For King and Country by Geneva Lee Page A

look in the mirror as I finished my usual morning routine. But when I finally was forced to look up as I began applying the little bit of makeup I planned to wear, I discovered I was already flushed. I looked excited and slightly crazed. All in all, it actually didn’t look that terrible.
    Belle was making a racket in the kitchen by the time I joined her, still in my robe. She was dressed in tiny pajama bottoms and a nearly sheer tank top, and for a second, I wished I had her body—toned, athletic with perky breasts and defined abs. Despite running several days a week, I was curvy and slightly too tall. I’d been told more than once that my voluptuous figure had scared a boy off.
    She was cooking up a storm. There was already a plate of sausages and sliced tomatoes, and she was frying eggs next to a pot of what I suspected was beans.
    “Are you cooking for Philip?” I asked, amazed by the sheer amount of food she was readying.
    “I wanted to make sure you ate before your date,” she said, shooting me a wink. “It sounds like you’re going to need your strength.”
    “Don’t remind me.” I grimaced as I lifted the lid of the pot and discovered I’d been correct about my guess.
    Belle spun toward me, spatula pointed at my chest. “Uh-uh, Bishop. You are not going to psych yourself out.”
    I shrugged, grabbing a piece of English bacon and popping it into my mouth as I dropped onto a stool. “I already have. Remind me exactly what was I thinking again?”
    “You were thinking that you had a chance to screw one of the world’s sexiest and most powerful men,” she reminded me.
    When she said it like that, I nearly understood.
    “Clara, this is the opportunity of a lifetime,” she added.
    I raised an eyebrow at her. “Having sex with someone is the opportunity of a lifetime? Spoken like a true prostitute.”
    She stuck her tongue out at me and turned her attention back to the eggs. “Having sex with a prince is,” she said. “Remember when you were a little girl? Didn’t you want to be a princess?”
    “This is hardly the same thing.” I smirked at the thought. “My pretend play didn’t usually include the Kama Sutra .”
    “Didn’t you miss out then?” she said dryly. “Seriously, though, this is the closest you’ll probably ever come to living that fantasy. The thing no one admits is that we don’t give up our childish fantasies, we just accept they’re out of our reach. You’re an adult now, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to snag a prince. Or shag one, at least.”
    “You’re hopeless,” I said, “and I don’t mean a hopeless romantic.”
    “I’m a realist, darling. And a very real opportunity presented itself to you. Don’t back out now.”
    I hadn’t said anything about backing out, but I’d been thinking about it and obviously my best friend had caught on. No surprise there. “I’m just not sure that it’s a good idea. I’m not the type of girl that just screws around for fun.”
    That was the truth. I’d always been a girlfriend-type, even during my more experimental years. The last time I’d let a guy pick me up, it had been Daniel. I’d gone home with him hell-bent on finally going wild for a night and wound up stuck in a crappy relationship.
    “And how is that working out for you?” she asked. “Daniel treated you like shit. Relationships are overrated.”
    “Remind me to use that line in my bridesmaid’s toast.”
    “I’m in love with Philip,” she countered. “You weren’t in love with Daniel, and look how awful your relationship was. It’s a much better idea for you to keep this casual.”
    I threw my hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I wasn’t going to cancel anyway.”
    I didn’t add that part of me knew canceling on Alexander would be impossible. If I managed to do it, despite his insanely sexy voice, he’d find me. I got the impression he wasn’t the kind of man who took no for an answer. Not twice. And I used my one go at it.
    And