Royal Romance: Mr Right's Playbook (Bad Boy Romance, Billionaire Romance) (3 page)

Before he said anymore, she simply took a lick of his rocky road and grinned at him. He shook his head, muttering something under his breath. "You are just as bad as my friend, Chris." And then, without even asking, he took a big bite out of her vanilla with sprinkles.

As he pulled away, she noticed the corner of his mouth had some ice cream on it. "You have a little..." She trailed off as she reached up to wipe it away. Before she could her finger away, he caught her hand in his and lick the cream from it.  

Josie felt her breath hitch as she watched and felt him. When his eyes met hers it was smoldering. It made her want to just pulled him behind the ice cream parlor and kiss him senseless. 

He cleared his throat and dropped her hand. "I should get you home now. It's getting late." 

"Okay." Josie nodded.  

She lived only a few blocks away so it wouldn't take any time for them to reach her apartment. As they walked, Josie felt a little nervous. Should she invite him inside? Was it a little too forward? Did she even care? 

Woman! Relax! 

Yes. She needed to relax. Gosh, it had been so long since her last date she didn't know what to do with herself. But she didn't want the night to end just yet. Maybe they could continue talking over a cup of coffee. Josie had a feeling she could listen to his voice all night long.  

When they reached her door, she turned to make the offer when he beat her to speaking. "I had fun tonight, Josie. Call me when you're free again. I' looking forward to our next date." 

"You don't want to come in for a nightcap?" She asked, slightly disappointed.  

Daniel shook his head. Then with a smile, he leaned down a place a kiss on her cheek. "Good night, Josie," he said before walking away. 

Gosh, did the man have to be such a gentleman he couldn't even give her a real kiss goodnight.  

Chapter 5

Daniel drummed his fingers on his thigh as he waited for Josie to reach their chosen meeting spot in front of the carnival that had come to town for the weekend. He had wanted to take her horseback riding after discovering she loved horse, but never got to ride one before last night. Apparently poor people couldn't afford something as extravagant as horseback riding, Chris told him. In those exact words too. Then he suggest he take her to lunch in the bay on his yacht, but that also screamed rich. Many more ideas later, Chris decided that the carnival was his best bet. Cheap and fun.

And, as Daniel looked behind himself as the rides, possibly dangerous. 

"Hey Daniel!" 

He turned back to find Josie jogging up to him with a bright smile on her face. "I'm sorry I'm late.

The bus took forever." Her face was slightly flushed and a few strands of her hair was plastered to her face from sweating. Yet Daniel still found her enticing to look at. After seeing many women making it their complete mission to make sure nothing was ever out of place, Josie was quite refreshing. Simple and completely natural. The only person being fake in this relationship was him. 

The thought gave him a pause, but he shook it off. He instead pulled her into a hug, enjoying the soft curves of her body for a brief moment before pulling away. 

"It's no problem," He said, offering her a soft smile and taking one of her hands, "I hope you're ready to eat some crappy fair food and ride some poorly constructed carnival rides." 

She laughed at his nervous glee, raising a brow at him, "Sounds like somebody hasn't experienced the thrill of a rickety, cheap roller coaster before." 

"I'm positively gleeful at the prospect of risking my life," He replied drily, making her laugh again. 

"Let's stick to the Ferris wheel and smaller rides then," She snickered, tugging him along past all the carnival games. 

He glanced over them as they made their way through the crowd, seeming perplexed, "What? You don't want me to try and win you a cheap bunny or anything?" In Chris's secret player guide, it mention how woman loved when guys won things for them. "Those teddy bears look pretty high quality—ow." He chuckled lightly when she swatted him lightly on the arm. 

"They're all rigged and a waste of money," She informed him, shaking her head and smiling ruefully, "Who wants to get scammed out of twenty bucks trying to win some cheap stuffed animal?" 

"Sounds like somebody once got scammed out of twenty dollars for a cheap stuffed animal," Daniel teased, only to laugh and dodge out of the way of her trying to swat him again. 

She stuck her tongue out at him sassily, green eyes shining with mirth, "Hardy har. For your information, it was my dad who wasted the money." 

"Fair enough," Daniel nodded, taking hold of her hand again. 

As they got some fair food and walked around, taking in the carnival and all it had to offer, Daniel couldn't help but feel rueful. This was something he never experienced, even with all his wealth and money, he never had fun, simple moments like this. Maybe Chris' little handbook was right—simplicity was best for dates. It made him sick to think that his attempt at kindness might have came across as snobby extravagance at some point. Had he always been doing things wrong, or was Josie just different? 

She was unlike any of the girls he dated before. Sweet, kind, beautiful, playful. He wished he had asked her out sooner, though using Chris' handy book of advice was giving him a little more confidence to go through with all he wanted to do. 

He made sure to keep offering to share his food, something he already didn't mind, but the book said it was good manners, and girls appreciated it.  

He was sharing a funnel cake with her when they finally settled on a nice table in a gazebo to relax, chattering about the events of the day and laughing about their attempt at making their way through a fun house—neither had been graceful. 

Daniel was loving being around her, loving hearing her laugh. She was a new delight in his life. 

"So Daniel—what do you do for a living?" Josie asked before taking a sip of her lemonade, stopping him mid-bite of his funnel cake. 

He hadn't expected that question. Chris said as long as he kept the conversation focus on her, she wouldn't ask him too many things. "I'm a construction worker," he told her Chris's main job without a thought then instantly regretted. He doubted he looked anything like construction worker. 

To make matters worse, she looked at him as if she didn't fully believe him, but she didn't mention it. "That's interesting. Are you in between jobs right now?" 

"Yes." It was sort of true. He was taking a week break from working at the embassy of his country, per Chris's orders, to ensure he knew what it was like to be a couch potato. Not wanting to say anymore than he had to, he decided to change the subject. "Let's go ride the twister. First person to throw up has to buy the other an expensive cheaply made stuff animal." 

Chapter 6

They rode the twister five times. Neither of them emptied the contents of their stomach thought, but Josie was the first to call quits to the bet. She was so dizzy she just might throw up and that was the last thing she wanted to do in front of a guy she was interested in.  

Daniel picked a black cat for her to buy him. As she handed the clerk the cash, she eyed him as he gazed around their surroundings.  

She didn't know what he did, but she was positive it wasn't construction. While he was very down to earth, he had the air about him of someone who came from money. Lots of it. Though, why he would lie to her, she didn't have a clue. But she didn't want to pressure him about it. Maybe he would tell her the truth in a few days. 

Only when a month past, every time she tried to bring up the topic of him, he always deflected the conversation. She liked that he was interested in learning everything he could about her, but Josie wanted to know just as much about him. When she mention her dilemma to Laura, the other woman waved it off. 

"So what if he doesn't want to talk about himself. Just enjoy. Believe me. There is nothing more annoying than a guy who can't stop talking about himself." 

True, but that didn't make Josie any happier. She felt like she knew so little about him, only knowing some of his interests, his favorite foods, who his friend was. She was upset that she knew nothing of his family, his job, but then he made her feel guilty about being upset. Like when she received a pristine rose delivered to her one morning, with a small love note from him. Or when he calls her beautiful, intelligent, tells her how lucky he feels to have her. He was perfect despite her misgivings. 

What job could be so bad? Unless he was doing something illegal, she didn't see what he had to hide. Though that would be just her luck, wouldn't it? Perfect, sweet guy and he's secretly a drug dealer or something. Though guessing by his disposition and hesitation sometimes, she doubted that was the case. So what was it then? 

He already planned another date with her for the evening, claiming he had a surprise for her. Maybe he would finally tell her his big secret? 

She offered for them to have a date at her apartment for once, maybe order some pizza and watch a movie. He readily agreed and they set the time for six o'clock. Tonight she decided would be the night that she would finally get the big secret from him. 

As always, he came exactly on time. When she opened the door, he was smiling his adorable smile and leaned down to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. After he pulled away, he held out a sole lily she hadn't noticed before. "A pretty flower for a pretty lady." 

Josie wasn't much of a blusher, but when he said things like that she couldn't help it. "Thanks," she murmured, as she took it from him.  

She led him into her small apartment to the living room where she already had the movie set up and snacks on the coffee table. Sitting beside him on the sofa, she instantly realized how small her furniture was. Not that she ever thought that before, but Daniel's presence was undeniable anywhere they were. He had this quiet masculinity about him that seem to call to other woman without him even trying, not that he ever notice. He didn't even seem to know how attractive he was, in every aspect of the word.  

Her attention was split between the movie and the man beside her for over an hour. It was a movie she had really wanted to watch for a long time as well, but for the life of her she couldn't pay attention. Daniel was in constant contact with her.  He would brush his thigh against hers, spiking her desire. Lightly trailing his finger along her bare arm, leaving goose bumps in his wake. Worst of all, every so often, he would press a kiss to her neck, a very sensitive spot for her, that had her biting her lip and digging her nails into the palms of her hand. 

"Movie. Watch the movie," she said between gritted teeth. 

"But the movie isn't as interesting as teasing you mercilessly." He murmured against her throat. 

She turned a glare on him, only to find him with a devilish grin on his face. It was shocking that how shy he could be at times then turn into the perfect seducer.  

"You're so cute when you blush." 

Feeling a little cheated, she retorted, "Not as cute as you are." His check heated instantly, making Josie acquire her own grin.   

Instead of saying something smart back, he leaned in and captured her lips with his, instantly taking her breath away in a deep kiss. Josie couldn't stop the moan that poured from her throat as he licked and nibbled his way around her mouth. His kisses always had her skin feeling tighter than it should be and he wanting to desperately jump his bones, yet he never let her take it that far. She once asked him if he didn't want to sleep together and he replied that he simply didn't want to rush things. 

Easier said than done on her part when all she could think about how his hands felt on her waist, pulling her closer into his body as he kissed her senseless. He tasted her like she was the sweetest ambrosia and he would die without her essence covering his tongue. It didn't help that he never stopped her hand from exploring his muscles under his shirts. His skin was tight and smooth, and she knew it was evenly toned all over after tricking him to take his shirt off one time they had taken a walk in the park. 

Suddenly Josie felt something cold against her neck. Surprised, she pulled from the heated embrace and touch her throat where she found a metal-like chain. She glanced up at Daniel in question. 

"I saw it and thought it was perfect for you." 

Looking down, she picked up the pendant between her fingers and gasped. "Are these real diamonds? How did you afford this?" 

"Oh...I...um... It was really cheap. Online. You always find the best deals there." 

For once, Josie couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes as he rattled off another lie. Without a word she reached behind her neck and undid the clasp then placed the necklace in his hand. "You need to leave." 

"What? Is it because you think I spent all my money on the necklace? It wasn't a big deal." 

Shaking her head, Josie got up and went to her front door, opening it. "Just go Daniel." 

"Why?" 

"If you really have to ask me that question, maybe we shouldn't be in a relationship at all."