Read Online The Prince's Gamble by Caridad Piñeiro - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Caridad Piñeiro
Ads: Link
comprehend. A different answer than he’d given her yesterday to a similar question—that he’d started his small empire to ensure Tatiana’s future—but the meaning wasn’t all that different.
“Alexander is big on making his own destiny,” Tatiana said, possibly revealing more than her brother cared to at that moment.
But Kathleen hadn’t needed the explanation. She understood the prince far better than he thought.
Which scared the crap out of her.
“Enough about me,” Alexander said, command ringing in his voice.
“And modest as well,” Tatiana teased, obviously delighting in making her older sibling uncomfortable before heeding his request. “Anyway. Kevin and I were studying for our economics class. We have a big test midweek,” she said.
The conversation turned back to the young couple’s classes, with her and Jim chiming in only occasionally. She was more interested in sitting back and watching the interaction between brother and sister. She wanted to know who the real man was behind the princely façade Alexander presented to the world. Was he truly as nice as he seemed? Could she really stop thinking of him as the bad guy, as he had asked of her earlier that morning?
The meal passed quickly with the exuberance of the young couple and Alexander’s easy sociability. He was even more relaxed now than he had been at last night’s gathering with his staff and sister.
The plates had barely been cleared when Tatiana glanced at her watch and jumped to her feet.
“Kevin and I have to get going. We promised to be back for a study group meeting.”
Kevin rose more slowly. “If you’ll excuse us, sir.”
He was earning points with his politeness. Alexander nodded and also stood, but motioned for her and Jim to remain seated. “Let me show you out.”
…
Alexander followed the young couple as they walked to the door, wanting a word with his sister before she left. He didn’t want any misunderstandings between them. He grabbed hold of her hand. As politely as he could, he asked Kevin, “Would you give us a second?”
The young man nodded and stepped a few feet down the hall. In soft tones, Alexander said, “You know I only want what’s best for you, Tatochka.”
“I know, Sasha. Kevin is a nice guy.” She sneaked a peek out of the corner of her eye at her young man.
That remained to be seen, he thought, since he had no doubt Kevin was more than just a study partner. “Maybe next weekend the two of you will spend a little more time with me?”
His sister’s gaze skipped over his features, gauging if he was truly serious, but seeing that he was, she dipped her head in agreement. “Okay.”
“I’ll see you both for Friday night dinner, then.” He hugged her hard, unafraid to show Tatiana just how much he cared about her..
She returned his embrace with equal fervor, but then surprised him by rising on tiptoes and whispering in his ear, “Don’t glare so much at Kathleen and maybe you have a chance with her.”
Stunned into silence, he failed to reply as she dashed away to her boyfriend, grabbed hold of his hand, and almost skipped down the hallway.
He shook his head and chuckled belatedly at his sister’s exuberance. But then again, that freedom of spirit was what he had hoped for her when he had pressed to open this casino. In Europe their royal ties would have bound his sister to an assortment of duties and constant scrutiny from the tabloids. There was, as he had said earlier, far more freedom here in America.
For better, and for worse, it seemed…
He had to remind himself this was exactly what he’d wanted for Tatiana—the ability to determine her own fate. Without interference from anyone, including him.
Or maybe not so much, anyway.
Closing the door to the dining room, he met his majordomo’s inquiring gaze. “Could you please clear the dining room, Ben?”
With discreet commands, Ben had the staff take away their plates and leave behind a carafe of coffee and
“Alexander is big on making his own destiny,” Tatiana said, possibly revealing more than her brother cared to at that moment.
But Kathleen hadn’t needed the explanation. She understood the prince far better than he thought.
Which scared the crap out of her.
“Enough about me,” Alexander said, command ringing in his voice.
“And modest as well,” Tatiana teased, obviously delighting in making her older sibling uncomfortable before heeding his request. “Anyway. Kevin and I were studying for our economics class. We have a big test midweek,” she said.
The conversation turned back to the young couple’s classes, with her and Jim chiming in only occasionally. She was more interested in sitting back and watching the interaction between brother and sister. She wanted to know who the real man was behind the princely façade Alexander presented to the world. Was he truly as nice as he seemed? Could she really stop thinking of him as the bad guy, as he had asked of her earlier that morning?
The meal passed quickly with the exuberance of the young couple and Alexander’s easy sociability. He was even more relaxed now than he had been at last night’s gathering with his staff and sister.
The plates had barely been cleared when Tatiana glanced at her watch and jumped to her feet.
“Kevin and I have to get going. We promised to be back for a study group meeting.”
Kevin rose more slowly. “If you’ll excuse us, sir.”
He was earning points with his politeness. Alexander nodded and also stood, but motioned for her and Jim to remain seated. “Let me show you out.”
…
Alexander followed the young couple as they walked to the door, wanting a word with his sister before she left. He didn’t want any misunderstandings between them. He grabbed hold of her hand. As politely as he could, he asked Kevin, “Would you give us a second?”
The young man nodded and stepped a few feet down the hall. In soft tones, Alexander said, “You know I only want what’s best for you, Tatochka.”
“I know, Sasha. Kevin is a nice guy.” She sneaked a peek out of the corner of her eye at her young man.
That remained to be seen, he thought, since he had no doubt Kevin was more than just a study partner. “Maybe next weekend the two of you will spend a little more time with me?”
His sister’s gaze skipped over his features, gauging if he was truly serious, but seeing that he was, she dipped her head in agreement. “Okay.”
“I’ll see you both for Friday night dinner, then.” He hugged her hard, unafraid to show Tatiana just how much he cared about her..
She returned his embrace with equal fervor, but then surprised him by rising on tiptoes and whispering in his ear, “Don’t glare so much at Kathleen and maybe you have a chance with her.”
Stunned into silence, he failed to reply as she dashed away to her boyfriend, grabbed hold of his hand, and almost skipped down the hallway.
He shook his head and chuckled belatedly at his sister’s exuberance. But then again, that freedom of spirit was what he had hoped for her when he had pressed to open this casino. In Europe their royal ties would have bound his sister to an assortment of duties and constant scrutiny from the tabloids. There was, as he had said earlier, far more freedom here in America.
For better, and for worse, it seemed…
He had to remind himself this was exactly what he’d wanted for Tatiana—the ability to determine her own fate. Without interference from anyone, including him.
Or maybe not so much, anyway.
Closing the door to the dining room, he met his majordomo’s inquiring gaze. “Could you please clear the dining room, Ben?”
With discreet commands, Ben had the staff take away their plates and leave behind a carafe of coffee and
Similar Books
