Free The Playboy Prince (Piacere Princes, Book One) by Lyla Payne Page B

a bang-up job with the event, he was glad he hadn’t been lazy.  
    The text tone on his phone went off once, then again, but he ignored it until he was ready to face Maggie—as ready as he could be—and had taken the short walk over to the structure that housed their workroom. He requested coffee and croissants from the waiting servant, then thought twice and asked for tea as well, before pulling his phone out of his pocket.
    Both messages were from Valla, and each contained enough suggestion to make a weaker man cave and go running.  
    Salvy closed the screen and put the phone away without answering, wishing to God his stomach would stop churning like a schoolboy’s as he stood in front of the girl he’d just asked to prom.
    Then the servant returned with not only his breakfast, but with the news that Magdalena Rossi had arrived.

    “So you’re basically saying that you want to play this whole fairytale theme to the hilt, old-fashioned breeches and ascots for the men, ball gowns with petticoats and plenty of tulle for the ladies?” Maggie scribbled in her notebook while she verified Salvy’s wishes, not raising her head to make eye contact.
    The lack of ability to read her face frustrated him, but Salvy merely waited. Magdalena Rossi was not the type of woman he could push around—he knew that from experience. Instead, he leaned over and poured her a cup of tea with a spot of cream and one lump of sugar.
    “Would you like a cup of tea?”
    She looked up, her brown eyes wary as she glanced over at the cup. “Sure.”
    “One lump, a bit of cream still the way you take it?”
    “I do, though I try to forgo the sugar these days.” She bit her lower lip, as though trying to stop a smile. “I can’t believe you remember how I like my tea.”
    “I haven’t addled my brain just yet,” he replied, passing her the cup. Their fingers brushed as they made the exchange and Salvy almost growled with the softness of it. “Besides, we spent a lot of time together. There’s not much I’ve forgotten.”
    “Thank you for the tea,” she said softly, eyes dropping back to her notebook.
    Shit. He was an idiot. It sounded like he was still bragging over reading her diary all those years ago, when he most definitely was not. He still kicked himself for the invasion of privacy that had led to his panicked reaction, and that the combination had driven her from his life.
    “You’re welcome. And it sounds like you’re clear on the concepts.” He paused, feeling his way along. Part of him wanted to leave it at that, to let her lead their interaction, but it killed him that she didn’t feel as if she could trust him. Not that he blamed her. “Will your father be okay with it? If you need more money, don’t hesitate to ask.”
    “He’ll be happy to serve at your pleasure, Your Highness, as ever.”
    He groaned in his head. Your Highness. Never a good sign, unless a woman was tied up and playing the loyal subject. “Is there any way you could start with me this morning, since I’ve made myself available, and then move on to Elisa and Nico this afternoon? She’ll be here after school.”
    “I have your measurements on file,” she started, red splotches blossoming on her cheeks.
    He’d struggled to breathe properly since she walked into the room ten minutes ago, and seeing her flustered this way stirred his dick between his legs.  
    That would have to change before she whipped out the tape measure.
    No. Stop thinking about whipping. And your penis.  
    “It’s been a few years. I’d appreciate an update. If you don’t mind.” It took all of his strength not to reach out and touch her, not to tip up her chin so he could look into her eyes. See what she was thinking.
    When Maggie did meet his gaze, a mask of professionalism greeted him. “Of course. We can get started now, if you’d like, and then I can work on some sketches for the royal family. The staff will be able to start later this week.”
    “Where do