AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Henryk lifted his chin, his nose a few inches higher in the air than his snooty attitude had made it a second ago. “I’m too busy for a vacation.”
I twirled the pen between my fingers. “Well, I’m not signing until you agree to come with us.” I shrugged as if it didn’t matter to me, but when Erin nodded and smiled, it mattered a lot to me.
“Blackmail. I figured.” Henryk narrowed his eyes.
“It’s extortion. So different.” I shrugged again. I could do this all day long.
“And I suppose I’ll be paying for the whole vacation?”
I shrugged. “I’m happy to hostel my way through Spain, but I don’t know if you’re quite in shape for backpacking across the country.” I was pretty sure Erin wouldn’t mind traveling around Europe that way, but the prince’s nose wrinkled. His royal stuffiness seemed a bit put off at the idea of sharing a room with ten other people.
“Well?” I raised an eyebrow. The choice was his. He could go on what looked like a much needed getaway and be divorced when he returned home or he could stay here and figure out what to tell his country, his parents and his bride-to-be. “What do you say?”
He nodded suddenly, jerking his head up and down, like nodding was something he was unaccustomed to doing. “Fine. I can rearrange my schedule to accommodate a few days off.”
“A week.” I wasn’t giving this guy a break either. “Seven full days. and don’t even think of skipping out on us.” It would take us that long to unwind this guy. He was the most uptight person I’d met in years.
Henryk sighed but I sensed he wasn’t as put out as he was acting. “Fine.”
I stuck out my hand to make sure he didn’t back out and smiled when he took it. “Then we have a deal.”
“Yes, we do.”
I signed the rest of the paperwork and happiness bubbled up from my stomach. Yep, this felt right although I wasn’t sure why.
Erin hugged me tightly from behind and I turned to look down at her. “I can’t believe we’re all going on vacation together.”
Her body was all curves and sweetness, and I tugged her closer so I could hold her tighter. “We didn’t get a reception or a honeymoon, so a divorce party seems fitting.”
She laughed and twisted her arms around my neck to hug me again. I closed my eyes and breathed her in. She was exquisite.
“I don’t think divorce parties are meant to be with all your single friends,” Erin said, “but I’m not complaining.”
I ran my hand over the top of my head, the short hair bristling beneath my palm. “Yeah, well, our marriage was unorthodox, so probably our divorce should be, too.”
She smiled up at me and my gaze landed near her lips. God, she was everything a woman should be. So vibrant and happy and sweet. But sweet in a way that made me want to strip her naked and make love to her until neither of us could move.
I clenched my teeth and looked away, breathed out slowly because the images in my head were potent and I needed to slow my roll.Silas met my eyes, and a crooked grin lifted his lips.
Yeah, he knew. Of course, that was because he was as afflicted as I was. No way could he hide it. His face gave away everything. That and those moon eyes he was using to stare at her.
“So, what’s the plan?” Silas asked, standing and swiping his hands together. “Do we leave today or are we hanging around the palace until Henryk is ready to come with us?”
We all turned to the prince, who was busy gathering up all the paperwork. “I need at least a day to get everything in line so I can leave.” And I could see his mind spinning with possibilities, plans to get out of accompanying us on our vacation. I knew the exact minute he’d come up with something. Fancy Pants smiled. “So, if you’d all like to depart for Spain today, you may. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”
I glanced at Erin and Silas, then shook my head and rolled my eyes before I turned back to Henryk. “I think we should stay and wait for you.” I added a smile. “Don’t want you getting stuck behind with all yourresponsibilities.”
Henryk frowned before glancing down at his briefcase.
That had so been his plan. He was going to send us off, come up with some excuse for why he couldn’t leave immediately, and then never show up. And although I should’ve been happy about his not so covert plan—after all, it was one less guy to share Erin with—a part of me knew that Henryk was a necessary component to whatever was going to happen. And he would’ve been necessary whether he had the money or not.
“Can we hang around the castle for a day or so?” I asked.
Henryk considered me for a second then tilted his head. “Of course. I will have Francis organize guest suites for you all, and he will book the flights and accommodations, so if you have any special requests, let him know.”
“Francis sounds like a handy guy to have around, then.”
Henryk huffed and walked to the door. “I need to get these filed, then you’ll all receive a copy.”
