One Kiss Read Online Free Page A

fast enough to suit her, she snatched him from the floor and carried him outside. “Mother, have as much duck as you want. I’ve already eaten my fill.”
    “All right, dear. Thank you.”
    Molly shut the door and tossed Robert on the grass. “How could you spy on me?” she said, glaring at him.
    Robert drew himself up. “Spying? I was watching you rather blatantly.”
    In the moonlight, his true form was clearer. Some spells gained strength in the darkness of night, but this curse seemed to be the opposite. He was stunning, more so than any of the princes or high lords she’d seen during her tenure as Princess Serenia’s maid. Molly could make out the incredible breath of his shoulders and towering height of his powerful frame. Underneath the expensive silk and supple leather, his body was lean, the muscles honed from years of physical exertion. Her cheeks suddenly felt unusually warm. Had she been less experienced and jaded, she might have melted at the sight of him, promised to do anything for him.
    If Princess Serenia could see him like this, she would kiss him in an instant and claim him as her own. How ironic—it was Molly the maid who could see his true form, yet she wasn’t the one he wanted.
    Because she wasn’t royal. Or a princess.
    She put aside the kernel of resentment at his snobbishness. What else had she expected? The highborn were capricious and shallow, not to mention selfish, and royals most of all. What she wanted was the money he had promised, the money that would give her financial freedom and security.
    When she remained quiet, he said, “Hopping along in plain view, I tell you. It’s not my fault you didn’t notice.”
    “What do you want? I thought you were going to wait for Princess Serenia’s walk tomorrow.”
    “I was curious about you. You said you would help me, and it struck me that I should make sure of the kind of person you are.”
    “It’s too late to worry about that, isn’t it? You already gave me the money.”
    “Ah, but now that I know where you live, I can take it back if you break your promise.”
    Fat luck with that. She’d hide
her
money where he could never find it. “Don’t worry, I won’t,” she said between clenched teeth. “I’m the one who’s worried you’ll try to rob me blind.”
    He drew back. “I did give you my word.”
    “You aren’t the only one to give his word…and then employ trickery to weasel out of the deal.”
    “What?”
    “Just today, before you showed up, there was a prince who came to court Princess Serenia. He offered to give me a pretty gold ring he had on his finger if I would help him woo the princess. I told him what I told you, and do you know what he did?”
    “I confess I do not.”
    “He tried to give me the ring in front of the princess, who promptly took it for herself since it was of course far too valuable for someone like me.” Anger spiked at the memory, making her hands shake. She clenched them. “The prince merely shrugged and said it was my fault I couldn’t keep it.” Fury coiled in her belly, hot and acidic. The prince had never intended to pay her as promised.
    Ah well. It’s not as though you could wear something as precious as that ring. It’d look outlandish on your hand, and with that uncomely cotton dress.
Prince John had said it with a shrug and cruel, laughing eyes. He’d calculated everything from the beginning, and had never had any desire to keep his word, that horrible man. Her station in life wasn’t something she’d chosen, anymore than he’d had to exert himself to be born a prince.
    Robert croaked softly. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    She shrugged, trying not to let him thaw her. She couldn’t afford to think of anything but her ultimate goal.
    Words were cheap. So was sentiment. She didn’t want either from Robert. She simply wanted the payment he’d promised. That way she’d be free of Princess Serenia and the job she had to endure to make ends meet.
    * * *
     
    Robert