frown. The next thing we know, the prince is being called away, and they both disappear into the crowd.
“What the hell was that?” Magnolia curses.
“What?”
“You… flirting with the guard. What the hell are you playing at?” Her ice-blue eyes narrow on me.
“You both had the prince’s attention. Didn’t think you needed me as a third wheel,” I explain.
“We don’t have the prince, yet. Whatever you’re doing, stop it!” Magnolia berates me.
“I’m going for a walk. I need to clear my head.”
Placing the glass of champagne down on the table beside me, I start to head off when I hear, “I think that would be best. When you come back, you better be in the mood to win a prince.” Magnolia glares at me.
I give my sisters a wave as I disappear into the crowd.
5
Greyson
“What the hell was that?” Auggie asks as we take a couple of moments to ourselves in the garden.
“What?” Shoving my hands into the pocket of my tuxedo pants, I look at him with narrowed eyes.
“With that princess. Umm… what was her name again?” Auggie frowns.
“Lila. Princess Lila.” Her name falls from my lips quickly.
“Really?” He stills, turning to me in the darkness. “You remembered her name but none of the others.” He raises a brow and rubs his chin.
“She intrigued me.”
“As you did her, I think.” A soft chuckle falls from his lips. “She was the first woman tonight to be more armored with you than me.”
“Jealous?” I tease.
“A little.” He grins. “She’s beautiful if not a little young,” he adds.
“She’s twenty-one from what I’ve read in her folio.” Auggie shakes his head and gives me another grin but does not say anything. “Her family is in debt.” His brows raise high. “Her father gambled away their fortune, and they only found out when he died, which was three months ago.”
“So, you would think she’d be desperate to gain my attention.” He stares out into the darkness. “Instead, she was focused on you.”
“Maybe she’s playing the game differently,” I tell him, but she certainly has my attention, that’s for sure.
“Or, maybe she’s interested in you.” Auggie turns and stops in front of me. He wraps his arms around my neck. “I don’t blame her.” He pulls me to him and kisses me. We lose ourselves in the kisses for a couple of moments before remembering where we are, but Auggie doesn’t let me go.
The sound of a branch cracking in the moonlight has us pulling apart quickly and pausing in the darkness. The outline of a figure with her back to us strolls ahead. Her phone lights up, illuminating her face. It’s Princess Lila.
What is she doing out here?
Auggie’s fingers dig into my shoulder.
“Things just got interesting.” Amusement laces his tone. “I think we should test her.”
“Her?” I whisper into the darkness.
“Yes. Unless you’re not interested? We can find someone else inside if you like,” he states.
No. None of those women are right for him and especially not for me, except her.
“What do you think?” Gaging his interest, I ask the question that’s on my lips.
“Judging from the outside, I like what I see.” He grins, his eyes never leaving her outline as she walks further into the garden. “I want to see how far she will go with you?” he adds.
“She isn’t going to do anything with me.” Shaking my head at his crazy idea, I sigh.
“Maybe not. Or just maybe… she might.” Auggie bites his bottom lip.
“And if she does?” The adrenaline in my veins begins to pump through my body.
“Then, we might have found my wife.” He thumps me on the back and pushes me toward her. Turning back, Auggie has disappeared into the darkness, but I know he isn’t far away. We’ve played this game on numerous occasions, but those times the women knew there was an audience.
Lila is so lost in whatever she’s doing on her phone that she doesn’t hear me walk up behind her.
“It’s not safe for you to be wandering the gardens at night alone,” I warn her. She jumps at my voice but doesn’t make a sound.
Lila turns around slowly.
My eyes run over her svelte body. This girl is sexy without even trying. She’s au naturel compared to the barbies inside. She slides her phone back into her clutch and folds her arms in front of her.
“Am I not safe with you?” She raises a brow in defiance.
Well, damn. I was not expecting her to flirt with me straight off the cuff.
“Probably not.” I give her a