Free Princess Wanted - The Complete Book Set: An Alpha Billionaire Prince Trilogy by Autumn Star Page A

thought tingled in his brain. Surely he could find a card game or a pool hall or something? Then he would be able to take Jody somewhere worthy of a girl like her!
    Or he would lose the money and be able to take her nowhere.
    It was not a thought that had ever occurred to Chris before, but there did seem to be a downside to gambling. Better to keep hold of the money he had and use it to make Jody happy. Just the thought of seeing her smile made him involuntarily smile. Quickly he reminded himself that he was going to see her today to get a better look at Silmarillion’s form. Obviously he had to keep Jody onside too or the whole enterprise would be for nothing, but the horse was the important thing. And yet he could not help smiling every time he thought of her.
    He heard the clip-clop of hooves on tarmac and looked up to see a horse and rider approaching. And not just any horse: it was Silmarillion. And not just any rider: Jody.
    Grinning from ear to ear, Chris hurried to meet her. But before he had reached her he could tell that something was wrong. The smile he had looked forward to seeing was pointedly absent, in fact it looked as if she had been crying.
    “Jody, what’s…?”
    Jody dismounted abruptly and passed the horse’s reins to Chris.
    “Here, your Highness. You want him? He’s all yours.”
    “What?” This seemed like ridiculous good fortune, but Chris wasn’t enjoying it.
    “Paperwork’s in the saddlebag. And here’s your phone.” She handed him the phone.
    “Jody, I don’t under…”
    “You missed a call, by the way,” said Jody, her voice level and blank, concreting over whatever emotions boiled beneath the surface. “Your father. He’s very worried about you abusing the trust of some American girl just to get your hands on a horse.”
    Chris stared open mouthed. Words failed him.
    “I guess at least you weren’t lying about being a Prince.” The cracks were now showing in Jody’s façade, tears seeping through. “Anyway, you got what you wanted. Never come near me again.”
    She stalked away.
    “Jody!” Chris yelled after her but didn’t follow. What could he say?
    He had won. But winning had never felt like this.

Chapter Five - the Race
    T here are administrative concerns in transporting a horse between countries, which suited Chris, who could not quite bear to leave Texas yet. Right now, he could not think of any compelling reason to leave the bar stool on which he was perched, nursing a drink. Why wasn’t he happy? He had got exactly what he had come for, and had done so in far quicker time than he had anticipated. Of course he had rather hurt Jody, and for that he did feel bad, but there was more to it. Bad as he felt for hurting Jody, he felt just as bad for losing her. It wasn’t just the thought of her tear-stained face that upset him, it was the thought of never seeing that face again.
    “Drinks all around!” The booming voice of someone luckier than him rang through the bar. “I hit the jackpot!”
    “How’s that Pete?” a less effusive voice asked.
    “I’m marrying money,” the man called Pete replied. “Actually, I’m marrying a whole damn stable full of money. All I gotta do is play the dutiful husband a few years till old man Crane pops it and BANG! All mine.”
    Chris head shot up.
    “You’re marrying little Jody?” asked one voice.
    “Not so ‘little’,” commented another. “She’s filled out nice.”
    “Yes she has,” said Pete with relish. “Can you think of a nicer to earn yourself a few million? And if I get bored there’s plenty of other tail about the place to pass the time.”
    Thoughts bludgeoned their way through Chris’s mind. On the rebound from Chris, Jody had gone back to Pete. Which might have been a good move had he not turned out to be… well, exactly the same as Chris. The girl knew how to attract the sons of bitches.
    But if he was exactly as bad as Chris then…
    Chris finished his drink and strode across to