The By Request Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ Zoe climbed the last two steps in those sky-high black heels that made her legs look as though they went on and on forever. His mouth grew dry and his palms became moist.

      He should have had his men turn her away. How was he supposed to concentrate on the interview when all he wanted to do was confront Zoe?

      He only had one question: Why?

      Okay. So maybe he did have a couple more questions. Like, when did she start dressing like that? Were her skirts always so short? How was a man to make intelligent conversation when all he could think about was her bare, tanned legs?

      Concentrate on the business at hand.

      Every muscle in his body tensed. He couldn’t continue to stare at her. He didn’t want anyone to notice that he was affected by Zoe’s presence.

      “Excuse me.” Zoe’s gaze didn’t quite meet his. “I didn’t know anyone would be here today. If it’s okay, I’ll just go inside and make some notes.”

      “No problem.” Demetrius backed up to let her pass by.

      “Wait.” Ms. Russo stepped in Zoe’s way. “Ms. Sarris, would you have a couple of minutes to speak with us?”

      Zoe shook her head. “I don’t want to intrude.”

      “You aren’t. In fact, I’d like to get a few quotes from you. But first I need to go track down my cameraman. He wanted to film a few frames of the mansion under construction.”

      Demetrius waited until the reporter was out of earshot before turning to Zoe. “What are you doing here?”

      “I already told you. I came to take notes.” Her steady gaze met his. “What are you doing here?”

      Leave it to Zoe to question a prince. She never was one to be awed by someone’s position or power. To her, everyone put on their pants one leg at a time just like everyone else. Then again, that was one of the things he’d always admired about her. But suddenly, it wasn’t so admirable—suddenly she made him uncomfortable having to explain himself.

      Though his family thought he’d only known Zoe for a few weeks, the truth was that they’d been involved for six months before taking the plunge. When his family found out about their elopement, chaos had ensued, so he never got a chance to correct them. Besides, what difference would it have made? His family had already determined that he was impulsive and foolish to rush into marriage with someone so unfitting for the role of princess.

      But that was then and things had changed a lot since then. Now Demetrius was cautious and he thought out his actions before he acted. In fact, he’d planned out what he would say to Zoe when they first met up again, but he hadn’t expected it to be here on these steps—in public—in front of a television camera.

      Not about to get into anything personal right now, he settled on, “I’m the prince and I have every right to be here. After all, this project is under the direct supervision of the Crown.”

      “Of course.” Her cheeks took on a pink tinge. “I should have known. I was just caught off guard by your presence.”

      “Listen, there’s something you should know—”

      “Sorry about that.” Ms. Russo smiled as she rejoined them.

      Demetrius cleared his throat. It was time to put this all to an end before it blew up in his face. Instead of gaining the public’s trust, he might just damage his reputation beyond repair if they unearthed the truth about his very brief, very rushed marriage.

      Demetrius stepped forward. “Ms. Sarris just informed me that she won’t be able to stay.”

       CHAPTER TWO

      SO MUCH FOR thinking Christmas had come early.

      There appeared to be a lump of coal in her stocking.

      Zoe arched a brow at Demetrius. Question after question crowded her mind. Like what exactly was her ex-husband really up to? Then again, their marriage had been annulled so technically he wasn’t her ex. So what did that make him? Her fairy-tale past? Her delicious mistake?

      Not that any of it mattered.

      They were history. That part was undeniable.

      “The prince is correct. I just stopped by to check on something.” Zoe made sure to wear her friendliest smile. “If you’ll excuse me.”

      She stepped past Demetrius and kept walking. The murmur of their voices resumed. It wasn’t until she’d reached the other end of the landing that she paused and glanced over her shoulder.

      Her gaze scanned over Demetrius’s tailored charcoal-gray suit and polished dress shoes. He looked quite smart in his designer clothes. His hair was a little shorter and styled. So much for the laid-back, not-worried-about-his-looks prince. The tide had most definitely turned. The man standing in front of the camera definitely had a serious persona about him.

      What had happened to turn Demetrius into the focused prince standing before her? The question teetered on the tip of her tongue, but she knew that it was no longer any of her business. The thought settled as a lump in her stomach. She’d done what she thought was best at the time by walking away—even if she had loved him.

      When his dark gaze met hers, the breath hitched in her throat. It was abundantly clear that she was the very last person he’d expected to see today. And he was none too happy about it. Her fingers fidgeted with the material of her skirt. Would he have her replaced?

      Zoe’s stomach dipped. This job was not only impressive but it also paid well—quite well. It’d certainly improve her declining bank account and give her the funds necessary to continue helping her ailing mother. Without it, she didn’t know how she’d make do.

      She’d lingered too long. It was time to slip inside the mansion away from the paparazzi, away from the questions—away from Demetrius’s accusing stare. She was just about at the front door of the mansion when a man stepped out from behind one of the columns.

      “Smile for the camera, sweetie.” He snapped a picture of her.

      The flash momentarily blinded her. She stood rooted in the same spot. What in the world?

      The man was short and had a paunch. He hadn’t seen a razor recently and his hair was greasy with a long, stringy comb-over. His eyes narrowed in on her. “They’re going to love you.”

      “Who are you? What do you want?”

      “I’m the man who’s going to learn your secrets.”

      There was no way he was with Ms. Russo. Zoe started to back up. Not realizing there was a step behind her, she tripped and a scream tore from her lungs.

      “Zoe?” Demetrius called out.

      Her hands flailed about as she struggled to regain her balance. And then suddenly there was a steadying hand clutching her arm, pulling her to safety. Once she was on level footing, her gaze met Demetrius’s concerned look.

      “Are СКАЧАТЬ