The Prince's Gamble by Caridad Piñeiro Read Free Book Online Page B

on the king-sized bed and faced Kathleen. “Where would you like your tea, miss?”
    Not wanting to make too much fuss, she said, “By the wing chair is fine.”
    Efficiently, the maid laid out the tea service on a bistro-sized table. Kathleen scrounged through the jacket she had tossed on a chair for a tip, but the maid waved her off.
    “Prince Alexander has taken care of everything.”
    “Thank you,” she offered, and experienced a host of mixed feelings yet again.
    Thoughtfulness or bribery?
    She opted not to make any judgment call. She needed to focus her energies on the data his security chief had provided. But sitting in the comfy chair having tea and a nice biscuit would certainly be much more inviting than the desk.
    Thoughtfulness, she decided.
    She poured herself some tea to let it steep and settled into the wing chair, her laptop comfortably placed on the lap desk the maid had brought in, and rested her feet on a small ottoman. Within minutes she had the spreadsheets open. She skimmed through them, confirming the opinion of the other agents who had previously reviewed the materials provided by Ivanov. Alexander , she reminded herself.
    There was no doubt money laundering going on. Whether it was tied to Vanessa’s disappearance remained to be seen.
    By the time Kathleen finished her analysis, fatigue had taken a powerful hold. She could barely keep her eyes open, and a quick glance at her watch showed that it was nearly three in the morning. She needed to get at least a few hours sleep so she could prepare for a morning meeting with Alexander and his staff, as well as for a briefing with her ADIC.
    As she stowed her computer, she nevertheless grabbed the photos Jim Reynolds had provided. The security chief had identified the women pictured in them as possible participants in the laundering activities. Climbing into bed, Kathleen took a moment to review each photo carefully and commit their features to memory. She tried to recall if she had seen any of them earlier that night, but didn’t think she had.
    Tossing the photos to the far side of the immense bed, Kathleen turned off the lights and lay back against her pillows. With the curtains drawn, the room was incredibly dark, and exceedingly lonely due to its size.
    She was tempted to turn on the television, but after the noise on the casino floor, she needed peace and quiet. She turned to gaze out the expansive windows but realized the maid must have closed the curtains.
    A remote control sat on the nightstand beside her. She recollected what the bellhop had mentioned earlier when he’d brought in her bags. Snagging the remote, she pointed it at the windows and pushed a button. Slowly the curtains slid open to reveal the lively colors of the casinos, the late night stragglers along the boardwalk, and to the east, the dark expanse of the ocean.
    It must be windy. Whitecaps tipped the waves as they rushed to shore. Watching them, her drowsiness grew until she slipped her eyes closed and drifted off into dreams…
    Alexander was waiting for her there, dressed as he’d been earlier that night, the dark suit a perfect foil for his midnight hair and glacial blue eyes. A carefree, welcoming smile lightened his intense features, and her heart skipped a beat.
    He held out his hand, inviting her to join him. Almost daring her to forget responsibility and honor to explore her attraction.
    Kathleen would never do that in real life, but in her dreams…
    Definitely worth the gamble.

Chapter Six
    Alexander liked waking to the first rays of dawn sneaking past the horizon and brightening the midnight blue of the ocean with their light. He enjoyed the wide open views from his windows and the endless expanse of sky and sea. Sometimes he imagined himself flying free into that vastness, unburdened by anything that would drag him down to earth.
    He flipped onto his back and pillowed his head on one hand, lazing in bed as he allowed himself that fantasy. To be free of the