Page 11 of The Prince and the Double Shot (Runaway Prince Hotel #2)

ZANE

I had been careless. All these years, I had made sure to keep a low profile to avoid being found. One night – one date with a prince, and it had almost all come crashing down around my ears.

I ran away for a reason – escaped a future that I didn’t want – left a family who only thought of me as capital for their own nefarious purposes.

If that photo had been released, there was a chance that it could all come crashing down.

If they found me, they would not let me stay.

In fact, it might not be safe for me to stay.

The world was a messed-up place.

I craved freedom from that world. I didn’t want to live in a world of obfuscation and lies just to stay in a fantasy that was darker than a fucking Grimm’s tale.

My father was weak, but my mother was as powerful and demanding as they came.

She would have me dragged back to that world before I could even take a breath or plan another escape.

Once I was back in – there would be no way out for me.

But what did I have? Freedom to make my own choices. A future that belonged only to me, even if my future had boundaries that I had to stay within to avoid detection.

Hiding. That was what I had. A future of staying below the radar and always looking over my shoulder.

This wasn’t the first time that I had been fearful that I’d been found.

Luckily, it hadn’t been true. My family was powerful, but I had been kept on a very short leash, which helped maintain my anonymity.

When your parents were rich, the press desired to know about you.

Their access had always been denied, for the most part.

I had been luckier than most of the children who had parents like mine.

I hadn’t been paraded around and forced to smile at the photographers.

That would have been my future .

What kind of life would I have? What could I… How could I ever truly share myself with anyone? How could I build a life when I lived in fear of it being taken away by one simple mistake?

A mistake that could have happened yesterday and ruined everything I had worked for.

I shouldn’t see him again, should I? He lived in the public, and I lurked in the shadows.

I might not know who he was, or even care.

That world can only be mine for a tumble between the sheets, and not a life that I would ever aspire to, even if I did fall in love with someone like him.

Freedom.

With Phil, there could be no freedom.

I sighed and tied my apron tighter around my waist. I needed to get to work. I kept waiting to be told when my first shift at the pool would be, but maybe the owners had found someone else.

Whatever… I hoped it wouldn’t be too busy today. My mind was spinning, and my body felt so tight and wound up with the fear of this all crashing down on top of me.

Jesus… All I could think about was the way he smiled right before he laughed. It was a break in the darkness he lived in, as if the sun had just broken through the clouds. He knew loss. He had truly loved, and losing Petra had shriveled his heart the same way the disease had destroyed Petra.

It was horrible.

Love was horrible.

No.

Loving and then losing love was what was horrible. Love was complicated, and even though I had eschewed the hope of ever finding it, or, to be in a position where I could ever accept it, I knew that it could be worth it if I could just… If I would let my freedom go.

I tried to put thoughts of Phil aside. Maybe I would see him today, and that alone scared me as much as it excited me.

I had to be careful, didn’t I? Not just with my own heart, but also with his.

The one thing he didn’t need was to fall in love with a commoner, once again.

He wanted his future, or at least appeared to.

At least, he had a future, and I would not stand in his way.

But the pull towards him was… epic. In all these years, I had never found someone who made me want more than what I had.

I was a barista at a hotel, and I liked my job.

I liked the people who worked there and even most of the patrons.

But a prince and a barista falling in love and having a happy ending was only a fantasy, wasn’t it?

Reality was harsher than a Hallmark film.

I glanced out my window and double-checked that no one suspicious might be waiting outside my house. It was empty, just as it always was. I still walked quickly to my car.

My mind went through all the various scenarios of getting him naked as I drove. My cock pulsed as I imagined him lying naked in my bed as my fingers traced over his skin. If I held out my hand to him, I was sure that he would come, then cum, if that’s what I wanted.

I wanted. Why did I want it so badly? I could have almost anyone I wanted – when I wanted, so why him and why now? Fuck…

I parked my car and headed around to the back of the hotel.

Yes, I was looking for him, and I knew it was foolish.

I was a fool.

What was I risking in seeing him again? Everything. Yet gravity wanted me to stay in his orbit, and I didn’t have the strength to pull myself away.

I saw Layla sitting on a bench underneath a tree.

I waved, and she called me over with her usual motherly smile.

The way she treated her staff made us all feel like we belonged.

Our past belonged to us, and neither she nor Sheena dug too deep.

As long as we did our job and weren’t too much of an asshole, they took care of us.

Layla stood up and opened her arms. “Good morning, sleepyhead. I was just thinking about you.”

“Why?” I chuckled as she gave me a hug. It felt nice and warm in her arms. Safe.

She let me go and sat back down. She patted the space beside her.

“I don’t know. I was looking over the list of staff that responded and didn’t see your name.”

“I was supposed to respond? What… uh… are you talking about?”

“The ball. The renovation of the wing is being completed. I know it’s a little ways away, but we’re really trying to get a head count, and…”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I chuckled. “I missed something, I guess.”

“Always, Zane. You really should read your emails or look at the stuff we post by the time clock. I mean, there are posters up in the lobby. Your head is always in the clouds, even if it’s actually in the sand.”

“A ball? I mean… That sounds like something that I might skip.” I frowned.

“What if I don’t let you? Come on, honey, this is a family event. I know you don’t… I want you there, ok? It wouldn’t be right if everyone came but you. Should I put you down with a plus one?”

“Ah… I see where this is going. You and Sheena sure do like to meddle.”

“When you see someone struggling to not get pulled into the ground , you throw them a rope.”

“Uh-huh… Can I think about it?”

“You are in charge of your own destiny, kiddo. But I do want you there. Do it for me, even if you don’t want to do it for yourself.”

“I promise to look at the… whatever is posted. Ok?”

“I guess that’s all I can ask. Are you looking for Phil?” Her wry smile made me glance down at the ground to hide my own. Layla always knew the truth, even when you thought she didn’t.

“I mean, I was going to work and decided to walk through the grounds today.”

“You are a terrible liar, kiddo. He’s on break, I think.”

“I guess I'd better get in there before Mateo kills me for being late.”

“I’m pretty sure that he’s not here today. I think Di came in to cover. Talk to her about the ball. I’m sure that she’s coming.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll… talk to her.”

“Maybe talk to her about all of it, Zane. After all these years, don’t you think it’s time you let people truly know you? I think you’re amazing, kid.”

“Alright… That’s cryptic and a little scary.” I backed away and felt like I was walking on quicksand. Was I sinking into the ground? Did I need a rope? What did she know?

“Not meant to be. Enjoy your day, love. I’ll pop in later for a cup.” She looked up at the tree branches and smiled. “It really is a beautiful day.”

I walked quickly back the way that I had come.

I walked through the courtyard and stood in front of the door.

I was flummoxed. What did she mean by that?

What did she actually know? It was more than I thought.

Dammit, I really was an idiot, wasn’t I?

But I don’t think she truly knew. If she did know, this would have been a very different conversation.

Lies, the kind of lies I told wouldn’t endure me to anyone.

Secrets were hard to keep if there was even one other person who knew them. Wasn’t that what Phil said?

My secret would ruin me. It would change everything, and to keep it, so would I.

Di waved at me through the door, and I noticed a small line inside the shop. Fuck…

I opened the door, and the coffee aroma overpowered my senses.

“It looks like you're late.” I turned to find Phil sitting on a chair and sipping a coffee. “A double espresso shot. It’s yummy.”

“Hi… I… uh… I walked around to see if I could… Here you are.” I laughed uneasily.

Gravity – it pulled me.

“Here I am. I was on my break and thought… why not?” He lifted the cup to his mouth and took a sip. “And… Well… I thought maybe I’d see you.” The way his mouth pulled up into a smirk made my cock twinge.

“You did?” I shifted, hoping to stop the wood from sprouting.

“I… Yes, I did.”

“This is awkward, huh? Sorry, I…” I ran my hands through my hair.

“No worries. I know you need to clock in or… get to work, as they say.”

“Yeah, it looks a little… busy. I better…”

“Sure. I’ll just sit here and… watch.” His chuckle was musical.

“Watch me?” I lifted my eyebrow.

“I… I only meant that I’m on a break and…”

“Do you wanna, maybe…” I shrugged as if the answer couldn’t ruin me. “When I get off?”

He sighed and twisted the cup in his hand. “I don’t think I have a reason not to. Do you?”

“I could meet you at six.”

“Why don’t I just come here then?”

“Here? Sure, if you want.”

“I’ll see you then.”

Di slapped my ass as I walked around the counter, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at him as I helped the customers. When he left, he gave me a little wave, and I watched him walk into the distance.

“Hi… remember me?”

Shit. What had I been doing? “A frappuccino, right? Sorry.”

The next few hours were going to be pure torture. I couldn’t focus, and Di had to keep me on track. Every thought made my heart race. Every second seemed to be an hour. Why now? What was I supposed to do?

Life was about to change if I stayed on this trajectory. Was I ready for the fallout?