An Officer and a Princess Read Online Free Page A

reached up and touched a strand of her bright copper hair. “It’s a rinse. The directions said it would wash out in a couple of weeks. It’s part of my disguise.”
    â€œAnd what about those clothes? Where on earth did you get them?” His gray eyes glittered like hotmetal in the sunshine. “You look like…you look like…”
    â€œI look nothing like a princess,” she interrupted.
    â€œAnd that was the whole idea.” She frowned. She’d been so pleased at her selections, certain that her clothes would allow her to fit right into the crowd in the bar.
    â€œHalf the men in the room were ready to make a move on you,” he exclaimed, his eyes stormy seas of anger.
    She shrugged, surprised yet oddly pleased by this piece of information. “Really? But that’s good then. It means my disguise worked.”
    He eyed her ruefully. “Isabel, they probably thought you were a working woman and wondered what kind of fee you charged.”
    â€œYou mean they thought I was…I am…a hooker?” she squeaked and sank down on the edge of the bed. “Maybe I did overdo it a bit,” she admitted ruefully and looked down at her tiny skirt and midriff top. “But, at least it worked, nobody recognized me as a princess.” She flashed a smile in hopes of breaking the tension.
    He didn’t return the smile, but rather began to pace in front of her. Clad all in black, he looked like a dangerous panther seeking an escape route.
    Isabel waited for him to speak, knowing he wouldn’t until he had his thoughts in order. It was one of the things that had always driven her crazyabout him. Adam never did or said anything spontaneously.
    He finally stopped pacing and stood before her. “I won’t allow you to do this, Isabel.”
    She stood and narrowed her eyes, rebelling against the authoritative tone of his voice. “You won’t allow me to do this?” she asked.
    She stepped so close to him she could feel the heat radiating from his body, see the tiny silver flecks that gave his gray eyes a magnetic depth. “You forget, Adam. You aren’t my commanding officer anymore. You can’t stop me from doing this.”
    â€œThat’s true.” His gaze focused on her lips and suddenly the thought of the kiss they had shared filled her mind.
    Without her volition she licked her lips, her mouth unaccountably dry. “I intend to do this, Adam, with or without your help. Either you are with me or you are against me.”
    He took a step back from her and raked a hand through his short hair in obvious frustration. “You know I can’t walk out and leave you alone in this place.”
    She nodded, a sense of relief flooding through her. “Then you’re with me.”
    â€œYou’ve given me very little choice,” his voice was rich with irritation. “I’m with you on one condition,” he said. His gaze didn’t quite meet hers.“You promise me you won’t wear that outfit again. I don’t want to have to battle the wise guys in this place for your honor.”
    â€œAnd you would do that? Fight for my honor?” she teased.
    â€œOf course I would,” he replied instantly. “It’s my job to protect and serve the king and his family.”
    Isabel wasn’t sure why, but his answer disappointed her. He never forgot his position as a commanding officer in the Royal Edenbourg Navy. Just once, she wished he would forget their respective positions, forget duty and responsibility and meet her simply as a man meeting a woman.
    â€œDid you get some background information from Ben?” he asked.
    She nodded and reached for her duffel bag. Clothing spilled out onto the bed as she dug in the bottom for the papers that contained material they would need in their attempt to connect with Shane Moore’s associates.
    She pulled out the papers, stuffed the clothes back into the bag,