Sam could only stare at him. It was as if he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly—because others had begun to gather on the sidewalk around the store—she managed a small smile as she replied, “Thank you for your service.”
She turned then and entered the store, determined to do what she’d come there to do and then get the hell away from him.
* * *
Gary was true to his word, no matter how much he wanted to grab her by the waist and haul her sexy ass back to the car to finish the kiss and whatever else they’d started that morning. Of course, he’d only given his word to himself that he would keep his hands off her and focus on his job. Still, he thought the Herculean effort deserved accolades. He stood no more than three feet away from Samantha as she talked to members of the press and posed for pictures. She and Landry were being interviewed by a greasy-haired guy who was apparently a big-time editor at some fashion magazine.
“Detali Designs is just the first step that Grand Serenity will be making in the fashion industry. I am happy to also announce that Tropical Fashions, my in-depth magazine covering not only international fashion but also focusing on new trends being started on the islands, will sponsor its first charity fashion show in February,” Landry stated.
Even as an expat, Landry stood strong and proud beside Samantha, looking almost every bit as royal as the native-born princess. Landry was a couple of inches shorter than Samantha’s five-feet, nine-inch stature and just a shade lighter than Samantha’s deep brown complexion.
“We are fortunate to have such talent in the royal family and among our citizens.” Samantha spoke now, her smile and gaze moving from the reporter to Landry. “We’ve always prided ourselves on promoting our diverse culture, so it is an honor to partner with my new sister and Detali to bring the talent of Grand Serenity to the forefront. My mother had begun similar endeavors by spearheading the redevelopment of the museum and filling one complete floor with local artists’ work. Now we’ll have a new princess bringing forth yet another opportunity for the talented citizens of Grand Serenity. On behalf of the royal family, I cannot begin to express how excited we are.”
She was very well spoken, her voice smooth and clear. She made eye contact with each of the reporters who had gathered around, giving them all that million-dollar smile and the sexy tilt of her head that Gary wondered if she even knew she did. The bright hue of her suit caused her skin to glisten so that it appeared exquisitely sun-kissed. Her voice wasn’t high-pitched but sultry and refreshing, like a tall glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day. She was fierce and confident and dedicated, all traits Gary had never thought he’d find in a woman.
Not that he was looking for a woman. He wasn’t. No, sir, one time down the aisle with a woman who turned out to be the biggest pain in his ass ever was more than enough for Gary.
As much as he hated comparing Samantha to his ex, Tonya, he couldn’t help it. Tonya was shorter, curvier and mouthier than Samantha, and not in a good way. Tonya had an opinion about everyone and everything, and she did not hesitate to voice it, over and over again, until a person either agreed with her or got the hell away from her. In the two years they’d been together Gary had often chosen the latter.
No, there was definitely no competition there. Samantha would come out on top every time.
Damn.
His current thoughts were so far from what should have been on his mind now or at any other moment while he was on this island. Kris hadn’t requested his presence to gawk at his sister. If the unspoken warning his friend had given him only hours ago hadn’t been enough, Samantha’s cool disdain toward him should have spoken volumes to calm his body’s raging desire for her. Not to mention the fact that he’d just congratulated himself on keeping his hands off of her.
None of that seemed to matter.
The interview was over and Gary immediately moved around the cameramen to stand close to Samantha and Landry.
“Let’s head out the back way. I’ve already told the cars to meet us there.”
He wasn’t sure if Sam remained silent and followed because Landry was there or because she was simply finished talking to him for the day. He also wondered if she planned to sit in the front seat again, instead of in back with him. He wouldn’t blame her if she did. Hell, he hadn’t disagreed with Kris pulling him up about kissing his sister. In fact, Gary figured if it were his sister he probably would have punched the guy first and asked questions later. Thankfully, for all concerned, Kris wasn’t the same type of guy Gary was.
Their friendship had always been a strange one. Freshman year, Gary had presumed the other guys in their dorm were talking about him because he was getting rides in Kris’s Mercedes and sharing in all the first-class perks of being the roommate of a prince. Gary wasn’t bothered by those rumors at all. He’d thought all those preppie privileged kids were jerks, anyway. As for Kris, well, Gary always got the impression that the prince was just happy to have somebody to actually be normal around. Too bad Gary hadn’t been able to tough out college life for another three years. But Kris—if nobody else in Gary’s life at the time—had understood his need to do something more with his life. The army had been that something, and damn if it hadn’t been more than anything he’d ever expected.
“This is the third time that white SUV has circled the block. He slowed a bit and looked down this side street.”
Gary heard the message through the earpiece and was immediately on alert, thankful for the interruption of his thoughts, but not at all happy with the situation. In quick steps he moved in front of the princesses to push the back door open and look out onto the narrow street.
“What’s happening?”
He heard Landry’s question but ignored it as guards opened the back doors to both the cars parked just outside. Gary turned to them and said, “Landry, you’ll go first. Directly to the car, no stops.”
He extended his hand to her, glad that she had not questioned him but taken his hand and moved quickly through the door, out into the late-afternoon sun. Two guards had come up to the door and flanked her sides as they moved her to the first car. Closing those doors, the guards ran back to the second car and climbed inside. With a nod, Gary sent them on their way.
“Send the other cars.” He spoke softly, knowing they would hear him through the earpiece.
“What is going on?” Samantha asked as she stepped closer to him. “And don’t bother telling me nothing.”
No, he wasn’t even going to bother.
“We’re just taking some extra precautions,” he told her. “When the cars pull up, we’ll walk out and head back to the palace.”
“Landry and I were going to do some shopping.”
“Not today,” he said and then heard the cars pull up. He reached for her hand and, for a split second, thought that she would pull away in an act of defiance. He really did not have time for that and prayed that she was smarter than to risk her own safety.
She didn’t and Gary almost sighed with relief.
Instead she took his hand and let him lead her to the car. She went into the backseat without protest and when he slid in beside her she only clasped her seat belt in place and looked out the window.
“Go!” Gary spoke to the guards and the car began to move.
They’d driven only a few seconds when she looked over at him and said in a serious tone, “There will be no more kissing or touching. I should never have imposed on you like that last night. I apologize and promise it will not happen again.”
Gary only stared at her in response. The fact that the simple act of watching her lips