His Royal Prize by Katherine Garbera Page B

control.”
    “Sounds like you are taking to running the airline just as your father hoped.”
    “Please don’t refer to him as my father, Edmond. You and I both know that Malcolm was little more than a sperm donor.”
    “Of course,” Edmond said.
    Geoff knew the older man wanted to say more—he could hear it in Edmond’s voice. But to him, Malcolm wasn’t a father. He had a mother and two great sisters. His family was complete without Malcolm.
    “If that’s all.”
    “For now,” Edmond said and hung up the phone.
    Geoff put on his Hugo Boss suit with a dark blue striped shirt and a yellow tie. His handmade Italian loafers fit perfectly and before he walked out the door, he glanced in the mirror, turning around to look at his backside.
    He shook his head. Just because Amelia said she liked it.
    He put his mobile phone in his pocket. His housekeeper was just coming out of the kitchen as he walked in.
    “Good morning, Mr. Devonshire,” Annie said.
    “Good morning. I will not be home for dinner tonight,” he said. “Will you alert the chef?” On thenights when he was home for dinner, Annie made sure he had a hot meal waiting for him.
    “Very well, sir. And this weekend?”
    “I will be going out of town,” he said. He wanted to take Amelia away from the city. “I need the house in Bath prepared.”
    “I will see to it. Do you need meals there?” she asked.
    “Just make sure the kitchen is stocked and I will take care of it.”
    “You will?”
    He arched one eyebrow at her.
    “I’m just remembering the smoky mess the last time you ‘took care of it,’” she said.
    Annie was cheeky, which was why he liked her. She was his mother’s age but still had a sparkle in her eyes and enjoyed life. “I was planning to grill.”
    “Good idea.”
    “I’m planning a house party so make sure we have enough food for at least ten,” he said.
    He left his home with the feeling that everything was right in his world, despite the warning from Edmond. He knew that at the end of the day no matter how much Edmond and Malcolm wanted him to avoid scandal, the bottom line would determine the winner of the Devonshire will. And he wasn’t going to let anyone give him an ultimatum involving Amelia Munroe. He wanted her, and he sure as hell wasn’t giving her up.

Seven
    A melia dressed in the classic Chanel black suit that put Coco on the map and walked out of her apartment building. She’d straightened her black hair into a classic Audrey Hepburn updo and put on a pair of large, round sunglasses.
    She’d thought about this outfit long and hard before leaving her apartment, trying to come up with the perfect elegant, low-key ensemble. She breezed past Tommy at the entrance, feeling like a kid who was sneaking out unnoticed when he didn’t even glance twice at her.
    At the corner, she hailed a cab to the Everest Air offices. Her iPhone buzzed, letting her know she had a text message.
    She loved the iPhone function that made the text messages into a conversation. This message was from Bebe and was typical of her friend.
     
    Bebe: How was last night?
    Amelia: Nice. Will tell you later when we have drinks.
    Bebe: No way. I want the story behind that kiss. It looked like it was more than nice.
     
    Amelia realized that she had no idea how to describe what was happening between her and Geoff. She really didn’t want to, either. Everything was new and fresh between them and she wanted to keep it to herself for a while.
    But the published photo had made that impossible. It was something that she’d never considered before. Living her life in front of the camera had made sense for the young woman she had been, but the woman she was becoming might appreciate some privacy.
     
    Amelia: Can’t chat now. Let’s talk later.
    Bebe: Is he with you?
    Amelia: Not now. I’m on my way to meet him.
    Bebe: TTYL
     
    Amelia resisted typing in text language because she loved words and it made her crazy to see things like gr8. She just