The Royal's American Love Read Free Page B

in Greece?
    * * *
    The call was from Philip, who simply wanted to make sure
that he was at the gala. He had gotten off the phone in just a few minutes, but
when he looked back, he was dismayed to see that his flame-haired Marianna had
disappeared.
    Nikolos was too wise to think he should never get dumped,
but something about this stung. Perhaps it was that they were simply getting on
so well. Perhaps it was simply because she was one of the most enchanting women
he had seen in his life.
    He walked around the gala, looking to see if she was still there,
but she seemed to have disappeared into thin air. He shook his head in
disappointment, making his way to the gates.
    If she wasn’t around, there truly wasn’t much that was
going to keep him there.
    Nikolos supposed it was for the best, anyway. After all, he
was flying back to Greece in just a few short days, and somehow a short affair
wasn’t what he necessarily wanted with someone like her.
    His heart tugged at him, but he ignored it, walking into
the warm Los Angeles night. Suddenly he was homesick. He had been traveling for
a few months, and it would be so good to be back in his native country.
    Yes , he thought. It’ll be good to be home.

Chapter Two
    For almost two days, Marianna had been on her best
behavior. Her phone interview with the Greek Queen’s assistant had gone
swimmingly. Marianna had shown off her credentials as a journalist, and though
she didn’t mention her experience with ghostwriting, she knew Henry had filled him
in.
    Finally, they met up for a lunch at a place that was
certainly far too expensive for her to afford, and he gave her the details.
    “Miss Clark, I don’t mind telling you that this task is a
preview for greater things. If you do the job well, it might lead to an
engagement that we predict could last a year or more. If you look at the figure
I have just texted you, you will see that we can make it worth your while.”
    Marianna’s eyes opened wide at the figure. It was so much
she didn’t even try to hide the fact she was impressed.
    “So this is an audition for a bigger job, Mr. Lagana?”
    “Indeed. This is a job that requires your utmost
professionalism and discretion. We wish you to spend a month with the second
son of the Greek royal family. He is a bit unruly, perhaps a bit wild, and we
would like him shown in the best light. After that, we shall see.”
    Marianna was already having visions of a spoiled nineteen-year-old
who spent all his time cruising the Mediterranean. If that boy was all that
stood between her and what might be the job of a lifetime, she was ready go.
    “I’m sure that I will do quite well,” she said.
    Mr. Lagana was flying back to Greece that week, so she
packed away her things in a blind hurry, put together a bag, and took advantage
of his offer to take her straight to the job. Mei had squealed with delight,
and Opal gave her a very wise smile.
    “Look at you go, my little darling, and where you stop,
no one will know,” Opal had said.
    * * *
    Marianna had purchased a few sleek, basic black dresses
that were both fashionable and work-appropriate, and now dressed in one of them,
she was ready to meet her new challenge.
    Mr. Lagana had given her a few hours to collect herself at
the hotel room he had arranged—a modern wonder that was easily three times the
size of her apartment—and then he invited her to dinner with the young prince.
    She adjusted her glasses on her nose, nodding at her
reflection in the mirror.
    “You got this,” she said confidently, and walked down to
the waiting car.
    From the accounts Mr. Lagana had given her, she expected an
ultramodern restaurant or bar. Instead, he took her to an obscure little
trattoria in a surprisingly humble neighborhood. At her slightly confused look,
he smiled.
    “Believe me when I say that this has the absolute best
carbonara in the city. The royal family wants the best, and at least the prince
has no problem seeking it out wherever it