Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5) by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online Page A

Hotel. “The bodyguards outside and inside are a bit…off-putting, though.”
    She had easily recognized three of Alexandre’s bodyguards outside the restaurant, as they no doubt knew her, although none of them acknowledged the fact. Three more of his men were standing in the reception area as the two women handed in their coats, the bodyguards’ expressions watchful, eyes alert for any danger. As if they expected some knife-wielding maniac to storm into the restaurant and attack Alexandre.
    Stazzi wondered how Alexandre coped with living in such a goldfish bowl every day. Used to it, she supposed, having no doubt lived this way since birth. It would drive her nuts to have bodyguards dogging her every move—
    She forgot all about them, and their reason for being there, as she and Lissa followed the maître d’ into the main part of the restaurant and she immediately saw Alexandre as he stood up from a table situated—deliberately?—in the far corner of the room.
    She could barely breathe as she took in his appearance in a black evening suit and white silk shirt, the overhead chandelier giving a slight copper sheen to his black hair, those intense green eyes watching her every move as she walked toward him.
    “Stand up, idiot,” Alexandre instructed Ash as the other man remained sprawled in his chair on the opposite side of the table.
    “They aren’t here yet,” Ash dismissed uninterestedly.
    “Almost,” Alexandre hissed under his breath.
    The other man shrugged. “You’re the one who wants to get laid, not me.”
    Alexandre drew in a sharp breath, knowing it was true but resenting hearing Ash talk about Anastazia in that way. “You’re such an asshole.”
    “Takes one to know one,” Ash taunted.
    “Will you stand the fuck up!”
    “I don’t think ruling princes are allowed to use that sort of language.”
    “This ruling prince has known you for too many years to care. Now stand the fuck up!”
    “Remember, this was your idea, not mine.” Ash finally rose slowly to his feet.
    Yes, it was, and Ash had made no secret of his displeasure when Alexandre told him he had invited the two women to join them for dinner this evening. No doubt Ash’s plans for the evening had involved going on to some nightclub after dinner, where the two men would take their pick of the women there.
    Alexandre forgot all about his friend’s bloody-mindedness as Anastazia reached the table. She looked beautiful in a clinging black gown that finished several inches above her knees, left her shoulders bare, and revealed the soft swell of her breasts. Her long black hair flowed like silk over those bared shoulders as she smiled at him, her eyes that cool turquoise blue of a mountain lake, a red gloss emphasizing the fullness of her lips.
    “We’ve met before, I believe, Miss Carmichael.” Ash’s voice was a low rumble once the maître d’ had seated the women between the two men at the round table, the man having lingered only long enough to fill the ladies’ champagne glasses before leaving.
    “I remember,” she acknowledged noncommittally. “Lissa, this is Prince Alexandre and his associate Asher Knight. My best friend and flatmate, Lissa Forsythe.”
    Alexandre was barely aware of acknowledging the redhead as he and Ash resumed their seats, his attention completely focused on Anastazia.
    “And what do you do, Mr. Knight?” Lissa prompted to break the tense silence that had fallen over the table.
    “This and that,” he answered dismissively. “You?”
    Alexandre was going to kill Ash if he didn’t stop behaving like a complete dick.
    “I’m a travel agent,” Lissa answered stiffly.
    “Really?” Ash sounded even less impressed, if that was possible. “So you’re the person I call if I want to book an airline ticket?” He made no effort to hide his derision.
    “Somehow I doubt that,” the redhead replied through gritted teeth.
    “Oh, and why is that?”
    She gave him an insincere smile. “I tend to pass