it had been so sweet.
“I used to be.” He let his gaze slide back up to her eyes. Her glare wasn’t quite so pronounced now. Her breathing grew shallower as he pinned her with a look. “I want to be again. Very much.”
CHAPTER TWO
HE WAS A devil. A devil that mesmerized her with his honeyed words and seriously fine form. Charlotte shook her head as her heart kicked up another level.
“Forget it. Been there, done that.” Got the broken heart. Not that she was mentioning that part.
“At least let me buy you a drink.”
His voice was so smooth, so cultured. He made her feel awkward and out of her league. She was just Charlotte Bailey, a girl who designed themes for parties and events, and he was Prince Luca De Santis. Heir to the throne of Iria. He had not been the Crown Prince ten years ago, but she’d read that his uncle had recently made him heir after his own son had died due to a long illness.
“I-I have to go.”
He stepped forward, into her space, and she drew in a deep breath filled with the scent of him. Expensive, exquisite, refined. Money and heritage and luxury.
He took her hand and she felt the zing of that touch all the way to her toes.
“You don’t want to go, Charlotte. You want to have a drink with me.”
“I—” Words failed her as she gazed up into brilliant green eyes.
He tucked her hand into his arm. “Come.”
She found herself hustled into a private lounge where a waiter appeared with a bottle of wine and two expensive crystal glasses. He popped the cork and poured and then they were alone. Luca put a glass in her hand and then he lifted his own.
“To old friends.”
“We are not friends.”
“We were. We could be again.”
Her heart thrummed. “My mother cried for a very long time, you know. It took her years to get over your father. She is married now, and happy.”
His eyes glittered in the dimly lit room. “I am sorry, Charlotte. I had nothing to do with my father’s decision.”
She looked down at the wine. “I know that. But you didn’t call me. Not once.”
He set his glass down and rubbed his temple. “I should have. But you were gone and there seemed to be no point in it. My duties in Iria took up all my time.”
Shame throbbed within her. No point in it? She’d loved him, and she’d thought he loved her. But, yes, she’d known it had been time for his compulsory military service. Even then, he could have called her when the two years were up. He had not.
“It was quite a sobering moment in my life.”
He leaned toward her, slid the tips of his fingers over her face while she trembled. She should push him away. But she couldn’t quite manage it, not when her entire body bent toward his touch.
“I am grateful for the gift you gave me, bella mia. Your trust, your heart, your innocence. I have never forgotten it.”
Charlotte’s lip trembled and she cursed herself for the weakness. She was not about to cry over a ten-year-old affair. Getting your heart broken at eighteen was melodramatic at best. She was a woman now, and she had no room for melodrama.
She set the wine down and slid out of his reach. That part of her life was over. “Thank you for the wine, but I really should go now.”
This time when she stood and walked away, he did not stop her.
* * *
Charlotte called in sick the next morning. Heather was sympathetic, which made Charlotte feel guilty. But Heather had plenty of people on staff, and she wouldn’t miss Charlotte for a day. Or maybe it would turn into two considering how rattled she still felt about seeing Luca so unexpectedly.
Charlotte made coffee and took the newspaper into her tiny living room to read. There was a story on page four about the conference and Prince Luca. He was here to finalize a deal that would create more jobs in Iria’s tech sector. Thankfully, the conference was over tomorrow and he would be on his way home again. Safely out of her city and her orbit.
The doorbell rang as she was pouring her second cup of
