Audacious by Mike Shepherd Read Free Book Online

la-la land; a bit of time sweating with people who got their hands dirty might keep her grounded. Heaven knew, with all the food thrown at a princess, if she didn’t get some exercise, this desk job might be the death of her.
    “I told him you would.” Jack grinned. “I am supposed to take care of your security, and if you keep eating like a hog and don’t exercise, I’ll lose you to a heart attack.”
    Kris started to swat him, but the limo was already slowing to a stop. A glance at the bright lights showed that now might not be a good time to assault her security chief.

9
    If this was Ms. Broadmore’s townhome, Kris wondered what she used for her rural retreat. Something the size of Texas? Of course, Kris had never figured out how large Texas was, but the old saying suited this place.
    Ms. Broadmore’s town house might be smaller than the Wardhaven Embassy. Then again, the huge, column-lined facade before Kris could be hiding a dozen wings… or two. Around the grounds, several scores of limos, many larger than Kris’s, were parked on concrete or grass, depending on how heavy the liveried men directing traffic took the rig to be.
    “Small get-together my well-armored derriere,” Kris said.
    Jack took it in. “You carrying?”
    “And you ain’t getting it.” She locked eyes with Jack. He looked away. “Now that that’s all settled,” Kris said, “let’s go see what this is all about.”
    Jack handed her out of the limo. A man in white livery and knee britches took the invitation from Jack and escorted them to the main entrance.
    He frowned as the four formal-dressed Marines formed two couples and followed.
    “Madam has provided refreshments and entertainment for your servants, Your Highness.”
    “Good. Then they can rotate, one couple at my elbow, one on break,” Kris said, giving one half her detail. But only half.
    His “As you wish” dripped with disapproval.
    Kris had learned to live with disapproval at an early age. Dead was not something she wanted to live with anytime soon.
    Through the glass doors was a marble hall that, apparently, served only as a foyer. This was laying it on thick.
    K RIS, THIS DESIGN MIMICS A F RENCH PALACE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. E ARTH .
    T HANK YOU, N ELLY. L ET ME THINK, PLEASE .
    They came to a ballroom that was larger than the drill field at OCS. More marble pillars held up a domed ceiling streaked with gold and lit by chandeliers that actually burned candles. The aroma was very striking. A marbled and carpeted staircase led down into the second level of the ballroom.
    Beside Kris, her liveried escort handed off her invitation to a man in a coat of gold cloth holding a huge staff.
    “Princess Kristine Anne of Wardhaven and Nuu Enterprises” boomed out in a rich baritone.
    “Not bad,” Jack whispered.
    “And associates” was added a long second later.
    “I guess that puts us in our place,” Jack added.
    “Just stay close,” Kris said. “This is not what I signed on for tonight. I do not want any more surprises,” she added as she took the steps slowly down into what she could only think of as a gladiator’s arena.
    But a bloodless one. Most likely.
    Kris had been processing all the surprises of the day as Abby prepared her for the evening. She hadn’t paid much attention until Abby poured her into the red, floor-length ball gown with the tight bust. At the time, Kris had considered it a bit too much for what she thought she was headed into, but didn’t need a fight with her maid to add to all the day’s other battles. Now, a glance around the floor showed that Abby was far more plugged in to the social circuits here.
    Dress was formal. Very formal. Some of it was into that outlandish area that can only be attempted by stamping it “formal.” One woman, either very young, or very well preserved was wearing… something. A haze of multicolored lights orbited her, keeping her somewhat modest. And teasing every male eye in range with hopes that the