Tangled Games (Dating Games #5) - T.K. Leigh Page 0,72
then suddenly retreats. “But not yet.”
“No?”
He slowly shakes his head. “No.”
“Then when?”
“Soon. And don’t worry. I plan on making the wait worth your while, love.”
“You’d better.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Because my libido is in rare form tonight.”
“Is that right?”
“She’s had a bit of a dry spell lately.”
“Let’s see what we can do about putting an end to that sooner rather than later.”
I bite my bottom lip. “I like the sound of that.”
After a short drive filled with sexual tension, Creed pulls up in front of a restaurant. When I notice the paparazzi already waiting, I assume he’ll continue around to the back. He doesn’t, though.
I look toward Anderson, a single brow raised.
“Part of dating a prince is cameras and paparazzi following us. Since I’ve had a penchant for breaking the rules lately, I figured I’d break one more. Instead of waiting for the paparazzi to find me, as they always do, I had my people tell them where I am so my security team could control the situation from the beginning. See?”
He nods out the window. Police barricades are set up, much like at pre-planned engagements. It’s a marked difference from the last time I’d encountered the paparazzi. There’s no frenzy of people shouting and grabbing. It’s orderly. Manageable. Safe.
“Better to take control of the situation before it controls you. Now, shall we create some headlines?”
I look from the crowd and back to Anderson, my mouth growing dry. I thought we’d go somewhere private where no one would be able to see us. But to walk through the front entrance of a restaurant where there are actual diners? To do something normal people do?
This is exactly what I need. What I’ve needed since I first landed in this country and my life was turned upside down.
“Absolutely.”
“Good.”
When Creed opens the door, Anderson steps out to a chorus of cheers and camera flashes. He buttons his suit jacket, giving a quick wave to the crowd before turning back toward the car, offering me his hand.
I slide across the seat, praying this isn’t a repeat of the night we were chased from Esme’s dinner party. After the past few weeks, I’m not exactly in the mood for a bunch of jealous girls to point out every single of one of my imperfections and tell me all the reasons Caroline DeVries is better suited for Anderson. Especially after my unexpected phone call from my mother yesterday.
But like Anderson said, this is part of dating Prince Gabriel. That’s what I wanted. And that’s precisely what he’s giving me.
On a deep inhale, I carefully step out of the SUV. The instant my feet hit the pavement, the camera flashes increase, people shouting my name. But that’s not all. They’re begging Anderson to kiss me like he did yesterday, a few photos having made the rounds on social media, much to my publicist’s chagrin.
Anderson smirks, playfully waggling his brows. “What do you say, love? Should we give them what they want?”
I place my hand on his chest, tilting my head back. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint your adoring fans.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong.” He yanks my body against his, lips descending toward me. The cheers grow louder with every inch he erases. “They’re your adoring fans now, too.”
As his mouth covers mine, cheers and applause echo around us, cameras clicking even more hurriedly in an attempt to capture the perfect shot of our kiss.
The evening’s barely begun, yet there’s no doubt in my mind.
This is the perfect date with a prince.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nora
“What is this place?” I ask later that evening when Creed pulls the SUV in front of a three-story, industrial-looking brick building, not a soul in sight, the only sound that of the occasional dog barking and the lapping of ocean waves in the distance, indicating we must be somewhere near the water’s edge.
“You’ll see,” Anderson answers with a devilish smirk.
“It’s where you hide the bodies, right?” I joke. “This whole prince thing is just a front, a way to lure unsuspecting young women to your lair?”
He leans toward me, midnight blue eyes undressing me. “You figured out my secret. Although the only woman I hope to lure to my lair is you, gorgeous.” He winks as Creed opens my door.
Once my feet hit the cracked sidewalk, I look up at the building. It’s a complete one-eighty from the picture of perfection of Anderson’s estate and the palace. Not somewhere I’d ever imagine him spending any meaningful time. Or bringing a date.