The Princess and the Player (Royal House of Leone Book 5) Read online

  “Don’t apologize,” he murmured, still panting hard after his own release. “That’s the most exciting sound I’ve heard in years. And as a musician I am something of an expert.”

  They both laughed, their chests shaking against each other. Then he pulled his arms around her again and held her so tight she could hardly breathe.

  “Now that I have you in my arms I don’t want to let you go again.”

  She giggled against his chest. “I’m not sure I want to go anywhere.” She felt so relaxed after their lovemaking.

  “If I let you go you might walk away and go marry some prince and I won’t see you again for thirty years.”

  “I won’t marry again,” she said quite honestly. “It was a good marriage but once was enough.”

  “Yes, you will.” He said it with slow deliberation. “You won’t be able to help yourself. You’re traditional at your core. I can’t imagine you having a relationship that wasn’t leading to marriage.”

  “I did it before. With you.”

  “Yes, and then you waltzed off and married someone else.”

  “This time I definitely will not be doing that.”

  “Because you’re staying with me?”

  She bit her lip. Could she stay overnight? She hadn’t brought a change of clothes or any makeup other than lipstick. Still, the thought of leaving made her heart contract painfully. “Perhaps for tonight.”

  He kissed her forehead softly. “That’s good enough for me. If I can hold you in my arms for one entire night, I could probably die happy.”

  “Don’t say that!” Her words came out with more force than she intended.

  He squeezed her. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I almost forgot that you recently lost your husband.”

  Ouch. The elephant in the room shifted. Emil was now right here in the bedroom with them—in their thoughts. Even though you couldn’t technically cheat on a dead man, she couldn’t help feeling that she’d betrayed him in some way.

  “It’s still a bit raw, that’s all.” She inhaled as much as she could with Amadou’s chest pressed over hers. With him still inside her… “It was very sudden. Unexpected.”

  Tears welled inside her. What was she doing? She hadn’t been a widow for even one full year yet, and already she was naked in the arms of another man? And having surprising and disconcerting feelings for him. It was all too much, too soon.

  “I have to go.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Amadou’s driver took Lina back to her hotel—in their lifestyle there was always someone who knew your most intimate movements. She was a little surprised at how easily Amadou let her go. She had promised to see him again before she left Paris, and to be honest she was already looking forward to it.

  You’re mad!

  Her conscience upbraided her for giving in to foolish desire. But some other, more reckless part of her was thrilled that she still possessed the ability to desire after all these years.

  She barely slept that night and woke in a state of semi-bliss, her body still reveling in the pleasure she’d experienced last night. Would it have been wonderful or terrifying to wake in his arms?

  Terrifying probably. This reunion affair wasn’t going anywhere. Sooner or later she’d be licking her wounds, and deservedly so, considering how she’d treated him when they were younger.

  Her phone’s ringtone made her jump. Was it him?

  No. And the name that popped up on the screen made her heart sink. Her sanctimonious sister, Liesel—who had skipped over marriage and family to devote herself full time to criticizing others. “Good morning.”

  “I heard you were in Paris.”

  Luckily, Liesel lived in Germany.

  “Yes, visiting Callista.”

  “I just arrived here myself to do a little shopping.”

  Lina’s gut clenched. “You’re in Paris?” Of course Liesel knew nothing about Amadou, either now or years ago, but her beady pale eyes rarely missed a trick. “Where are you staying?” Far away, hopefully.

  “Prince de Galles.”

  Lina swallowed. Amadou’s hotel. “Oh.”

  “I had to battle my way through a crowd of reporters when I got out of my taxi this morning. Some African musician is here, and he just got nominated for an award. I mean, really! The place is mobbed when one chooses the Prince de Galles for peace and privacy.”

  Was she talking about Amadou? He’s French, not African. She managed to hold her tongue, wondering what the award could be. She paid no attention to the music scene.

  “But in the event that I manage to fight my way out again, I was thinking we could meet for lunch at Siri’s.”

  Lina racked her brain for a reason to refuse. And failed. Being royal meant that you couldn’t make enemies of anyone, least of all family. “I could do that. Is one okay?” That should give her time to recover and maybe get her hair done to revive her facade of respectability before meeting Liesel.

  “Let’s make it noon.”

  “Okay.” Liesel always liked to be difficult. “See you then.” Hopefully she could escape fast. She hung up and wondered if—and how—she could warn Amadou about the potential enemy in his camp, but then he’d never even heard of her sister and would hardly see her as a threat to himself so that would just be weird.

  She Googled his name and “award” and found he was up for a Grammy. Then she texted him to congratulate him. She was just being polite. Really! It was the kind of thing anyone would do.

  Thanks. I want to take you for lunch.

  She sighed. And spent a hilarious second wondering what would happen if she invited him to join her and Liesel. Liesel would be polite to his face, most likely, at least. Like her she’d been expensively trained at the finest schools, but afterward she’d berate her for dating someone outside her social circle and destroying the family’s reputation.

  Never mind that Amadou was richer and more famous than any of them. Certainly more well-loved.

  I can’t. My awful sister is in town. And she’s at your hotel.

  Her phone rang. It was him. “How awful is she?” His deep, melodious voice stirred her insides.

  “Unbelievably awful. You have no idea.”

  “But you can’t cancel on her because it’s your family duty to meet her for lunch.”

  “Exactly.” She laughed. “You know me too well.”

  “I could trip her in the lobby.”

  “Don’t. She’d sue you.”

  “How about dinner, then?”

  Lina bit her lip as a warm flush of sensation rose through her. She would love to have dinner with him again. “I’m nervous that we’re going to be noticed.” She could hardly go to his hotel now that her sister was staying there. And if they ate in a restaurant, anyone could see them.

  “Would that be so bad?”

  “Yes. I hate being gossiped about. I’m still officially in mourning. It would look bad if I was—”

  “Out on the town with a hot, young Grammy nominee.”

  “You’re not younger than me! You’re a year older. But yes. And there are my children to think of. I need to keep a low profile.”

  “I understand.” He spoke slowly, and she could almost hear wheels turning in his brain. “I know of a quiet place just outside the city. No people to recognize you. Total privacy. I’ll pick you up at seven. I’ll call your room and you can come right out to the car. Secrecy in all things.”

  “Uh…” warring factions in her brain staged a mock battle. It didn’t last long. “Okay. See you then.”

  As soon as she’d hung up she realized she’d planned an entire day without consulting Callista, who she was purportedly there to visit. Still, her body tingled with rash excitement at the prospect of seeing Amadou again.

  As long as no one knew about their crazy reunion romance, her eventual pain at being ditched by him would be private and she would handle it the way she’d handled all the trauma and upheaval of the past year. As long as no one found out abou
t them she’d be fine.

  “Oh, my goodness.” Liesel flounced into the chic café and slammed her bag down on the table. “The problem with Paris is that it’s full of bloody French people.”

  “It’s known for that.” Lina sipped her coffee. It was utterly pointless trying to school Liesel on any subject. Her mind had been closed for decades.

  “Shame they have the most beautiful leatherwork. I’m forced to come here whenever I need new boots.”

  “Custom?”

  “Of course, darling. I have this little man on Faubourg Saint-Honoré. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

  Lina wondered where Amadou bought his boots. Did he have them custom-made?

  Focus! “Callista is loving her new job. They’re on the brink of some big new discovery.”

  “Riveting. Just make sure she doesn’t marry anyone unsuitable. Paris is full of all sorts of unsavory types. And your children are showing a rebellious streak. I still can’t believe Darias—the king of Altaleone—married a nobody whom he’d hired as a stand-in bride.”

  “We all love her. It was very fortuitous. And he only made the arrangement with her because he was under so much pressure to produce a wife. I hope that the rest of my children can follow their heart and take the time to find someone they truly love.”

  “Nonsense. Aunt Friedl masterminded your marriage to Emil and look how well that turned out.”

  “True.” She forced a smile. True, they’d enjoyed a comfortable life and raised ten wonderful children, but since running into Amadou again she had a distinct sense that she’d missed out on something else.

  Passion.

  “It’s your job as their mother to strategize, plan and execute their future unions in order to avoid disaster.” Liesel waved rudely at a waiter and ordered two coffees in terrible French. “It’s simply your royal duty.”

  “Uh, I hate to point this out…” Lina found herself feeling reckless. “But you’ve never married.”

  Liesel sniffed the air. “I never found anyone adequate. Far better to remain single than to lower oneself.”

  Lina sighed. “Don’t you get lonely?”

  “Not at all. I find men rather tiresome even in small doses. Really—who doesn’t? I suppose this is why women encourage them to shoot and play golf and other time-consuming pursuits.”

  Lina laughed. “I suspect my daughters will be marrying men with demanding careers, not nineteenth-century aristocrats with time on their hands. But I have no intention of interfering in any way.”

  “What if they all decide to marry Americans?” Liesel lifted a penciled brow. “Or worse?”

  “I will welcome whoever they choose. And for the record I’d be delighted for any of them to choose to have a partner of the same gender.”

  “My goodness.” Liesel looked appropriately scandalized. “What would Emil say?”

  Now that Lina had a better idea of what Emil got up to in his spare time—with the kinky Cross of Blood society—she didn’t think much would have shocked him. Or that he’d have a right to show any kind of disapproval. “Sometimes people can surprise you.”

  They ordered lunch and had a dull but harmless conversation about summer hats. All the while Lina’s mind kept straying to Amadou and their plans for that night. She wouldn’t be able to go back to his hotel this whole trip, not with Liesel staying right there in the same building. She’d never hear the end of it if her sister got wind of her affair. Or even found out that she’d been rash enough to have sex outside of a carefully arranged marriage.

  “You do seem distracted today,” probed Liesel, snapping a crab leg with manicured fingertips. “Are you getting enough sleep?”

  “Of course,” she answered, too quickly. She didn’t want her sister to know that she’d tossed and turned last night, thinking of her lover. “I’m just out of my element here in Paris. There’s so much to do and so little time.”

  “Indeed. When are you leaving?”

  She hesitated. “I’m not sure yet. I…I…it will depend on Callista’s schedule.” She didn’t want to state a definite plan, then find herself needing to backtrack. “There’s some big party next week she wants me to attend.”

  “Callista doesn’t strike me as a party girl.”

  “It’s just one of those things that everyone is going to. A charity fundraiser. I accepted my invitation months ago. If I’m back in Altaleone I’ll just send regrets. I don’t like those big dos, but if I’m here anyway I suppose I’ll go.”

  “You really should be back home, making sure Darias fully understands his royal duties.”

  “Darias is fine.” Lina lifted a brow. “You don’t need to concern yourself with the management of Altaleone.”

  “Of course not, darling. I’m just concerned about you.”

  “I’m also fine.”

  “It’s just that you look a little…flushed.” Liesel’s eyes narrowed.

  Lina felt her skin heat. She might well look flushed after the excitement of last night. Every cell of her body had come alive in Amadou’s arms. “I’m fine.” She toyed with her quiche. “Just a lot on my mind.”

  “It’s never easy getting another year older at our age,” simpered Liesel. “I need to find you a gift, don’t I?”

  “Nonsense. I don’t know why everyone feels the need to buy me something for my birthday. I can buy whatever I want.”

  “Don’t rub it in, dear. I’m not impoverished myself.”

  “I wasn’t trying to say…” Never mind. Whatever you said to Liesel was the wrong thing. “I need to do some shopping this afternoon.” She wanted to buy something new to wear tonight. Something elegant and tasteful, but possibly a bit less…royal than her usual attire.

  “Fine. I’ll come with you. It’s important to have someone honest with you once you’re past a certain age.”

  Great. Lina’s heart sank. “I think I’m just going to hit Galleries Lafayette and Printemps. Nowhere too fancy.”

  “Ugh, there are so many people there.”

  “I like people,” she said brightly.

  “You’re on your own then. I’m going to my equestrian tailor. Let me call him and have him fit me in. I believe I’ve lost an inch off my waist since I gave up carbohydrates.” She pulled out her phone, and Lina heaved a sigh of relief as Liesel browbeat him into rearranging his afternoon for her.

  I’m looking forward to tonight.

  The sound of the text made her jump, and Amadou’s name on the text made her startle. She really should put something more cryptic in her phone’s address book, so anyone peeking would think a florist or caterer was calling.

  She wanted to reply, just to be polite, but she didn’t want to encourage him too much with Liesel still sitting here.

  Me too. She typed it quickly, then tucked her phone into her bag.

  “What was that?”

  “Oh, nothing.” How guilty did that sound?

  And she’d be guilty of even more after tonight.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Amadou felt as nervous as a boy on his first date when he pulled up to Lina’s hotel. Usually he maintained an easy-come, easy-go attitude to relationships—which went nicely with his nomadic existence—but the way he felt tonight you’d think he was planning to propose or something.

  He wasn’t.

  But he did have another plan that rather surprised him and would probably surprise her, too

  He texted her that he was outside. It felt rude not to go in to get her, but he knew how privacy conscious she was and the press was extra interested in his movements with the surprise Grammy nomination for his latest release. He’d concentrated on touring and hadn’t been nominated for one in years. Some people probably thought he was dead.

  He laughed.

  Normally this was when his driver and confidant would turn to him and ask what was so funny. But he’d given him the night off, to assure total confidentiality for Lina.

  She didn’t respond to his text and he was beginning to won
der if maybe she’d got cold feet when suddenly the porter opened the doors and a glow emerged, sheltered from the light drizzle by a large hotel umbrella. The glow, of course, was Lina, her hair arranged in an updo and a pale raincoat drawn about her.

  He felt a smile spreading across his face. She really did shine like a light wherever she went. It wasn’t just her outer beauty, it came from within, from her warm personality and the love she shared so readily with others.

  He leaped out to open the door for her, hoping that no one would recognize him in the dark and the rain.

  Her shy smile stirred his heart. “Good evening,” he said softly, not wanting to draw the porter’s suspicion.

  “Good evening to you, too.”

  He wanted to kiss her but restrained himself. There’d be time for that later.

  She congratulated him again on his Grammy nomination, and they talked for a while about the ups and downs of his career and how gratifying it was to keep finding fresh audiences for his unusual music.

  Then she frowned. “Where are we going?”

  She’d noticed that they were leaving central Paris and heading out to the suburbs.

  He braced himself slightly. “My mother’s house.”

  He turned to catch her wide-eyed stare. “Oh.”

  “I wanted to find somewhere away from all the cameras. And your supposedly terrible sister. And my mom is a fan of yours. She reads those silly royal magazines.”

  “Does she know that we…know each other?”

  “Of course.” He smiled cryptically. He hadn’t told her anything other than that they were old friends, but she wasn’t born yesterday.

  “Well, I can’t wait to meet her.” Lina’s diplomatic response, delivered with a warm smile, was no less than he’d expect of her. “I really should bring her a gift. Can we stop for some flowers?”

  He laughed. “At this time of night? Don’t worry. She won’t be expecting anything. And she has a cook so we’re not causing her any work.”

  “Tell me about her. What does she do? Is she retired?” Lina’s own parents were long dead, since they’d both been almost middle aged when they had her.