Spy Girl (Spy Girl #1)

I’m on edge, ready to pounce on him at the first sign of a weapon. If we were closer to the trees, I’d pull him out of sight and search him, but that’s not possible.

The Prince winks at me and takes my hand. Then he asks all of us, including Viktor—who now looks as if he’s about to have a stroke—to join him at the fountain.

We all move in that direction, and I make sure to put myself in position between the Prince and Viktor.

“If everyone could gather around,” the Prince announces loudly. I glance at the snipers on the roof, to see if they are still paying attention. But if Viktor pulls a gun, the snipers couldn’t react quickly enough. It would be up to me and Ari. Ari imperceptibly touches my hand. I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking as he moves to flank the other side of the Prince.

The Prince’s personal bodyguard apparently is supposed to follow five steps behind because that’s exactly where he has been all day. Close, but not close enough, in my opinion.

The crowd does as they are asked and gathers around the fountain.

Viktor looks crazy. Surely, he wouldn’t shoot the Prince right here in front of everyone, would he?

Viktor takes Ophelia’s hand and gets down on one knee.

“Ophelia Louise Marchesa Vallenta, will you marry me?”

Ophelia doesn’t look the least bit surprised by his proposal. She doesn’t cry. Doesn’t jump up and down. Doesn’t jump into his arms and scream.

“I will,” she says flatly, like she’s closed a business deal not accepted his eternal love.

They hug and everyone claps.

Viktor’s hand finally leaves his pocket, producing a box with a large engagement ring.

I let out a sigh. No wonder he was so damn nervous. Proposing in front of all of these people combined with the fear of losing the ring would make most people sweat.

Champagne is quickly passed around and the whole group, nearly six hundred in attendance, toast to the happy couple.

“You can thank me for the vintage champagne,” the Prince says, turning to me and clinking my glass.

“Is that where you were off to?”

He smiles at me, takes a sip, and says, “I missed you while I was gone.”

“You were gone for a very short while.”

“I expected to come back and find you surrounded by men.”

“There are snipers on the roof of your castle. Somehow I doubt anyone would choose today to try to steal your date.”

He laughs. It’s an easy, sexy laugh followed by another sweet kiss, which causes me to relax just a little.





We’re still in the crowd around the newly engaged when Clarice asks me about the attack on the castle yesterday. “I heard you were here.”

“Lorenzo wanted to give me a tour.”

“Of the royal bed chamber, no doubt,” someone mumbles.

“Although, first I met his father,” I continue, ignoring the snide comment. The people around us were all chattering up a storm, but when I mention visiting the King a hush spreads over the area as all eyes turn to me.

“You met King Vallenta?” Clarice asks. “That’s a big deal.”

“Why?”

“Because Enzo never introduces the women he dates to his parents,” she explains.

Lorenzo squeezes my hand, clearly uncomfortable with where the conversation is going.

“Well, maybe that’s why he did. We aren’t dating,” I reply with a shrug.

“No, you don’t understand. He wouldn’t introduce his father to anyone he wasn’t serious about romantically. Isn’t that right, Enzo?”

The Prince doesn’t reply, instead he pulls me away from the group.

“Please, don’t listen to them. Everyone is on my case about taking a wife.”

“It’s okay. I can handle it.”

“At least Ophelia is older than me, so she should be getting married before I do.”

“Do you like Viktor?”

“Of course, he and I go way back. He can be a bit of a cad, but he’s certainly well-connected. I’m convinced that he and Peter Prescott will eventually own the world someday. So, we would do well to be friends with them.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask seriously.

“I’m joking,” he laughs. “I just meant that eventually they will take over their fathers’ business, just as I will. Although Peter says he wants to cash out and enjoy life, Viktor is more driven. He’s already training to transition into a leadership role within his father’s conglomerate over the next few years.” He stops talking and looks around for a moment. “Sometimes I wish I could do that.”

“Cash out and enjoy life?”

“Yes, what do you think of my life so far?”

“I’m not sure what I think of your life, but you, personally, surprise me.”

“How so?”

“Everything I’ve read had you in a different woman’s bed every night. I guess I just haven’t seen that.”

“You can’t believe everything you read.”

“Are you saying that you haven’t slept with a lot of women?”

He purses his lips, suddenly realizing this conversation, for a man, is like walking through a minefield. “I haven’t slept with anyone since I met you.”