Page 3 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

With the side of her face in full view, I could see her mask was made up of individual peacock feathers.Stunning, just like her. It hid the upper half of her face and added to the intrigue of her identity. Without seeing more than her eyes, it would be hard to tell if we had met before. Although my body told me we hadn’t.

When she didn’t immediately acknowledge me, I thought for a second that maybe she was playing hard to get. But the longer I stared at her, the clearer it became she had no idea I was trying to get her attention. Her beautiful red rosebud mouth was caught between her teeth, and her narrowed eyes were fixed on the bartender who flirted with a girl down at the other end. She harrumphed when she realized he still hadn’t seen her and muttered something under her breath.

“Let me buy you a drink,” I offered. The desire I felt for her changing my voice to a husky tone.

She turned to me, finally realizing I stood next to her. “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes, who else would I be talking to?”

She glanced around checking to be sure I was indeed speaking to her.

“I’d like to buy you a drink,” I said again.

“They’re free,” she scoffed, her sarcastic tone indicating I was an idiot. If I wasn’t so surprised, I might have laughed. No one talked to me like that. Ever. And it was fucking hot.

“That they are.” I gave her my most charming grin. “Would you mind getting one for me as well, then?”

A hint of a smile curled her lips. “I’d try if the bartender would take his eyes off of the pretty brunette and come down here.”

I didn’t know how anyone could miss the voluptuous goddess next to me. I cleared my throat loudly.

The bartender glanced our way, his eyes widening when he realized who was calling for his attention. He hurried over. “I’m so very sorry for the delay—”

“It’s fine,” I jumped in, not wanting him to call me by name. So far, there hadn’t been a glimmer of recognition from the woman at my side. Was it too much to hope that she didn’t know or care who I was? Either way, I liked the anonymity.

“Fine? It’s not fine. Everyone is worthy of respect.” She pushed her shoulders back, standing up straighter. “Everyone. You should remember that.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” the bartender stammered. “What can I get you?”

“I’d like a rum and Coke, please. Make it a double,” she demanded. “And whatever this gentleman would like.” She waved her hand toward me.

“I’ll have whiskey, Pappy neat if you got it.”

The bartender nodded and hurried off.

“Rough night? This is a ball. I thought everyone was supposed to have fun.” I teased.

She shrugged and looked right at me. Even with the mask, her cool, blue eyes were piercing. “Yeah. I shouldn’t have been so rude to him.”

“Don’t say that. He’s the one who made you wait longer than appropriate.”

She sighed and leaned her arms on top of the bar. “I guess so. But then again, this isn’t my scene. I wasn’t even going to come tonight.”

“Why did you?” This woman had my attention before she even spoke, but now I had to know more.

“Honestly?” She grabbed the drink the bartender dropped off and took a long sip.

I nodded and placed a tip on the bar.

“I have a business idea. A few people attending this event would be ideal investors, and I’ve struggled to get in front of them before now. This was the perfect opportunity. It was like the stars aligned.”

My stomach tightened. Maybe she wasn’t as clueless about who I was as I thought.

“I’m guessing it didn’t go as you’d planned?”

“No, I shouldn’t have been shocked, but I know my idea and product are solid. I even brought a few samples. No one wanted to see them.”

When she didn’t ask to show me her product, I relaxed. “I’m sorry.”