LITMIR.BIZ

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that. If you don’t want the bracelet, fight it out with Dean.”

      “I will.”

      Dean arrived in her hotel room at eight and Stella stepped back as if she were presenting Kristen as a completed project, not a person.

      He took in the fancy upswept hairdo the stylist had given her, and then his gaze skimmed from the top of her dress to the tips of her toes. If another man had looked at her like that, she probably would have shivered, but his gaze was cool, efficient.

      “She’s perfect.”

      Stella beamed. “Of course she is.” She grabbed her coat and purse. She said, “You two kids have fun,” and then she left the hotel room.

      Kristen sucked in a breath. “So I’m okay?”

      “I already said you were perfect,” he said, his voice businesslike and efficient. “Let’s go.”

      Uneasiness wove through her. From his extremely chilly behavior, she had the odd sense that she’d done something wrong. But she hadn’t. She’d agreed with everything he’d asked, including a stay in New York City that she hadn’t planned on, a shopping trip and a Christmas party.

      How could he be upset with her?

      She picked up the black satin wrap that matched her gown and walked to the door with him. They rode down in the main elevator of the exclusive hotel in complete silence.

      In the lobby, employees nodded and said, “Good evening, Mr. Suminski. Ms. Anderson,” but other guests ignored them. They stepped outside into the cold December air and, glancing at her skimpy wrap, Dean rushed her into the limo.

      She slid onto the seat. He slid on beside her. The limo pulled out into traffic.

      The silence continued.

      She peeked over at Dean who wore a black tux, white shirt, white vest and white bow tie. He looked clean and expensive and smelled divine. And for the first time it hit her that she was really on a date with him. One of the richest, most handsome men in the world.

      The whole freaking world.

      Her throat tightened. Her nerve endings buzzed. Right at that moment, sitting next to him, his money and social status took a backseat to his good looks. Never in a million years would a farm girl from Grennady ever date a guy like this. Not that the men in Grennady weren’t handsome. But there was something about Dean Suminski that made her tingle. He was so pulled together and so smart, and those penetrating dark eyes of his were like onyx.

      Of course he was also distant with her. Maybe not angry, but not exactly a guy who looked like he was on a date with a woman he liked. And it was her job to fool the world into thinking they were a couple. A happy couple.

      She cleared her throat and said the first thing that came to mind. “So it really is white tie?”

      He faced the window, clearly unhappy that he’d have to speak. “It’s funny what rich people will think up to distinguish themselves.”

      “You’re one of those rich people.” She held up her arm, displaying the bracelet. Since he was angry anyway, they might as well settle this now. “By the way, I can’t keep this.”

      He turned to her with a frown. “The bracelet?”

      “Yes.”

      “Why not?”

      “Because it’s not right.”

      “You’re helping me.”

      “We have a deal. Ten minutes after we shook hands, I signed the written agreement for computers in exchange for this date. No bracelet.”

      “The miracle of technology. I call my lawyer. He writes a simple, no-nonsense agreement, emails it to me and I print it. Everything goes at the speed of light these days.”

      She almost laughed at the way he tried to fool her. “Don’t change the subject. As it is, we’re equals. You start giving me bracelets and everything changes.”

      He tilted his head. “How so?”

      “It makes our relationship personal. Plus, it’s expensive. I don’t need it—or want it.”

      When he only stared at her, she sighed. “Our deal should be professional. Things get messy when you mix personal things into business. I don’t like messy.”

      He studied her face for a few seconds before he said, “It sounds like you’ve had a little experience in this.”

      She said nothing.

      “If you want me to understand your point of view, you have to explain.”

      “I had a boyfriend who used me to get to the princess.”

      He studied her face again. “Taught you a lesson, huh?”

      “And not a fun one.” Actually, the idiot had broken her heart into a million pieces, made her feel like a fool and caused her to decide love wasn’t for her. She would put her whole heart and soul into making Aasera’s dream a reality because that had purpose and meaning. Love? She wasn’t sure it existed, except for a few lucky people like Princess Eva.

      “He used me to get to my boss, and when I figured it out, he said he wanted to marry me.” She shook her head. Though it had been years, it still hurt. “It was ridiculous how simple he thought I was. It taught me never, ever mix business with pleasure.”

      He said, “Humph. I learned that lesson the hard way too.”

      “You did?”

      “It’s why Prince Alex hates me and why I also have a very strict policy about not mixing business with pleasure.”

      “That should make tonight easier. I don’t want anything from you beyond what we’ve already agreed to.” She laughed lightly. “Except maybe a good time. I haven’t been out in forever.”

      He nodded. The stern expression on his face softened. She swore he almost smiled.

      “At the end of the evening, I’ll take back the bracelet.”

      She said, “Good,” but she got a weird feeling, as if there was some kind of subtext to everything he said, and she didn’t have the code for it.

      The inside of the car grew silent again. She wondered what had happened to him that he’d learned the lesson, especially since it involved Prince Alex. Had the prince approached him for a favor? Or used him? She couldn’t picture Prince Alex using anybody. Ever. It didn’t make sense.

      She waited a minute, hoping Dean would resume the conversation and explain, but of course he didn’t. Curiosity wouldn’t let her brain rest. And the limo was so quiet. Too quiet.

      “So what happened?”

      He peered over at her. “Excuse me?”

      “What happened? Who used you?”

      “I don’t talk about my private life.”

      “You might not, but knowing why Prince Alex dislikes you would really help me when I have to explain to the princess that I approached you.”

      His gaze swung to hers. She didn’t know if it was surprise or annoyance she heard in his voice when he said, “Princess Eva didn’t send you?”

      She shook her head. “It just didn’t seem right that you weren’t on the list of companies to try to woo to our country. Grennady is desperate to bring jobs for young people. And here you were with this great company and nobody was showing you what we had to offer. I was trying to do something good. I didn’t know Prince Alex doesn’t like you. When Princess Eva finds out I approached you, I’m screwed.”

      “Maybe you shouldn’t tell her.”

      She shook her head. “Not telling her would be a lie of omission. I can’t be dishonest.”

      His

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