Page 5 of The Princess Trap

Tabary rolled his eyes dramatically, a grin bursting across his narrow face. The kind of grin that weak men released when offered the chance to correct a supposedly stupid woman. His annoyance forgotten, he handed the papers back with a fond smile. “Off you go, Cherry, dear. Iamin the middle of something.”

The woman straightened up, clutching the papers to her chest. Her eyes settled on Ruben with exaggerated surprise, as if she’d only just noticed his presence. And he knew instantly that she’d orchestrated this entire thing.

“Oh, gosh,” she said. “How rude of me.” And then, skirting around Tabary’s desk, she stepped right up to him, held out a hand, and said: “Cherry Neita.”

Cherry.Hernamewas Cherry.

Ruben stood and took her hand in his. Her skin was warm and soft, her fingers tipped with the most outrageous nails—long and pink and glittery, all studded with gems. Ridiculous. He adored them. Bowing over her hand, Ruben pressed the ghost of a kiss to her knuckles.

Then Hans, the fucker, cleared his throat. Loudly.

Oh. Right. Kissing women’s hands wasn’t the best way toblend in.

Trying not to wince, Ruben straightened up and gave her his handsomest smile. Prince Charming he was not—as the press loved to remind him—but for this woman, he’d do his best.

“Ruben Ambjørn,” he replied. It wasn’t a lie, he told himself. Not technically.

“Lovely to meet you,” she murmured. And for a moment, her voice dipped from the light, airy tone she’d used with Chris to something low and earthy that suited her far better. Then she looked down at their hands, arching a brow—and he realised that he was still clutching her fingers like a lost child.

He should probably let go.

No, his newly animalistic mind whispered.Never let her go.

Hm. His mind was starting to sound like a stalker.

Ruben released her, trying not to make his reluctance obvious. “What is it you do here, Ms. Neita?” He imagined she’d make an excellent teacher. Her class wouldn’t know what’d hit them.

But God, if he’d ever had a tutor like her…

“I’m in HR,” she said, shattering his fantasies. “And I really should get back upstairs.Sosorry to intrude.” She turned to Tabary and flashed him a smile, wider this time—and Jesus fucking Christ, she haddimples. That simply wasn’t fair. “See you later, Chris!”

With that, she disappeared, hips swaying beneath her tight skirt. The door swung shut behind her, and the office descended into a dazed sort of silence.

Cherry fucking Neita. Fancy that.

Chapter Three

Cherry wound her way through the clusters of teachers filling the staffroom, sticking to their cliques as firmly as the kids out in the playground. She found Rose waiting in prime position, of course, at the table right by the toaster. Beside her were Beth and Jasleen. It would be a full interrogation, then.

Cherry settled down into the last empty seat and gave them her breeziest smile. “Lunch already! Time flies.”

At least, it does when you’re loitering about the I.T. Department so you don’t have to go back to your own floor.

Rose’s only reply was an arched brow. Jas snorted, and Beth leant over the table, cradling her mug in both hands. “Don’t be coy. Where’ve you been all morning? You’veseenhim, haven’t you?”

Cherry met Rose’s eye across the table. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Spill the beans. Don’t keep him all to yourself, you slut.”

Cherry faked a gasp. “You’re one to talk, Elizabeth Briggs. Weren’t you caught with that mousy mathematics teacher at the Christmas party—”

“Shut up!” Beth hissed.

“—in the reprographics room, on thephotocopier, no less!”

Beth sniffed. “You must be mistaking me for someone else.”

“You dickhead,” Jasleen smirked. “It was me that caught you.”