Courting His Royal Highness by Amy Hahn

mind could resist him? Chloe knew she couldn’t. Spending the next few weeks in seclusion with him at an eighty-acre estate in ritzy Scottsdale was going to send her hormones into overdrive. Big time.
    “Your pool lounging will have to wait.”
    “And why is that, Lester?”
    “Well, Max, you and Chloe are booked first-class on a flight to Phoenix tonight.”
    She couldn’t believe her ears. What? She was heading to Phoenix today, and with the Prince of Romalia as her companion? She wasn’t opposed to traveling, but she definitely wasn’t ready for this. She felt the heat of Max’s gaze, but refused to look in his direction.
    “Is there a problem, Chloe?”
    “No problem. I’m just surprised,” she whispered softly.
    She wasn’t about to complain. This show promised to be her big break into the business, but she couldn’t help but be a little irritated. After all, it would’ve been nice to have some time to pack and make arrangements for her cat. It had never occurred to her she would be leaving so soon. In fact, it had never occurred to her that she would leave California. She supposed she should’ve been prepared for the possibility. But she was new to this whole thing. And she had a feeling the surprises were just beginning.
    “This should be interesting,” Max chuckled as he reached for the electronic ticket Lester handed him.
    Chloe grabbed her own. “Why is that?”
    He shrugged, tucking the ticket into the inside pocket of his jacket. “I’ve never flown commercial.”
    She stared at him in disbelief. “Never?”
    “Nope.”
    “Miss Tanner, the prince has his own private jet,” explained Eric, “which is undergoing some repairs at the moment.”
    Chloe narrowed her eyes at the annoying man. He was treating her like a five-year-old, and she didn’t appreciate it.
    “It’ll be fun, Eric.”
    Eric shook his head. “I must object to this. He cannot travel this way. The repairs on Romalia One will be completed in a couple of days. They can go then.”
    Riding in a private jet sounded too good to be true to Chloe. So did first-class. She had never flown first-class before. Heck, she barely could afford a coach seat. The last time she’d traveled, really gone on vacation, was at the age of sixteen, when her entire family splurged and went to Walt Disney World. That had been a magical trip. She still remembered her first glimpse of Cinderella Castle. It still filled her with awe. She wondered if Max lived in a castle like that.
    Max held up a hand to ward off Eric’s objections. “Eric, you can fly out to Arizona on the jet when the repairs are fixed.”
    Eric opened his mouth, but Max stopped him before another word escaped.
    “No, Eric,” he said firmly. “The conversation is over.”
    Eric crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his employer. “Your family wouldn’t approve. I don’t approve.”
    Max sighed. “Let’s not go there, Eric. Drop it, okay?”
    Chloe sympathized with Max. Sometimes she wished her family participated more in her life. She missed them dreadfully and had thought about moving back to Minnesota many times; however, she enjoyed her freedom, her independence, and the ability to make decisions for herself. It sounded as if Max didn’t get to make his own decisions and had to have the constant approval from his advisor-friend Eric and his blue-blood family. Jeez, that sucked.
    Chloe made a mental note to call home before she left for Arizona to thank her parents for having enough confidence in her to let her be an adult, regardless of how many foolish mistakes she made. And she had made plenty, but she had learned a whole lot in the last ten years. And she’d learned it all on her own. It had not been an easy road, but it had been hers and hers alone.
    “A limo will be waiting for you Sky Harbor Internatioanl. It’ll take you to my friend’s estate and will be at your beck and call throughout your stay.”
    Max winked at Chloe. “Sounds like fun.”
    It