Page 71 of Prelude of Love

“We like it, too.” I reluctantly pulled my hand back as Brinley emerged from the back, eyeing us with undisguised curiosity. “Do you have famous rock-star things to do today?”

He checked his phone and sighed. “Unfortunately, yes. I’m meeting with my publicist in twenty minutes.”

“Well, don’t let me keep you from your adoring public.” I took his empty cup. “Though I’m flattered you chose to spend your precious free time with little old me.”

“Best decision I’ve made all day.” He stood, fishing out his wallet.

I waved him off. “Your money’s no good here, Princess. Consider it a perk of sleeping with the owner.”

“In that case, I should sleep with more business owners. I could save a fortune.”

“Try it and find out what happens,” I warned playfully. “Duke’sverypossessive of what’s his.”

The way his eyes lit up with interest sent a thrill through me. “And I’m his now?”

“Ours,” I corrected. “If you want to be.”

“I do.” The simple honesty in those two words made my breath catch.

“Good.” I stood up when he did. Against my better judgment, I pulled him in for a kiss that was definitely not appropriate for a public café. When I pulled back, his cheeks were flushed. “There, that should tide you over until Saturday.”

“You’re evil,” he muttered, adjusting his jeans.

“You have no idea, Princess.” I gave him a wicked grin. “But you will.”

He laughed, shaking his head as he backed toward the door. “Saturday can’t come fast enough.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.” I blew him a kiss. “Text me if you get lonely.”

“I will.” With one last brilliant smile that lit up his entire face, he was gone.

I watched him leave, already counting the hours until Saturday. Our Princess was definitely a keeper,and from the look on his face when I’d called him “ours,” he felt the same way about us.

My phone buzzed almost immediately. I pulled it out to find a text from Chance.

Chance

I'm already lonely. And so is every inch of me that's craving your attention.

I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face as I typed back:

Early

Princess, if you're this needy after thirty seconds, Saturday is going to wreck you in the best possible way.

Saturday couldn't possibly come fast enough.

Chapter Twenty

DUKE

I staredat the mountain of paperwork on my desk, wondering if I could get away with setting it on fire. Tax forms, inventory reports, and vendor invoices threatened to avalanche onto the floor of my cramped office at Hurly-burly. I’d been at it for three hours straight, and it looked like I hadn’t even touched the piles.

Early kept telling me to hire a bookkeeper, but I was too damn stubborn. It was my bar, my business, and I’d handle every aspect myself, even if it killed me.

A knock on my office door was the sweetest sound I’d heard all day.

“Come in,” I called out, leaning back in my chair and rolling my shoulders to work out the stress.