How to Resist Prince Charming(50)

“I’m going to check out the pottery they’re selling over there.” She pointed and sent him a smile over her shoulder that reassured him, making him believe she wasn’t as upset and suspicious as he’d feared.

Sighing, Braxton followed, relieved he was off the hot plate.



Lenna knew she shouldn’t let it bother her, but that stupid wrapped present plagued her for a good portion of the afternoon. She wouldn’t be this apprehensive if Braxton hadn’t acted so strangely when she’d found him buying it. But he’d frozen like a deer in the headlights and gaped at her when she’d caught him stealthily exiting the gift shop.

An irritating little voice in her head kept repeating, “It’s not really for his sister.”

But who else would it be for, and why would he lie about it? It wasn’t for another woman. She refused to believe that theory. Braxton was not cheating on her. Then again, little niggles of doubt kept nibbling at her subconscious.

What if she was wrong?

Her lover was an insatiable man. He wanted sex non-stop. Lenna told herself that was just because they were so utterly explosive together.

She wanted it all the time when she was with him too. But maybe this kind of reaction wasn’t so uncommon for him. Maybe he was just that virile.

Maybe he needed a hoard of women to keep him satisfied.

Or maybe she was losing her mind.

Regardless, Lenna held him just a little tighter when they reached the hotel room and he tackled her onto the bed. When he pushed inside her, she drove him just a little wilder, forcing him to see what they had together. And afterward, she clung to him just a little bit longer, hoping she was the only one for him.

He glanced at her with glazed and astonished eyes as he wiped a bead of sweat off his brow and panted out a steadying breath. “Not that I’m complaining, but wow, what got into you?”

He looked so shell-shocked she decided there was no way he could be seeing anyone else behind her back. This was just as amazing and abnormal for him as it was for her.

Ashamed for thinking the worst of him, she sent him an innocent shrug. “What can I say? France just...turns me on.”

He laughed. “We’re definitely coming back then.” He covered her with loving kisses, nibbling and licking his way across warm skin. “At least once a year. Possibly on a monthly basis.”



Except for her small worry over Braxton’s fidelity, Lenna loved France.

He took her to another fancy restaurant Saturday evening, and then they spent the rest of the night in bed. On Sunday, they spent the return flight back to New York, once again in the company jet’s bed.

It was ten a.m., Paris time, when they departed. But after their seven hour flight, it was only eleven when they landed.

Braxton drove her home. After he walked her to her door, carrying her luggage for her, he turned to meet her gaze, looking extremely reluctant to leave. Lenna could relate. She’d grown accustomed to being with him. She really liked Braxton’s company, even when they weren’t ripping off each other’s clothes.

It was Sunday, however, and she needed to see her family before they suspected the truth. The Davenport clan had already begun asking questions because she hadn’t visited as much in the six weeks since she’d started her clandestine affair with her dad’s boss. Her mother teased and asked if she’d lost interest in them. Lenna was running out of excuses. Ergo, tonight she’d make it to family night come rain or shine.

So, she sent Braxton on his way and unpacked.

By four o’clock, she was exhausted. Her internal clock had shifted her totally off whack, and her body seemed to think it was bedtime. So Lenna decided to take a quick power nap.

But she slept through her alarm clock and didn’t wake until a quarter ‘til seven when her phone rang and wouldn’t stop.

It was her mother.

“Honey? Are you okay?” Maxine Davenport’s concerned voice filled Lenna’s ear as soon as she answered the phone.

“Hey, Mom,” she mumbled as she closed her eyes and yawned. “I’m fine. Just jet lagged.” A second later, she realized what she’d said. Her eyes flew open, and she sat up so fast she made herself dizzy.

Oh, Crap.

“You’re just what, dear?”

Lenna swallowed. “I’m...I...I’m just...just lagged. I’m really tired for some reason.” She winced at the feebleness of her own lie. Man, she hated deceiving her innocent mother.

“Goodness,” Maxine answered. “Do you think you’re coming down with a cold?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Lenna latched onto the neck of that little scapegoat and rode the hell out of Dodge. “My throat is scratchy.”

“Then maybe you should stay home tonight. I don’t want you out and about, making yourself worse.”

“But...you wouldn’t mind?” Lenna bit her lip, hating herself.

“Of course not.” Her mother’s voice soothed. “We’d much rather you be healthy. Just stay in bed and gargle a glass of salt water. Get yourself some rest, okay, sweetheart?”

Lenna nodded. “Okay, Mom. Thanks. I...I love you.”

“I love you too, dear. Now, go take care of that throat.”

Lenna disconnected and stared at the receiver for ten seconds before she burst into tears.