Disingenuous, but there was some truth there. For a second she could almost taste the bitter disappointment with herself for succumbing to the Playboy Prince’s charms and falling into bed with him. Hell—she might as well have carved the notch on his four-poster bed herself.
She’d woken the morning after and known what she had to do—the only way forward to salvage some pride and dignity. End it on her terms, before he did. It had been the only option, but even as she had done it there had been a tiny part of her that had hoped he’d stop her, ask her to stay. But of course he hadn’t. The Playboy Prince wouldn’t change. People didn’t change—Sunita knew that.
Anyway this was history. Over and done with.
‘I am offering condolences now.’
‘Thank you. But, as I said, that’s not why I am here.’
‘The article?’
‘Yes. I’d like to talk—perhaps we could go inside.’
‘No!’ Tone it down, Sunita. ‘This is my home, Frederick, my private sanctuary. I want to keep it that way.’
He eyed her for a moment and she forced herself to hold his gaze.
‘Then where would you suggest? Preferably somewhere discreet.’
‘In case the press spot us and tips me as the next candidate for Lycander Bride?’
The words were out before she could stop them; obscure hurt touched her with the knowledge he didn’t want to be seen with her.
‘Something like that. You’re my unofficial business.’
For a moment there was a hint of the Frederick she’d known in the warmth of his voice, and more memories threatened to surface. Of warmth and laughter, touch and taste.
‘My official reason for this trip is charity business—I’m patron of an educational charity that is rolling out some new schools.’
The tang of warmth had disappeared; instead impatience vibrated from him as he shifted from foot to foot.
‘Are you sure we can’t talk inside? It shouldn’t take long. All I want is the solution to April’s mystery.’
Sunita checked the hollow laughter before it could fall from her lips. Was that all he wanted? Easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy.
‘I’m sure we can’t talk here.’
Think. But coherent thought was nigh on impossible. Raw panic combined with her body’s reaction to his proximity had unsettled her, sheer awareness wrong-footed her. Think. Yet her mind drew a blank as to any possible location, any café where she and Amil weren’t regulars.
Fear displaced all other emotion—Frederick must not find out about Amil. Not now, not like this. One day, yes, but at a time of her choice—when it was right and safe for Amil.
‘I’ll just grab a coat and we can go.’
‘A coat?’
‘It’s monsoon season.’
Sunita turned, opened the door, and slipped inside, her mind racing to formulate a plan. She’d always been able to think on her feet, after all. If Frederick wanted a solution to the mystery of her disappearance from the modelling scene, then that was what she would provide.
Grabbing her phone, she pressed speed dial and waited.
‘Sunita?’
‘Hey, Sam. I need a favour. A big favour.’
CHAPTER TWO
FREDERICK WATCHED AS she opened the door and sidled out. Coatless, he couldn’t help but notice. What was going on? Anyone would think she had the Lycander Crown Jewels tucked away in there. Hell, maybe she did. Or maybe something was wrong.