Demetrius swept aside the curtain and peered out at the busy roadway. He didn’t see anyone acting suspicious. “Do you still see him?”
She moved to his side and gazed out at the numerous faces. “No. He disappeared just before you arrived. That’s why I thought you were him.”
Demetrius let the curtain fall back into place. He glanced around, noticing the quietness. “Are you here alone?”
She nodded. “My mother is visiting a friend at the coast.”
“Well, you can’t stay here alone. Pack a bag. Tonight you’re staying at the palace.”
Her eyes grew round. “No, I can’t. I won’t.”
Why was she being difficult? This was for her own welfare. “You can and you will. I’m not leaving you here.”
“I’ll be safe. I’ll keep the door locked.” Her lips pressed into a firm line as her gaze took a defiant gleam.
He wasn’t going to let her have her way. Not this time. Not with her safety at stake. “Why are you being stubborn? It’s not like I’m asking you to return to the palace as my wife.”
Her chin lifted. “So far I’ve been lucky enough to avoid the king and his advisors. I won’t be able to do that if I’m living there. And...and I don’t want to deal with them. I didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms.”
Demetrius couldn’t argue that point. The king’s advisors were certain that she was a gold digger, but surprisingly the king had been quite reserved with his thoughts about Demetrius’s failed marriage. Maybe his father thought that he’d suffered enough without adding an “I told you so.”
Still, there had to be an alternative. A way to assure himself of her safety until the media set their sights on a new target. He rolled the options around in his mind.
“I have the perfect alternative.” Why he hadn’t thought of it in the first place was beyond him.
Her eyes widened with interest. “You do? What?”
“You’ll see. It’s not far from here.”
CHAPTER SIX
JUST AS DEMETRIUS had promised, his chauffeured car ushered them past the palace gates, beyond the palace itself and down a narrow lane Zoe didn’t even know existed. Unspoiled green foliage and wild flowers lined both sides of the roadway. They were heading far, far away from any curious eyes. It sure was a good thing that she knew Demetrius as well as she did. Otherwise, she would be wary of their isolated destination.
“Where are we going?” She turned to Demetrius as he continued to type response after response into his phone.
His fingers paused as he glanced out the window. “We’re almost there.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.”
“Stop worrying. I’m certain you’ll approve.”
“And if I don’t?”
There was a moment of silence. “Then we’ll go back to your apartment.”
She didn’t believe it’d be that simple. Nothing was ever simple when it concerned this particular prince—this very sexy prince. “What’s the catch?”
“There isn’t one.” When she arched a brow at him, he sighed. “You don’t believe me?”
“Let’s just say I know you well enough to expect you not to give up so easily.”
Like when he’d proposed to her on a starlit night along the seashore. He refused to take any answer but her acceptance. Not that accepting a marriage proposal from a prince had been a hardship. In fact, in that moment, it had been quite the opposite.
Demetrius slipped his phone in his pocket. “There’s no catch.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Their gazes met and held as though in a struggle of wills. Demetrius was the first to turn away. “Before we go any further with this argument, see if this will calm your worries.”
When she turned to the window, her gaze landed upon a beautiful white beach house. It was like something out of a glossy magazine. The door and some of the trim was done in a light teal. The appearance was refreshing and welcoming. Was this part of the royal estate?
“It’s amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” A smile lifted his lips and eased the stress lines marring his face.
The car pulled to a stop and the driver got out to open her door for her. “If you want to go inside, ma’am, I’ll bring in your luggage.”