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“What do you mean?” Jin asked, his fingers tightening on West’s as if he were afraid that West was going to be ripped away from him.
“Well, it’s not like the public is going to see you being all lovey-dovey and adorable. They’re just going to see him looking like…him. Don’t get me wrong; he’s American hot, but no one is going to believe he’s dating you. He doesn’t look like someone the crown prince would date. He needs a makeover.”
West groaned and slumped in his seat, while a noise escaped Jin as if he were choking on a laugh.
“Qin was kind enough to inform us of the same thing last night,” West muttered. “He’s arranged things, so I’ll be more presentable.”
“Speaking of, Fan Qing Yi is waiting at my apartment right now for us. We should get going.” Jin pushed to his feet, and they all rose with him. “West will accompany us to the hospital today.”
“You’re going to introduce him to the emperor?” Ming Tao demanded, looking at Jin as if he’d lost his mind.
“No!” West burst out before Jin could answer. “God, no! I’m there for protection. I’m not meeting the emperor. Probably never. He doesn’t need that kind of stress.” Jin frowned at him, but West didn’t take a word of what he said back. His heart was still trying to climb down from his throat at Ming Tao’s question. No way he was meeting the emperor. The idea of his eldest son dating this nobody American could kill him.
The shock was a good reminder, though.
This was all temporary. In a few days, he’d say good-bye to Jin for the last time and walk out of his life.
Fuck, that was going to hurt…
12
JIN LONG WEI
As they strolled back to Jin’s apartment, he glanced over his shoulder to where West followed an appropriate step behind. He wanted to pull the man forward, to link their hands and smile at him, but the hallways offered opportunities to encounter servants, advisors, ministers, and other random staff members. West was attempting to adhere to rules of proper etiquette, and he didn’t want to undermine his hard work. Especially as they were soon going to venture out into the public, where the scrutiny would be a hundred times more intense.
Sadly, the few private words he’d hoped to steal when they were behind closed doors evaporated as he discovered Qin, Fan Qing Yi, and a small squad of women in neat uniforms waiting for them. Their hands were full of garment bags and grooming instruments to make West worthy of the crown prince of Gaoxing. Jin wanted to mutter that West was already more than worthy of him, but he knew how damaging gossip could be right now and they needed everything to go smoothly.
Especially since a tiny idea was forming in the dark corners of his brain. A wicked little plot to keep West with him forever. But to accomplish that, he was going to need help. Qin’s help. Possibly even Ming Tao’s help.
“Good morning, Dianxia,” Qin greeted as they drew closer. The women with him bowed as well and spoke in unison.
“Good morning. I apologize for being missing. I had the unexpected pleasure of welcoming Prince Jin Ming Tao this morning,” Jin said with a smile that tried to slip from his lips. Things were good between him and his brother again, but the encounter had left his heart tender. It was not how he’d wanted to introduce West to Ming Tao.
“I thought we would set Mr. St. James up in the next room while the ladies work on him. It would speed things along so we can get to the hospital on schedule,” Qin stated, motioning to the set of doors across the hall.
Jin’s eyes jumped from Qin to West, his lips parting on a protest. They were being separated already? He’d imagined them preparing in the morning together. It wouldn’t be private, but they could have a little safe and benign conversation.
West offered him sympathetic eyes and a small bow. “Qin is wise. We’re asking these lovely ladies to work miracles on my appearance in a brief time span. The process would be faster if we’re not sharing a bathroom…this time.”
That pause worked a miracle on his heart, causing it to skip and flip in his chest. He was aware of soft giggles and whispers from the surrounding women, but he didn’t care. He had eyes for only West.
“You’re right,” he agreed in a rough voice. He extended his hand toward West but stopped just short of touching his arm. “Don’t change too much. To me, you are perfect exactly as you are.”
West lifted his hand, his fingertips grazing Jin’s. “I only hope to be seen as worthy of my Dianxia.”
Thankfully Qin stepped in to usher them in separate directions, because Jin was ready to swoon into his man’s arms this very second.
