Scandal With a Prince Read Free

none like he'd enjoyed with Megan Hallberg.   At twenty-two, how could he have appreciated the unique nature of the bond they'd forged in those few weeks together?   The absolute freedom of those days in each other's company?
    It likely wouldn’t have worked between them—not in the real world, away from the isolation they'd experienced in South America—and they had both sensed it.   Still, it was an easy fantasy to keep tucked away in a remote corner of his mind, one to be conjured forth on those days where he strained against his royal role.
    He took in the sight of her, from her sweetly sculpted calves to her nipped waist and ripe bosom.   Who knew reality would be so much better than the fantasy?   The years had been good to Megan.   Very good.   Proper posture made her appear straighter and leaner than he remembered, but she still curved in all the right places.   The ethereal color of her knee-length, cut-to-kill gown combined with the soft glow of the dimmed lounge lighting to make her blonde hair even more luminous than in his memory of those sun-filled, steamy days.
    Then she met his gaze, firing his blood as if they'd never left that beach.
    He approached to give her a warm kiss on each cheek, only to be stopped by her outstretched hand and formal tone.   "Prince Stefano, it's an honor to have you here at the Grandspire.   I hope you're enjoying your time in Barcelona."
    He met her handshake, shocked she didn't remember him.   Women always remembered him, and she had more reason than most.   But as he studied the depths of Megan’s soft blue eyes and felt the spark of her touch once more, he knew she did.   She remembered it all.
    Their attraction was still mutual.   Still undeniable.  
    Megan turned her head to thank Mahmoud, who'd made the introduction, and Stefano saw his opportunity.
    "Megan," he leaned in to drop a lingering kiss on her cheek, taking in the citrus and sunshine scent of her hair.   "It's good to see you again.   The Grandspire is stunning, but not as stunning as its head of business development.”
    He glanced past Megan to Mahmoud, who could not hide his surprise over Stefano’s familiarity.   "Megan and I met many years ago in South America on a volunteer project.   She’s one in a million.”   Capturing Megan's blue-eyed gaze once more, he said, “It was a memorable time, working there.”
    Her lower lip twitched.   “Yes, memorable is the perfect word for it.   It was a great learning experience for me.”  
    Noticing for the first time that the lobby had emptied as guests transitioned to the ballroom, he pulled Megan's hand through his arm and guided her toward the stairs, hoping to put her at ease.   "I haven't familiarized myself with the seating arrangements for dinner, but I would be honored if you'd join me.   You likely know more about my life than you care to if you've seen a newspaper, but I'd love to hear how you came to Barcelona."
    He'd also love to pick up where they left off.   Megan clearly worked hard to attain such a position of responsibility.   He'd been too young and too obsessed with his impending military training to realize the rarity of finding a woman of Megan's intelligence and beauty.   The amazing chemistry they shared—chemistry he doubted time had dimmed—was rarer still.  
    Now he was old enough and experienced enough to appreciate a woman of her attributes.   Damn if he wasn’t going to make the most of the opportunity.
    "Yes, I heard that you were engaged," she said as they made their way across the lobby.   The group from the bar trailed in their wake, including Ilsa, the woman with whom he’d been chatting when Megan appeared, and his father’s friend Mahmoud.   "I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out."
    Was she?   Her tone made it difficult to tell.   He certainly hadn't been sorry.   Only sorry he'd become entangled in the first place.  
    She cleared her throat and added, "While I'd love to speak over