Page 8 of The Prince and the Double Shot (Runaway Prince Hotel #2)

ZANE

I mean… Maybe I did smell?

Whatever it was, Phil skedaddled like a mouse after the last piece of cheese, and it kept me up all night.

I mean… I thought we were starting to break through, but… It’s me. It’s always me. I’m the problem, and I know it. I come on too strong, or I’m too aloof. Honestly, it depends on the day.

I mean… I could barely sleep. Why? Why did I care if this guy did or didn’t like me?

It wasn’t the lifeguard job. Sheena and Layla were always going to give it to me.

I knew this. Hell, I always knew it, even if it had made me nervous.

I just hated interviews – the way that you had to sit there while someone judged you.

I still wasn’t used to that, even after all these years in solitude, as I took care of myself.

He was cute. Sure. Well… He was more than cute. He was hot, and there was something broken about him. In some ways, he reminded me of another broken person – me. He was just older and had a bigger stick up his ass.

Something had happened to him, and whatever it was, the person who did it must have resembled me enough to make him uncomfortable. I mean… How do you get past something like that? Why did I want to?

Pulled… I was being pulled, and it wasn’t by anyone else, but it was something deep within me that pointed in his direction. I felt it as soon as I spoke to him, which was absolutely ridiculous in every way. It was stupid and not real – a fantasy concocted by a bored and lonely brain.

My whole life was a fantasy, wasn’t it? None of this shit was real, including the accent that I had worked so hard on.

He had noticed, though. Of course, he did.

He had been taught at an early age to see past whatever disguise someone wore.

When you were of royal lineage, everyone wanted something from you.

They needed you as much as the royal needed them.

It was a symbiotic relationship where one’s life could not exist without the other.

Well… The people could learn to live without the royals, but the royals could never live without the people. That was the truth.

Maybe I was unlikable?

The shell – this hard exterior that I wore to protect myself – maybe it was what was wrong.

All I had wanted was to live my life without expectations.

My family had a lot of those, and to escape the future that they had planned for me, I ran away as fast as I could sneak out.

They weren’t accustomed to people saying no to them.

Money and power did that kind of thing. They weren’t used to having anyone stand up to them, including me, because you couldn’t.

I couldn’t. They were the kind of people who always made sure that they got their way. Their thugs made it happen.

I had wanted more.

I had wanted a life that belonged only to me.

The last thing I wanted was to be a part of the family business, and I would not be a pawn for them to use. A sacrifice at the altar of their power in the hopes of gaining more power was not on my bucket list. I wanted to see the world and to live a life free from their demands.

I had hidden for more than five years, and finally I ended up here at the Renverse Hotel, working at Le Café Magnifique. I had hated the taste of coffee when I started working here, and now my veins were filled with the liquid.

“Theo!” I called, and a handsome man stepped forward to pick up his order.

“He’s hot,” Sam whispered as he walked by me towards the other register. “The morning rush is finally coming to an end.”

“Remember that register can be slow,” I teased. “I think you just want a reason to call IT.”

Sam grinned quickly at me, and I knew it was true. He had a crush, and the new IT guy seemed to always be on his mind.

“It’s working fine…” he whined.

“Want me to break it for you? It hates me,” I chuckled.

“Hi there.”

I froze in place and slowly turned my head to look at Phil. He was wearing a tank top, and his shoulders were brown and hard. I tried to avoid his arms. That way led to danger for my cock. I didn’t need to get a woody at work. Sam would never let me live it down.

“Behind you,” Mateo said as he carried an order over to a very built man who looked like he could bench press everyone who worked here. Mateo had been staring at him ever since he walked in.

“I’d like a coffee, please.”

“A coffee,” I smirked as I let my gaze linger on his handsome fucking face. “What kind?”

“Oh, a double-shot macchiato… please?”

“Is that it?” I asked stupidly.

“Well, if you have a moment… I would like to offer you an apology. I was…” He swallowed hard and nodded quickly. “…rude yesterday.”

“Rude? You?” I couldn’t help myself. I had my own coping mechanisms to deal with hurt, and being an ass was my usual go-to. “Nah…”

“I was, and I… would like to apologize.”

“You did say that.” I smiled. “I’m waiting.”

“Ok…” He looked away sheepishly and ran his fingers through his hair. “Oh!”

“Yes, you still haven’t actually done it.”

“I’m sorry, I…”

“Apology accepted.”

“Behind you,” Mateo brushed past me again.

“Look, can we start again, please?” He leaned onto the counter with his hands, and his biceps flexed. Why did I have to have a type? “You were right. I do work and then go up to my room and sulk. I’ve been… in a bad place for a while.”

“Do you want to talk about it? Maybe after our shifts?”

He sighed. “Not really. But… How about we finish that drink?”

“How about we finish it somewhere else? I know a great little place not too far from here. We could walk over… Maybe talk on the way. That way, it will be harder for you to run away.”

“I think I’m done running away, for now, anyway.”

“Well, we never know what the future holds.”

“I made your drink since you two were… uh… talking.” Mateo slid the steamy container over towards him.

“Oh, how much do I owe you?”

“This one’s on me.” I nodded. I could hear Mateo chuckling as he walked away.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, no… You owe me.” I winked.

“Let me… I guess I should get back to work. I know there are others who want to order.” He glanced behind at the nonexistent line. “Or not…”

“I need to clean up. Can you meet me in the lobby in two hours?”

“Sure. I should be able to clean up by then. All I have left to do today is transplant some geraniums. I’ll… see you then.”

I watched him walk out the door and into the courtyard.

“So… It seems like someone’s suddenly in a good mood today.”

“Shut it, Sam,” I laughed. “Listen, do you want me to break that register?”

The smile on his face told me all I needed to know.