Mistress to the Prince by Elizabeth Lennox Read Free Book Online

judging all men.  I’m judging all blind dates,” Tara countered.
     
    “ Well, then you’re going to miss out on a prime opportunity.   Unless you were willing to come to a party or two and stop working so much, ” her friend admonished. 
     
    Tara laughed softly and looked down at her keyboard.  “Don’t even start with that.   You know I work a lot of parties for the prince.  And as for the blind dates, I’m not falling for it twice.  Especially when I’m so tired after last night.  I overslept because that man got me home so late.”
     
    “ Well just forget about last night.  I met another guy who I think you should meet.  Th is one is wonderful.  I promise, ” Cindy said coaxingly.
     
    Tara was unconvinced.  After last night, there wasn’t much her friend could say to convince her to go out on another blind date.  “Uh huh.  Sure he is.  No deal.”
     
    “ Tara , you have to go out with him ,” her friend said firmly .  “ Otherwise, you’ll be a stale old maid with no children, no husband and lusting after a man who is married to the future queen who is giving him tons of children.  Meanwhile, you sit at home knitting some sweater or socks for your cat which you don’t have yet but you’ll soon get and dote on like it is your offspring.  Not a pretty picture, is it?”
     
    Tara groaned silently.  Cindy wasn’t holding anything back in her efforts to get Tara out and dating someone.  “You really know how to twist things, don’t you?”
     
    Cindy laughed but wouldn’t relent.  “I don’t need to twist anything.  I’m looking into my crystal ball right now and I can see the future.  So what do you say?  Want to meet Greg ?”
     
    “No.”
     
    “ Don’t be so quick to say no on this one.  He’s very nice, in his thirties so that means he’s ready to settle down so oner rather than later and he’s a programmer so he makes a good living.”
     
    Tara shuffled through the papers on her desk, knowing she’d need to get back to work soon or she’d be in the office all night.  She didn’t want to be rude to her friend, but she was not interested in meeting this new man.  “I make a good living.  I don’t need a man to provide for me.”
     
    “I’m not sayi ng that as if it should be the sole criterion for your future husband .  It is only an indicator of personal integrity.  I mean, come on, would you want to meet a man who is a leech to his parents, living at home and smoking marijuana all afternoon?”
     
    Tara shuddered at the picture in her mind.  “No.”   Definitely not, she told herself. 
    ”Good ,” Cindy said victoriously .  “ Then when he calls tonight , remember to be nice.”
     
    Tara gasped at her friend’s words.  “You gave him my home phone number?  Why did you do that?  You didn’t even get my permission.”
     
    “I know.  But it was more expedient this way,” Cindy laughed.  “And I didn’t give him your home phone number.  You’re never there.  I told him to call you here at the office or on your cell phone but in the evenings when you’re supposed to be home anyway.”
     
    Tara didn’t like this one little bit.  She felt as if she’d lost control of a part of her life she’d never even had before.  But what good was having a personal life if her friends were going to commandeer her into relationships?  “How could you?  I don’t even know this guy’s last name!” she said and looked up, right into the angry eyes of Max.  “Cindy, I have to go,” she said and hung up the phone before Cindy could utter ano t her word.
     
    “I’m sorry, Your Highness ,” Tara said, standing and bowing her head slightly.  She could tell he was extremely angry and suspected it was because of her personal call. “I’ll make sure all personal calls happen at home,” she said.
     
    “Another date?” Max snapped.  “Who with this time?”
     
    Tara was stunned by his anger.  He’d never shown this kind