Defying the Prince

ally knows how to build a great statue. I love everything about him. It would be a great place to film a music video.’

‘Get out of there right now.’ His icy tone slid off her like the water from the fountain, his unconcealed disapproval having no apparent effect on her exuberance. ‘Are you listening to me?’

‘I’m just cooling down. I had a bit of a headache and you did tell me to take a cold shower. Great advice by the way.’

‘That was last night.’

‘Better late than never and it proves I do listen to you. Why are you wearing a suit? Aren’t you slightly overdressed for the weather? It’s boiling.’

Matteo kept his eyes fixed on her face and resisted the temptation to wipe the sweat from the back of his neck. ‘I’ve had meetings this morning. I’m working.’

‘Oh. Poor you.’ She flipped back her hair and dipped her hands in the cool water. ‘So if you’re working, what are you doing here? You should be focusing.’

She was telling him about focus?

‘You were supposed to join me for lunch.’

A wry little smile tugged at her mouth. ‘We both know you didn’t really want me to join you for lunch. You were just fulfilling your duty and I don’t want to be anyone’s duty. It was bad enough watching you leaving the party early last night, sacrificing yourself on “Izzy removal duty.” Frankly I couldn’t stand the thought of sitting in that stuffy room indoors trying to work out which fork to use and which glass to drink out of and feeling generally stupid while you give me that look. Anyway, this is perfect picnic weather. I brought the rest of my breakfast outside. Help yourself. Your chef is a genius. Those pastries are homemade.’

‘I don’t eat picnics.’

‘Seriously? Eating outdoors beats a five-star restaurant every time.’ Her eyes brimmed with humour. ‘Take off that jacket and sit down on the grass. Relax. Try and look as if you’re enjoying yourself. Who knows—you might actually have some fun.’

Matteo found himself paralyzed because her words took his mind spinning back to a time he’d managed to put behind him.

Let’s have some fun, Matteo. Forget you’re a prince …

His jaw clenched. These days he never forgot who he was. Never. ‘Get out of the fountain. Now.’

‘Why? I like it here. And you’re very bad-tempered this morning.’

‘I’m not asking you again.’

‘Good, because I can’t stand nagging. If you want me out, you’ll have to come and get me.’ Her smile didn’t slip but there was a challenge in her eyes and he resisted the temptation to do exactly as she’d suggested. She’d be slippery under his hands. Wet. She’d feel—

Incredible.

‘Isabelle.’

‘Oops. Big mistake. Warned you about that last night. Never call me Isabelle. It brings out the worst in me.’ Her fingers skimmed the surface of the water and her eyes met his. Something wicked gleamed there. ‘Now you’re in trouble, Your Highness.’

Reading her mind he breathed in sharply. ‘Don’t you dare.’

‘Are you going to come in and stop me?’ She was flirting with him. Not in the hopeful, contrived way he’d witnessed all his life but in a saucy, natural, unaffected way that sent his pulse rocketing. There was something about her complete absence of deference that heated his blood.

Still, there was no way she’d—

The shower of cold water splattered his hair, his jacket and the front of his shirt, which promptly welded itself to his skin. ‘Maledizione.’ He swore fluently in Italian and wiped the water from his eyes with a hand that wasn’t quite steady, only to find himself showered again. ‘Are you crazy? This suit is silk.’

‘Better take it off then, before it’s ruined.’

He did just that, shrugging the jacket from his shoulders in a violent movement and saw her gaze slide to his damp shirt.

Her lips parted and her eyelids lowered slightly. ‘Nice body, Your Highness. I’ve never seen a ripped prince before.’

The air around them grew hotter. Matteo took a step towards the fountain….

‘Your Highness—’ A breathless voice came from behind him and he dragged his eyes from a laughing, unrepentant Izzy to Serena, his cool-eyed PA, who was walking briskly down the grass towards him, her cheeks slightly pink from the heat. ‘I have Hunter Capshaw for you. You weren’t answering your phone.’