Heir Untamed - By Danielle Bourdon Page 0,32
excitement to one...less excited. She felt the shift and could do nothing to correct it in time.
“I'm...actually, I'd love to go, Mister Ahtissari, except I have an assignment I'm supposed to be getting ready for. I need to scour the property for a place to set up our next photo shoot.” How she hated to miss out on such a golden opportunity. There was no help for it, though.
Mattias's brows arched high. “Well, Miss Sinclair, I have a helicopter waiting, so you'll forgive me if I would like to upset your schedule for a handful of hours. I promise to have you back early enough that you may wander the property at your leisure.”
Damn the man. A helicopter? How was she supposed to say no to that? Chey glanced past Mattias to the hallway. As if she thought a dark shadow would be lurking in the nearest crevice to glean all her secrets.
Mattias glanced behind him, too. Then he twisted back, a clear question on his features.
If she wasn't careful, she was going to tip her hand that something else was wrong. For a moment, Chey hovered on the verge of confession. She wanted to tell him everything. Would he believe her? Chey couldn't be sure. Never mind that one of her prime suspects was his own girlfriend. And speaking of his girlfriend, what would Viia think of this little foray into town? Already the woman had been shooting her warning glances, and perhaps had sent someone into her room to warn her away from the Prince.
“You know, if I was a less observant man, I might think you were just shy or intimidated by the offer to accompany me into town. But I'm not, and I don't believe for a second that you're shy, which leaves me thinking that there is something you're not telling me,” Mattias said.
He was observant, disturbingly so, and she didn't know how to talk her way out of this without lying her backside off. The longer she stood there debating, the more suspicious he was going to become.
“Chey?” he prompted.
She glanced down at her hands. “I can't go with you.”
“Why not?”
“I'd rather choose my next photo shoot location. I'm sorry.”
“There is definitely something you're not telling me,” he said matter-of-factly.
Chey understood then that Mattias—probably all of the Royals—were used to getting their way. He might push and push until it became even more clear than it was now that she was avoiding him for reasons other than choosing a picturesque location.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Chey fidgeted. When she glanced at his eyes, she found him staring at her with puzzled curiosity. Perhaps a sliver of concern. Since he was inviting her, wouldn't that take the pressure off spending time with him according to her attacker? It wasn't like Chey could easily turn down a request from a member of the Royal family.
Right?
She considered it.
Maybe, just maybe, Mattias's invitation would spare her any blame.
Lifting her chin with a renewed sense of belligerence, Chey decided the hell with it.
“All right, Mis—Mattias. I would love to go with you to the city. Should I change into something more businesslike?”
Mattias didn't immediately relent from the incisive look he was giving her. But when he smiled, he really smiled. It changed his whole face, making him even more handsome than usual.
“No. Go just as you are, if you're comfortable in that. You'll prefer it over suits and heels, trust me. Meet Allar at the back entrance and he will escort you to the helicopter, where I'll be waiting. Ten minutes,” he said, and left.
Chapter Seven
The flight from the family seat to the main city of Kalev was short but packed with breathtaking scenery. Chey was able to snap aerial shots of the castle from several angles, thanks to Mattias ordering the pilot to circle the property. The landscape along the way varied between open meadows, farmland, forest and wild coastline. Once or twice, a smaller town tucked itself into the terrain, but by and large, it was acres of green and trees.
Kalev, their oldest and largest city, was a mix of old architecture and modern construction. They flew over the parts of the town preserved through the centuries by former Kings, the buildings colored like sandstone weathering the pass of time rather well. She got a few pictures from her unique vantage, and more when they approached a helipad located atop a newer highrise overlooking the ocean.
Mattias pointed it all out himself, gesturing to this