Mistress to the Prince by Elizabeth Lennox Read Free Book Online Page B

have with our handsome prince.”
     
    “Yes, Mother,” Tara sighed softly through the phone.  “ I know you’re right.  I’ll call you later,” she said and ended the call . Unfortunately, her mother was right.  Tara might look and pretend to be the hard core career woman, and she genuinely loved her job even on Prince Maximillian’s more ornery days like today .  But she really did want a family as she’d told him earlier today.  And her mother wasn’t far off.  Tara wasn’t getting any younger.  If she wanted to meet, fall in love with and marry a man, she needed to get on the ball and be out there.   Maybe she should join a gym, get off work at a normal time, maybe spend some time….Tara shuddered at the idea of any couples options.  They seemed just as slimy as blind dates.  She knew it wasn’t her scene.  But what was?  Working alone for the rest of her life?  Watching the man she really wanted from afar as he married someone else?  That wasn’t a good option either. 
     
    She shook herself out of her mild depression, determined to figure out how to get over Max and find someone else.  There had to be a way, she thought determinedly.  Tara had only taken two steps away from the phone when it rang again. 
     
    S h e almost considered no t answering it, afraid it might be another friend asking about her blind date of the previous night or even worse, one of them trying to set her up with another man.  In the end, she knew she had to answer it.  She was just too curious not to know who was at the other end of the line.  ”Hello?” she said into the receiver.
     
    “Tara Phillips?” a masculine voice asked.
     
    “Yes.  Who’s calling?”
     
    “This is Greg Knight.  I believe we have a mutual acquaintance.  She told me to give you a call.”
     
    “Ah!  Cindy.”
     
    “Yes.  S h e’s a very nice person.   Very persuasive.  She told me to call you at work but then later, she called me back and asked me to call you at home instead.  I’m sure there’s a story there but I’m not sure what it is, ” he said with a laugh. 
     
    Tara had to give the man points for his laugh.  It was very nice.  Not strong and defined like Max’s but full of life and humor which was a good sign.  A very good sign.  Instead of coming up with a reason to ring off immediately, she hung on for a few moments, giving the man a chance, but not much of one, she knew.  “Yes, well, I hate to do this, but I don’t think I’m comfortable dating someone a friend of mine meets in a coffee shop.   Doesn’t it seem a little odd? ”
     
    “I agree ” he chuckled awkwardly .  “ It seems a little weird.  And normally, I would have turned her down flat and ignored her suggestion to call, but she said you were really wonderful and I should give you a call.  So how about if we meet for coffee in a very public place and introduce ourselves?   It could be a neutral place and no pressure. ”
     
    Tara hesitated for only a moment.  He sounded normal and very nice.  She had no idea what he looked like, but his voice sounded handsome.  She decided it couldn’t be worse than last night as long as they stayed in a public place.  And it was only a cup of coffee, she told herself.  Making a snap decision, she gave in.  “That sounds like a great idea.  Where and when?”
     
    “How about tomorrow morning at the same coffee shop I met Cindy this morning?  It is on the corner of Elm and Maple.  That way, if we can’t stand each other, we’ll just use the excuse that we need to get to work.”
     
    Tara laughed.  “Sounds perfect.  And I know the coffee shop you’re talking about.  I’ve met her there myself on the weekends. What time?”
     
    There was a slight pause before he said, “I have an early meeting tomorrow.  Can we make it early?  Say around seven o’clock ?  Or is that too early for you?”
     
    Tara was relieved.  It would mean she could still get to work