Unfaded Glory by Sara Arden

Barcelona.”
    She perked up like a tiny wren who’d spotted a succulent worm. The closer they got, the wider her eyes were. “It’s so beautiful, even from here. Are we just going to dock and walk into the city like we didn’t just escape pirates?”
    â€œYeah. Why not?” He shrugged and flashed a smirk. “Half of my job requires balls.” There was a slim chance there’d be some of Grisha’s men stationed at the port to watch for them, but he’d have to take that chance. He’d burn that bridge when he had to cross it.
    â€œExcuse me?” She arched a brow.
    â€œBalls. You know...guts? Half of it is fake it until I make it. I fake a lot of things a lot of the time. Most of the time, if I act like I know I belong, I’m not questioned.”
    â€œEven dressed like a guerilla from hell?”
    â€œEven then. We’ll get a taxi and have him drop us off a few blocks from the hotel. I’ll check in to the penthouse, if it’s available. You need a special key to get on to that floor and that will help with our security.”
    â€œFrom a stinky fisherman’s boat to a penthouse suite. This has been an adventure.”
    Her smile didn’t meet her eyes. He could see that she was scared. She’d have to be stupid not to be. Everything was uncertain, and it was likely the Russians were still after them. Even when she got to the States that was possible—even likely.
    â€œThat’s the way to look at it, Princess. An adventure.”
    He maneuvered the boat through the port, dodging larger ships and other crafts until he found an abandoned slip and docked.
    â€œYou ready to go?”
    She bit her lip and nodded.
    â€œJust think about the room service. It’s exquisite.”
    â€œI am hungry. I could eat a goat.”
    â€œI don’t think they have any goat.”
    â€œLamb?” she asked hopefully.
    â€œMost definitely.” He thought of the garlic-roasted lamb he’d had on his last trip. It had been so good his mouth watered even now. “But it’ll make your mouth stink like a dead—well, it will give you bad breath.” His comparison to a dead body wasn’t exactly fodder for royal ears.
    â€œGood to know. I’ll brush my teeth before I kiss anyone.”
    The idea of her kissing anyone but him didn’t sit well. Not at all. But it wasn’t his place to say anything about it.
    Things happened just as he’d said they would.
    They disembarked from the small boat and walked up the dock and through the marina and no one said a word to them. It was as if people did such things all the time. It wouldn’t be too long, though, before they found the boat and discovered its owners were nowhere near Barcelona. The boat would be impounded and dusted for prints; there would be an investigation.
    Although by then, Byron hoped they’d be long gone.
    He had no trouble getting a taxi, and it dropped them at the hotel. He always kept a variety of monies on him, and he had just enough euros to tip well without being overly generous.
    As soon as he walked into the hotel, the staff recognized him.
    â€œMr. Hale. What brings you back to Barcelona? Business or pleasure?” the desk clerk asked him in unaccented English.
    â€œPleasure. Most definitely.” When he noticed she was examining his attire, he said, “Cave exploration. Been wanting to do it since my first visit.”
    â€œI would have been happy to set that up for you.” She made a show of wetting her lips. “And anything else you need, Mr. Hale.”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind for my next trip.” He gave her an easy smile. Part of him wanted to take her up on it now. He could just bend her over the couch in the office and slake his lust. Something, anything, to ease his body before more hours of confinement with the beautiful but innocent princess.
    Except he wasn’t actually interested in anything