The Prince's Texas Bride by Leanne Banks

times,” she said. “Bourbon, orange juice, cherry liquor…and champagne.”
    He lifted an eyebrow, but grabbed the bourbon from the second shelf. The bottle was dusty. “Prissy drink.”
    â€œMaybe,” she said. “But if you drink it, too, you can always say you’ve had a Texas Rose.”
    Stefan paused as he pulled out a chilled can of orange juice and met her gaze. “I’ve never needed to embellish my successes.”
    â€œThere’s always a first,” she returned and pulled her long bangs behind her ear.
    Her ears were naked except for silver studs. It struck him that he would love to see her dripping with Chantaine’s royal family’s jewels…and nothing else. He felt himself grow hard and ground his teeth. On impulse he mixed two drinks at once, then poured the liquid into two glasses filled with ice. Walking from behind the bar, he gave Eve her glass and lifted his. “To a Texas Rose,” he said, “transplanted to Chantaine.”
    She clicked his glass with hers and took a sip. “Not bad for a prince,” she said.
    Stefan resisted the urge to seduce her to lie down on one of those white couches and make wild, crazy love with her. “Let’s go outside, Madamoiselle Texas Rose,” he said and guided her to the balcony again.
    They stood at the balcony and she sipped her drink, the wind lifting her hair from her shoulders. Stefan slid his arm around her waist. “You’re homesick,” he said. “What do you miss most?”
    â€œYou weren’t supposed to notice,” she said, giving a soft smile as she looked at him. “I was trying not to let it show.”
    â€œYou didn’t answer my question. What do you miss most?” he asked.
    â€œThe familiarity, my aunt, barbecue. This isn’t my turf,” she said.
    â€œIt will be,” he said. “It won’t take long. Chantaine is small compared to Texas.”
    â€œBut complex and still very foreign to me,” she said.
    â€œThat will change soon enough.”
    â€œIf you say so,” she said.
    The doubt in her voice surprised him. She was usually so confident, so ready to come back at him. “What made you question your ability?”
    â€œToday shook me a little,” she confessed.
    â€œFranz?” he said and gave a short laugh. “He’s a necessary nuisance. This won’t be your last run-in with him.”
    She made a face. “I’d like it to be. I didn’t know whether I would be staying or going.”
    â€œYou’re too expensive to let go,” he said.
    â€œI feel so much better now,” she said in a dry tone.
    â€œYou’re good at what you do. You’re just not accustomed to the way our press works. Just don’t talk to them until you learn the ropes.”
    â€œWho’s going to teach me the ropes? Franz?” she asked with dread in her voice.
    â€œNo. My assistant or me. You can always call him,” he said. “You can always call me.” He couldn’t remember when he’d told any other woman such a thing.
    The band eased into a slow, sensual tune. Stefan’s hands itched to touch her in ways he knew wouldn’t happen tonight. “Dance?” he asked, setting down his glass on one of the tables.
    Meeting his gaze, she let him take her glass and do the same with his. Then she walked into his arms, and Stefan sighed at the sensation of her body close to his, where she belonged. He drank in the subtle spice and sweet combination of her scent. Her silky hair skimmed his jaw and her breasts brushed against his chest with each movement.
    Holding her eased something inside him at the same time he felt need stretch inside him. He tried to ignore the need and focus on how good she felt. For a full moment, the only sounds were of the sultry song, their hushed breaths and in the background, ocean waves rolling into the surf.
    â€œHave you ever had