breaking their contract far more than he liked. It was one thing to play a role, but a part of him didn’t feel like he was pretending anymore. “Do I get to see you walk away the same?”
“Excellent idea,” Victor agreed. With her back still to her coach, she crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Daniel.
He grinned. “Go on. One more pass and I think you’ve got the hang of it.”
Exhaling a long breath, she balanced the encyclopedia on her head again and pivoted a slow turn on the ball of her foot. Daniel glanced at Victor and found the man watching her every step nearly as hard as he was. The dress flowed around her legs. His gaze skimmed upward, her ass didn’t rock from side to side, but it didn’t have to. The almost dainty movements gave it a far more provocative sway.
His chest tightened as she reached Victor and paused, her posture near perfect. Holding his breath, he waited for the coach’s judgment.
Victor gave her a brief nod. “Acceptable. Tomorrow, we will practice with the taller heels.”
“That’s it?” Daniel frowned. “You don’t tell her great job, give her an applause, just a clipped ‘acceptable’?” She deserved a reward, she’d been in here with the man all afternoon, walking, walking, walking.
They both stared at him, Alyx in surprise and Victor with a bemused expression. “Very well. Why don’t you take her out to dinner this evening? Somewhere on the beach, a quiet place. That will give you a chance to reward her properly.”
“Okay. I will. You looked beautiful, Alyx. Very graceful. Would you allow me to take you out to dinner? We can escape all the rules and—”
Victor cleared his throat. “Actually, it will not be an escape from the rules. It will be your first opportunity to dine in public and we should take full advantage of the intimate situation.”
Alyx ducked her head, catching the encyclopedia. “Of course we should.”
Instead of rewarding her, he’d just created more work. Daniel sighed. Still, Cinnabars was a lovely beachfront bistro and restaurant. They could eat on the deck, enjoy the ocean breeze and, if he called ahead, he could ask the restaurant to give them some privacy. He could salvage the situation.
“You’re ready, Your Highness,” Victor encouraged her in a quiet voice. “We’ll pick out the perfect dress and shoes. Then all you have to remember is to walk with grace, hold hands and enjoy your meal.”
“Absolutely.” But her tight smile suggested she didn’t share his confidence.
“I’ll take care of the arrangements.” Daniel straightened. “Be sure to take a break around three and you can nap if you like.” He ignored Victor’s raised eyebrows. The man was brilliant, but he was also a slave driver. “The car will pick us up at six.”
“Okay.”
The tension tightening the corners of her mouth relaxed and Daniel headed back to his home office. He shut the computer on the program and picked up the phone.
First night out in public or not, he planned for it to be special.
“Christian.” He greeted the host by name when the man answered the phone. “Daniel Voldakov here, I need to make some arrangements for a very special dinner this evening...”
Chapter Ten
Alyx smoothed her hand over the dress. It was pure white, a color she would never have—and hadn’t—chosen for herself. The strapless gown cupped her breasts and lifted them in a fashion that was both sexy and modest. The drape in the front fell to her knees while the fuller skirt in the back skimmed her ankles. Thank God the silver shoes wrapped around her calves to create a longer leg illusion.
She left her hair down, preferring to have some sort of cover for her bare shoulders. Glimpsing Victor’s critical expression in the mirror, his small smile gave her confidence a boost. “Very nice. It’s chaste, sweet, and begs the public to wonder more.”
“No jewelry?” Surprise flooded her. After all, Victor had entered with four different
“Excellent idea,” Victor agreed. With her back still to her coach, she crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Daniel.
He grinned. “Go on. One more pass and I think you’ve got the hang of it.”
Exhaling a long breath, she balanced the encyclopedia on her head again and pivoted a slow turn on the ball of her foot. Daniel glanced at Victor and found the man watching her every step nearly as hard as he was. The dress flowed around her legs. His gaze skimmed upward, her ass didn’t rock from side to side, but it didn’t have to. The almost dainty movements gave it a far more provocative sway.
His chest tightened as she reached Victor and paused, her posture near perfect. Holding his breath, he waited for the coach’s judgment.
Victor gave her a brief nod. “Acceptable. Tomorrow, we will practice with the taller heels.”
“That’s it?” Daniel frowned. “You don’t tell her great job, give her an applause, just a clipped ‘acceptable’?” She deserved a reward, she’d been in here with the man all afternoon, walking, walking, walking.
They both stared at him, Alyx in surprise and Victor with a bemused expression. “Very well. Why don’t you take her out to dinner this evening? Somewhere on the beach, a quiet place. That will give you a chance to reward her properly.”
“Okay. I will. You looked beautiful, Alyx. Very graceful. Would you allow me to take you out to dinner? We can escape all the rules and—”
Victor cleared his throat. “Actually, it will not be an escape from the rules. It will be your first opportunity to dine in public and we should take full advantage of the intimate situation.”
Alyx ducked her head, catching the encyclopedia. “Of course we should.”
Instead of rewarding her, he’d just created more work. Daniel sighed. Still, Cinnabars was a lovely beachfront bistro and restaurant. They could eat on the deck, enjoy the ocean breeze and, if he called ahead, he could ask the restaurant to give them some privacy. He could salvage the situation.
“You’re ready, Your Highness,” Victor encouraged her in a quiet voice. “We’ll pick out the perfect dress and shoes. Then all you have to remember is to walk with grace, hold hands and enjoy your meal.”
“Absolutely.” But her tight smile suggested she didn’t share his confidence.
“I’ll take care of the arrangements.” Daniel straightened. “Be sure to take a break around three and you can nap if you like.” He ignored Victor’s raised eyebrows. The man was brilliant, but he was also a slave driver. “The car will pick us up at six.”
“Okay.”
The tension tightening the corners of her mouth relaxed and Daniel headed back to his home office. He shut the computer on the program and picked up the phone.
First night out in public or not, he planned for it to be special.
“Christian.” He greeted the host by name when the man answered the phone. “Daniel Voldakov here, I need to make some arrangements for a very special dinner this evening...”
Chapter Ten
Alyx smoothed her hand over the dress. It was pure white, a color she would never have—and hadn’t—chosen for herself. The strapless gown cupped her breasts and lifted them in a fashion that was both sexy and modest. The drape in the front fell to her knees while the fuller skirt in the back skimmed her ankles. Thank God the silver shoes wrapped around her calves to create a longer leg illusion.
She left her hair down, preferring to have some sort of cover for her bare shoulders. Glimpsing Victor’s critical expression in the mirror, his small smile gave her confidence a boost. “Very nice. It’s chaste, sweet, and begs the public to wonder more.”
“No jewelry?” Surprise flooded her. After all, Victor had entered with four different
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