Chapter 12
She sensed his volcanic mood the second he stepped inside the salon. A mother knows her son, and she had been privy to the intimate embrace between him and Antoinette. She had also watched him staring after her vehicle, a lost and completely confused look on his face.
"Mother." He strode straight to the cabinet and jabbed at the button. Barely waiting for it to glide silently out, he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured a generous amount into a glass. "I apologize." He walked over to sit on a chair in front of the desk. "I never asked about your trip."
Hiding her amusement at his abrupt tone, she opened her mouth, prepared to launch into a full detailed description, but he did not allow her. "I suppose you know that we've been together. Your assistant and I."
Schooling her expression, she nodded. "I've heard the rumors."
"Do you also know that she's gone on a date?" he rasped.
"She said she's going to a movie and then dinner after. I believe they're showing-"
"She wants us to remain a secret. So, basically, she uses me for sex and then sees this other man." He tossed back half the liquor in the glass and lunged to his feet to start prowling. "I told you to fire him."
"Which is not going to happen." She watched him curiously. "She's allowed to have friends."
"He wants to be more than friends." He wandered over to the window to stare out broodingly. "I'm supposed to stay here and cool my heels while I wait for her. I am the goddamned prince; I deserve some respect." He ranted bitterly. Whirling around, he pinned her with an accusatory stare.
"You brought her here. It's your bloody fault that I'm going through this, this hell.
I want you to fire her. Perhaps if she's back in her country, I will forget about her.
This yearning I have for her, this ridiculous addiction to her will eventually fade.
Christ!" He drank some more and came to sit back down.
"I don't know what the bloody hell to do. I should go out with someone. Make sure it's documented. Gabriella is still in town and there's Selena." Leaning back, he stretched his legs out.
"But I keep thinking it wouldn't make a damn difference to her. It's humiliating. I feel like a beggar pleading for her attention." His expression was bleak.
"Darling, I have a question for you."
His eyes snapped open and he stared at her frowningly as if belatedly remembering that she was in the room.
"What?"
"Are you in love with her? Senorita Carter. Is that what's bothering you?"
"That's ridiculous! I-" Realization slammed into him like a thunderbolt and had him blinking.
It would explain the seesaw of emotions running through him.
The highs and lows and the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.
His heartbeat accelerated whenever she was near and when she was not, he felt hollow and alone.
He had fallen in love for the first time in his life and he did not bloody like it.
The emotions made him feel vulnerable and weak.
He was a prince. He was not supposed to be privy to such an emotion.
He didn't want it. And worse, it was for a woman who clearly told him she wanted nothing more than a physical relationship.
"Tomas?"
Tossing back the drink, he contemplated the wisdom of having another glass.
"I'm in love with her," he said slowly, expression bleak. "God help me. I'm in love with her."
A pleased smile touched Queen Sofia's lips. "What are you going to do about it?"
He stared at her. "Not a bloody thing."
His mother tutted. "I never pegged you for a coward.
" Ignoring the narrowing of his eyes, she continued.
"I understand perfectly why she would not want to have anything to do with you.
She was cheated on by the man she was about to marry.
It's hard for her to trust again, and with your reputation it's even worse. "
"So far, you've highlighted the problems," he pointed out grimly. "Would you now care to offer a solution?"
She smiled serenely as she folded her hands on the desk. "Woo her."
"Excuse me?"
Her smile widened. "You have charm in spades. Use them on her, show her that you're interested in her. And refuse to take no for an answer. Turn things up and make it impossible for her to ignore you."
He stared at her uncertainly as hope blossomed inside his chest.
"Woo her." He shook his head. "She doesn't want to be seen with me."
"Change her mind." Leaning forward, his mother stared at him earnestly. "I've seen you at work, darling, and this was when you did not have a vested interest. Now you do."
"Woo her," he repeated. "All I've been doing was demanding and ordering." His expression lightened. "I need to turn on the charm. Make it impossible for her to deny her feelings for me."
"There you go."
He rose, a new man with a new mission, the most important one in his life. Winning the love of his life. Making her realize that they belonged together.
It suddenly occurred to him that this was what his mother had been hoping for since he reached puberty.
But now it did not matter to him. All that was important was getting Antoinette to believe that he was a different guy and certainly not the bastard who had cheated on her.
His reputation was well-known. He had been called several unflattering names by the press.
He was known to use and discard women at the drop of a hat. He had followed in his father's footsteps and now it was coming back to bite him in the ass. He was going to have to work bloody hard to show her that he was no longer that person.
"Thank you, Mother," he said quietly. "You're not objecting to the fact that if-" he shook his head. "When this turns out the way I expect it to, I'll be marrying her."
Her smile widened. "I happen to like Antoinette."
He nodded, as if not surprised that she did.
"Father would not have approved."
"Then it's a good thing he's no longer around."
He regarded her steadily. "You loved him once."
"I did. I spent years loving him hopelessly and trying to change him.
It took me a long time to realize that nothing I did was ever going to accomplish that.
" She smiled slightly. "The best thing we ever accomplished together was producing you.
You're nothing like him, darling, and it worried me that you thought that you were. "
"I'm beginning to realize that," he acknowledged solemnly. "I'm going for a ride. I need to clear my head."
"Be careful."
He smiled at that. "I always am."
She watched him walk out of the room and waited until he had closed the doors behind him before sending up a silent prayer of thanks.
*****
Blissfully unaware of what was in store for her, Antoinette tried her best to enjoy the show.
Under ordinary circumstances she would have enjoyed the wonderful setting.
The building was old, as she had read in the history of Perez Paraiso, something she had studied up on as soon as she had got the job.
The infrastructure was solid, the building itself long and low, resembling a barn.
The Pérez's had renovated it within the last two years, as they had done with several other buildings in the uptown area.
Inside was dark and mysterious, lending atmosphere to the theater and giving it an added ambience.
Instead of lights, there were sconces and the seats were all reclined to give the audience a relaxed feeling. Luther had bought them popcorn and Diet Coke, but she was not doing justice to the jumbo box, neither was she paying much attention to what was happening on stage. Her mind was straying.
He had warned her that she would be thinking about him, and his prediction had come true. She could still feel the impression of his lips on hers. And damn him, she was wishing she was in his bed.
"She's quite the performer."
She jolted slightly at the sound of his voice near her ear.
"She's very good."
When he slung a casual arm around her shoulders, Antoinette had to force herself not to remove it. She was the one who had called to invite him out. The least she could do was pretend to be enjoying his company.
"My dear, I was taken aback when you called."
"I know it was sudden-"
"Nonsense." He squeezed her shoulder in an intimate gesture that had her stifling her annoyance.
"I enjoyed getting the call. It means we're progressing, or I'd like to think we are. Oh look, the actress is about to give her rendition. I really enjoy this part."
The hour stretched out long and tedious as she shifted several times to avoid him getting closer to her.
When he suggested a walk on the beach when it was over, she hastily provided an excuse, telling him she had a headache.
"And I have to be up bright and early in the morning.
The queen is back and it's full steam ahead. "
He looked disappointed but nodded in understanding. "I hope she's not working you too hard."
"I enjoy the challenges." He had walked her to her car. "Well-" She aimed for a friendly smile as she said her goodbye. When he leaned in to kiss her on the lips, she jumped back, slapping a hand on his chest. "What're you doing?"
"Kissing you goodnight. I thought-" He stepped back, a look of utter mortification on his face. A look that had the guilt churning inside her. "I apologize if I read things wrong. I just thought that when you invited me- that you- that we-" He passed a hand over his face. "I apologize."
"No." She shook her head and felt lower than dirt. She had used him. He was a decent man, and she had used him to try and prove a point to the prince. He didn't deserve this kind of treatment.
"I should be the one apologizing," she said in a contrite voice. "I'm sorry, Luther, if I gave you the impression that there could be more between us." She took a deep breath before plunging on. "My past-"