Read Online The Prince's Gamble by Caridad Piñeiro - Free Book Online
Authors: Caridad Piñeiro
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agent keep him from what he had to do.
No matter how frustrated and disappointed her distrust made him feel inside.
Because although he didn’t want to admit it, deep down, her opinion of him was starting to matter.
…
The prince and princess were seated for breakfast at the dining room table along with Jim Reynolds. Another thumb drive and manila folder sat beside Jim at an empty space. The security chief was seated to Ivanov’s right hand side, but one seat away from his boss, leaving Kathleen little choice. Either sit next to Alexander, or insult him and take a spot next to his sister.
No contest.
Kathleen took the spot next to Tatiana and earned raised brows from everyone at the table. Tough. Her pride still stung from His Highness’s contempt at the gym. And she wasn’t even sure she believed him.
As she sat, she calmly said, “Good morning. I trust everyone slept well.”
“Well enough,” the prince replied in clipped tones.
Tatiana chimed in with, “I had to stay awake late studying with a friend.”
“A friend, Tatiana? Did she stay the night?” her brother asked, his voice steady although his hand wavered slightly as he placed his fine china coffee cup in the matching saucer.
Tatiana shot a nervous look around the table. “He did, only—”
“Excuse me? He? Did I hear that right? You let a young man stay with you last night?” Ivanov said, the first hints of anger coloring his voice.
Kathleen shot a glance at the security chief. Had he known about this?
Tatiana tilted her head regally and met her brother’s challenging gaze head on. “Yes, I did. This is America, Sasha. I am an independent woman.”
“Sasha?” Kathleen asked before thinking, arching a brow.
“A family nickname,” he said curtly. Was that a stain of color on his cheekbones? Ignoring her, he zeroed back in on his sister. “You still have a reputation to protect, Tatochka. Every freedom comes with a responsibility, even in America.”
Before his sister could formulate an argument, Ivanov pushed on. “Why don’t you ring your young man and ask him to join us for breakfast? That is, if Special Agent Martinez and Jim don’t mind postponing our business meeting until after we eat?”
Ivanov glanced in her direction, but Kathleen welcomed the delay, and deferentially dipped her head in agreement. In fact, the interaction between the two siblings was enlightening. Alexander— Sasha, she thought with an inner chuckle—was being incredibly paternal, probably due to the big gap in their ages.
Tatiana promptly phoned her friend and provided instructions on how to find the executive dining room.
Silence reigned around the table until a hesitant footfall sounded by the door and a shaggy head poked in. A second later, the rest of the young man’s lanky body followed. Tatiana’s friend was still all ungainly limbs and peach fuzz face…but he had promise, Kathleen mused.
Tatiana popped out of her chair and rushed to the young man’s side. She slipped her hand into his and playfully tugged him a little farther into the room. “Sasha, this is Kevin Matson.”
Alexander rose, and everyone waited for the young man to move. With another little tug from Tatiana, he straightened his back, gaining another inch in height, and charged forward. When he reached the table, he stuck out his hand with determination.
“Prince Alexander. I’ve heard a great deal about you.” He winced when the prince gripped his hand. Kathleen hid a smile.
“All good, I hope? And please, call me Alexander,” the prince replied, and made a point of glancing her way. A barb? Or a reminder? Then he added, “Kathleen. Would you mind moving so Tatiana and Kevin may sit together?”
Very clever.
Since the staff had yet to serve her anything, she would be hard pressed to refuse his request. Besides, she could handle him, she told herself. Even if the mere sound of her name on his lips brought all kinds of heat through her body… Unfortunately,
No matter how frustrated and disappointed her distrust made him feel inside.
Because although he didn’t want to admit it, deep down, her opinion of him was starting to matter.
…
The prince and princess were seated for breakfast at the dining room table along with Jim Reynolds. Another thumb drive and manila folder sat beside Jim at an empty space. The security chief was seated to Ivanov’s right hand side, but one seat away from his boss, leaving Kathleen little choice. Either sit next to Alexander, or insult him and take a spot next to his sister.
No contest.
Kathleen took the spot next to Tatiana and earned raised brows from everyone at the table. Tough. Her pride still stung from His Highness’s contempt at the gym. And she wasn’t even sure she believed him.
As she sat, she calmly said, “Good morning. I trust everyone slept well.”
“Well enough,” the prince replied in clipped tones.
Tatiana chimed in with, “I had to stay awake late studying with a friend.”
“A friend, Tatiana? Did she stay the night?” her brother asked, his voice steady although his hand wavered slightly as he placed his fine china coffee cup in the matching saucer.
Tatiana shot a nervous look around the table. “He did, only—”
“Excuse me? He? Did I hear that right? You let a young man stay with you last night?” Ivanov said, the first hints of anger coloring his voice.
Kathleen shot a glance at the security chief. Had he known about this?
Tatiana tilted her head regally and met her brother’s challenging gaze head on. “Yes, I did. This is America, Sasha. I am an independent woman.”
“Sasha?” Kathleen asked before thinking, arching a brow.
“A family nickname,” he said curtly. Was that a stain of color on his cheekbones? Ignoring her, he zeroed back in on his sister. “You still have a reputation to protect, Tatochka. Every freedom comes with a responsibility, even in America.”
Before his sister could formulate an argument, Ivanov pushed on. “Why don’t you ring your young man and ask him to join us for breakfast? That is, if Special Agent Martinez and Jim don’t mind postponing our business meeting until after we eat?”
Ivanov glanced in her direction, but Kathleen welcomed the delay, and deferentially dipped her head in agreement. In fact, the interaction between the two siblings was enlightening. Alexander— Sasha, she thought with an inner chuckle—was being incredibly paternal, probably due to the big gap in their ages.
Tatiana promptly phoned her friend and provided instructions on how to find the executive dining room.
Silence reigned around the table until a hesitant footfall sounded by the door and a shaggy head poked in. A second later, the rest of the young man’s lanky body followed. Tatiana’s friend was still all ungainly limbs and peach fuzz face…but he had promise, Kathleen mused.
Tatiana popped out of her chair and rushed to the young man’s side. She slipped her hand into his and playfully tugged him a little farther into the room. “Sasha, this is Kevin Matson.”
Alexander rose, and everyone waited for the young man to move. With another little tug from Tatiana, he straightened his back, gaining another inch in height, and charged forward. When he reached the table, he stuck out his hand with determination.
“Prince Alexander. I’ve heard a great deal about you.” He winced when the prince gripped his hand. Kathleen hid a smile.
“All good, I hope? And please, call me Alexander,” the prince replied, and made a point of glancing her way. A barb? Or a reminder? Then he added, “Kathleen. Would you mind moving so Tatiana and Kevin may sit together?”
Very clever.
Since the staff had yet to serve her anything, she would be hard pressed to refuse his request. Besides, she could handle him, she told herself. Even if the mere sound of her name on his lips brought all kinds of heat through her body… Unfortunately,
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