Prince's Love-Child

CHAPTER TWO

‘YOU’RE incredibly stupid or totally insane—and as I don’t believe for a moment that it’s the latter, I can only assume that it’s the former!’ Sapphie spoke vehemently even as she marched her way past Rik and into the sitting-room of his hotel suite, not sparing her obviously luxurious surroundings a second glance as she turned to glare at him.

‘Come in, why don’t you?’ Rik drawled sardonically, taking his time about closing the door and joining her.

Giving Sapphie the opportunity to take in exactly how handsome he looked in the black evening suit and snowy white shirt and black bow-tie. Not that she hadn’t ever noticed how devastatingly attractive he was, it was just that he just looked breathtakingly so in this formal attire, every inch the wealthy and powerful screenwriter that he was.

She had responded to the way he looked five years ago, but also to the way he’d made her feel; she’d been attracted to his inborn confidence and sophistication as much as to his handsome features. But this was something else entirely.

Now he wasn’t just Rik Prince, the youngest, and reputedly the most sensitive, of the powerful Prince brothers; now he was also the link between herself and the past, between her and…

No, she mustn’t even go there! She had spent a night of mindless passion with this man, and he had to believe that was all they had shared.

He arched dark brows now as he eyed her teasingly. ‘Am I to take it from your previous remark that you aren’t looking forward to the four of us having dinner together this evening?’

Looking forward to it—it had to be the worst torture she could ever imagine!

Spending hours in Rik’s company. Aware all that time that he was probably still in love with Dee. In a constant state of agitation herself, in case either Dee or Jerome said anything that might arouse Rik’s suspicions. No, she wasn’t looking forward to it at all!

But when Rik had made his suggestion earlier about dinner at Fouquet’s, and it was greeted with such enthusiasm by Dee and Jerome, Sapphie simply hadn’t been able to think of a good reason for not joining them. Especially as it had already been agreed earlier in the morning that she would eat with Dee and Jerome tonight. Besides, she dared not dine with all of them, because she was still nervous that either Dee or Jerome might unwittingly say something about Matthew…

Even so, she was sure that Rik had known earlier exactly how she felt about having dinner with him, since she’d spent the rest of their meeting this morning in silence, nodding her agreement to the suggestion they all meet in the hotel foyer downstairs at eight o’clock.

‘Idiot!’ she snapped now, totally immune to his admiring glance as he took in the black sheath knee-length dress she was wearing, and the way her auburn hair fell loose on the bareness of her shoulders. She gave an impatient shake of her head. ‘This is a dangerous game you’re playing—’

‘Dangerous?’ Rik echoed, dark brows arched mockingly. ‘You aren’t suddenly going to launch yourself at me in a passionate frenzy, are you?’

‘Oh, very funny,’ Sapphie bit out disgustedly. ‘You are such a funny man, Rik. In fact, with your wit, I’m surprised you’ve never turned your talent to writing comedies!’

He grinned unconcernedly, an endearing dimple appearing in one cheek, obviously feeling completely relaxed about the evening ahead. ‘I’ve never really thought about it,’ he shrugged, ‘but now that you mention it…’ He smiled in the face of her obvious frustration. ‘It’s a little early yet for us to go and meet Dee and Jerome; would you care for a drink before we leave?’

As it had turned out, Rik and Dee and Jerome were all staying at the George V, just off the Champs-Elyseées, whereas Sapphie had decided to stay in a more obscure—and less expensive!—hotel in one of the avenues off the Arc de Triomphe, so it had been decided that the three of them would meet in the foyer of the George V before strolling along to the restaurant.

And yes, Sapphie was well aware of the fact that it was too early to meet the other couple. Deliberately so. As this man had to be well aware.

‘A brandy would be nice,’ she accepted abruptly, having already noticed the untouched bottles of whisky and brandy on one of the side-tables. ‘Thank you,’ she added awkwardly.

‘So far this evening you’ve called me “incredibly stupid” and an “idiot”—don’t you think it’s a little late for politeness?’ He eyed her laughingly.

Sapphie felt a leap of awareness in her chest at how very attractive he was in this teasingly friendly mood. It would be so easy to forget everything else, and just enjoy being in his company…

His company was something she dared not risk enjoying! In fact, she couldn’t let her guard down for even a second, had been a mass of churning emotions since the moment they’d met again this morning, feeling as if she were remaining only two steps ahead of a tsunami—and while it was increasing in force she was tiring fast!

She had to find a way of stopping it—stopping Rik—in his tracks!

‘Thank you,’ she murmured again as she took the glass of brandy from his hand and took a sip of the fiery liquid, hoping it would give her the courage she so badly needed.

Courage…? She was going to need more than courage if she was going to completely alienate Rik Prince. And that was exactly what she had to do—if she could stop him finding her amusing long enough to do it, that was!

Under other circumstances, meeting Rik again could have been the highlight of her trip to Paris. But as it was…

‘Mr Prince—’

‘You know, you really can’t carry on being so formal with a man you’ve shared a bed with,’ he cut in smoothly.

And a sofa. And the floor. Even the shower—if her memory served her correctly. And she knew that it did.

All of which would be better forgotten, let alone talked about! ‘Rik,’ she corrected tautly, sitting down in one of the armchairs and instantly wishing she hadn’t, as Rik’s gaze was drawn to the amount of silk-covered thigh revealed by her dress riding up her legs. ‘The danger I was referring to has nothing to do with me—’

‘Pity,’ he responded, relaxing back in an armchair himself now as he looked across at her with narrowed eyes.

‘—and everything to do with Dee and Jerome,’ Sapphie continued determinedly.

She had given this a lot of thought when she returned to her hotel earlier—in the circumstances, how could she possibly think of anything else?—and had decided she couldn’t make this personal, otherwise Rik’s suspicions would be aroused anyway. So she had decided to make Dee and Jerome the issue instead.

It seemed to be working as Rik’s mouth tightened, his expression grim. ‘What about them?’ There was a definite edge to his voice now. ‘As you’ve already been at great pains to point out to me, they are obviously a happily married couple.’

‘Yes, they are.’ Sapphie nodded. ‘But beneath his genial façade, Jerome is a very jealous man.’

Rik gave a slight inclination of his head. ‘Dee is a lot younger than him, and a very beautiful woman.’

‘She can also be a very silly one,’ Sapphie told Rik with feeling. ‘Not that it’s her fault,’ she added, remembering all too well Rik’s earlier accusation that she didn’t like Dee. Of course she liked Dee, but if this was going to work, then she had to exaggerate some of Dee’s less admirable traits. ‘Dee was very overindulged as a child. Her father adored her, always referred to her as his perfect diamond.’ Sapphie shook her head. ‘Is it any wonder that she grew up expecting every other man to adore her, too?’

‘I don’t know,’ Rik said slowly. ‘Is it?’

‘Of course it’s not,’ Sapphie shot back. She wasn’t getting through to him at all! ‘I mentioned earlier that Dee and Jerome have had their share of hiccups…? Well, those hiccups usually occur after one of Dee’s—flirtations. Jerome, understandably, resents any man who gets too close to his wife.’

‘Understandably,’ Rik echoed tightly. ‘Although I still don’t see what this has got to do with me.’

Sapphie eyed him exasperatedly; this wasn’t going at all as she had planned. She had intended giving Rik a little friendly advice—such as ‘stay away from Dee because of Jerome’s jealousy’!—and he obviously wasn’t getting it at all. She felt like boxing his ears now!

‘You’re in love with Dee—’

‘Am I?’

She frowned frustratedly. ‘Of course you are!’

‘If you say so.’ He shrugged.

‘Look, I’m trying to help you,’ she pressed on impatiently.

‘So it would appear.’

She sighed at his lack of cooperation. ‘The last man to get too close to Dee ended up losing his job on the New York Times newspaper and going back writing about cattle shows in his home state of Texas!’ A fate that was a vast improvement on the one that had befallen Dee’s admirer before that, an actor who was sacked from his role in a major film and was now working behind the counter of a fast-food chain!

Rik looked amused. ‘And you think that might happen to me?’ he queried. ‘It’s very nice of you to be so concerned on my behalf, Sapphie, but it really isn’t necessary.’

She really wasn’t getting through to him, was she? So much for advising him to stay away from both Dee and Jerome—and, as a consequence, away from her too; he just seemed to find her advice amusing!