“I have two things to say about your man: he’s very arrogant and definitely not afraid of dying. He could’ve just sabotaged your outing, but no, he had to send a message too. Still planning to call him?”
“No. I have a better idea. He ruined my plans, and even though my plans didn’t include being alone with the CEO, Rodrick doesn’t know that.”
“Whatever you’re thinking . . .I’m in.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“I won’t deny it. You two are unbelievable together. All that repressed sexual energy...When it finally blows up in a bedroom—”
“Are you out of your mind? I’m only having sex with my husband! No matter how modern I try to be, I have limits.”
“Then marry him. Isn’t the duke looking for a wife? Why can’t it be you?”
I stare at her, and for the first time this entire crazy morning, I actually smile. “I love you, Josephine. You just gave me an excellent idea.”
“Oh my God. So I’ll be your accomplice? What a delight!”
Chapter 26
After the message I sent her last night, I’m not surprised when Jazmina storms into my office, heels clicking like gunshots against the floor.
To be honest, I expected her sooner, but one look at her outfit tells me the princess went home to change instead of coming straight from campus.
Yes, I’ve memorized her entire class schedule. I’ve never denied being controlling. Deal with it.
“You think you’re very clever, don’t you, duke?” she says, skipping any greeting, which means she’s furious with me. She’s always polite, even when angry. “You must be celebrating now that you’ve scared off all my suitors.”
I just wanted to see her, truth be told. I didn’t have to send that message, but I wanted an excuse to bring her back here, even if it meant seeing that pretty face armed for murder.
“You’re referring to the bankrupt CEO who invited you on a boat ride? I did you a favor. The bank is repossessing that yacht in five days,” I say bluntly.
“What?”
“You heard me. You have terrible taste infriends, princess.”
That part is true. I get daily reports on everyone she talks to at university. Except for Josephine, if you take the rest and glue them together, you still don’t get one functional human being, at least in terms of character.
“What are you implying with that emphasis onfriends? They’ve never been more than that.”
“I wasn’t talking only about men; I meant both genders. Feeling guilty, Your Highness?” I ask, and now I’m the one losing it, jealousy crawling under my skin.
“No. As you well know, I’ve never kissed anyone but you, Your Grace.”
Shit. I should let that go, we’re headed down a dangerous road, but who said I have any self-control left? Apparently spending weeks away from her destroyed whatever rationality I had left.
“I know. You’re a virgin, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re staying that way.”
“I never planned to stop being a virgin. I intend to marry like that. I only wanted to have a bit of fun.”
I don’t want to go down this path. Thinking about her virginity and her golden beauty in the same breath is a recipe for disaster. “You were going to take a boat ride with a man you barely know, Jazmina. Out in open water, he could’ve drugged you and God knows what else.”
“I know how to defend myself. And besides, we wouldn’t have been alone—his sister would have been there.”
“Bullshit. Yourfriend,” I sneer, “made plans to go out with her boyfriend.”
“What?”
“You heard what I said. She played you again. And why? To leave you alone with her brother in a foreign country. Thatonly proves you don’t know how to defend yourself at all. And speaking of defenses, how did you get past security without being announced?”