Page 8 of Royal Trouble
“What?” Her face went blank, and she blinked slowly, as if processing his words. “No. You’re an ass,” she said, straightening to her full height.
All five and a half feet of it.
“Forgive my confusion,” he said, chuckling. “It’s just that most women who stalk me—especially the ones with the lady balls to lock me in the loo—have a certain agenda in mind.”
“Yes, because no woman could possibly resist the Stanley charm.” She rolled her eyes and inched toward the sinks, keeping her back pressed to the marble wall. “And I’m not stalking you. For all I know, you’re stalking me.”
Xander smirked. “I was here first.”
That gave her pause. “What are you doing in here anyway?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
Everly sighed and touched the tips of her fingers to her forehead. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Just get out. Please,” she added as an afterthought.
“No.” He was having too much fun to walk away now.
Christ. He needed to get a hobby.
“What do you mean no?” Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “Would you prefer I call security?”
“Grand idea,” he said, not bothering to hide his amusement. “I’m sure they’d be happy to escort you from the premises.”
“Escortme?” she asked, indignation coloring her words.
“Well, you are the one in the wrong loo.”
“No, that can’t be right…” She glanced around, taking in the masculine colors of the restroom. Her eyes settled on the urinals even as a crimson flush spread over her chest and up her neck, disappearing into her hairline. “God, I hate weddings. First the dance, now this.”
She blew out a frustrated breath and began gathering the material of her dress—what little of it there was—doing her best to smooth it out over her hips.
Sticking around would be courting trouble Xander couldn’t afford, but his feet were cemented to the marble floor. She was obviously in some sort of bind, and it was clear she was too prideful, or maybe too stubborn, to ask for help. He knew better than to offer it, though. She’d probably tell him to piss off.
“So if you didn’t come in here to try it on with me, what exactly are you doing?”
Everly glanced up at him, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. She studied him for a moment and, seemingly coming to a decision, gave a curt nod. “You have to promise you won’t laugh.”
Oh, this was going to be brilliant. “I promise not to laugh. Much.”
She shot him a dirty look, the corners of her lips pursed in disapproval. “You’re an arrogant ass. Have I mentioned that yet?”
“I believe it was part of the initial greeting.” He shrugged and leaned against the vanity, crossing his ankles. He’d been called worse, and he couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when she was looking at him as if she couldn’t decide between throwing him up against the counter to fuck him and throwing him up against the counter to fuck him.
“So, funny story.” Everly inched closer, keeping her back facing away from him. “Actually, it’s not so funny,” she said, a small wrinkle forming between her brows. “I ordered the wrong size dress, and I could barely zip this fuchsia nightmare, and Lucy made the bridal party do this hip hop dance to a Flo Rida song—he’s totally her hall pass—and then my dress split down the back and now everyone can see my ass because I’m not wearing any underwear, and I can’t possibly go back out there. So, yeah.”
Xander straightened, his pulse quickening. “You’re not wearing knickers?”
“Out of everything I just said, that’s the part you registered?” She grabbed the back of her dress, cinching the fabric together to cover herself. “Men.”
Fuuuck.
She was right. He had to get his head on straight, but how could he think of anything but her plump, round arse when she’d just told him she wasn’t wearing any fucking panties? He shifted his weight, hoping she wouldn’t notice the quickly growing bulge in his trousers.
“Why don’t I lend you my jacket?” He had at least eight inches on her. It would probably do the trick, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a little fun with her first.
Everly sagged with relief. “That would be great, actually. Thank you.”
“Just one condition.”