Page 1 of The Prince Who Loved Me

Chapter 1

Brandi’s shivering could either be from South Carolina’s February temperature or the hot anticipation of what was behind door number one. She raised her hand and knocked, the sound echoing down the hotel corridor. Andy had been traveling for over a week and had promised her an extra special Valentine’s Day to make up for his absence.

It was definitely the anticipation.

The door opened and revealed not the expected man, but a stunning woman wearing a stunning sheer red silk robe and a stunning smile, as if someone had delivered a beautifully-wrapped present with bows and balloons.

“You must be Brandilynn Clayton.” She purred the name and opened the door wider. Her dark hair brushed her shoulders and was pulled back on one side with a sparkling barrette. “Andy was right. You’re gorgeous. Please. Come in.”

Andy hadn’t mentioned hanging out with another couple. Brandi crossed the threshold, letting her weekend bag slide to the floor as she glanced around the suite, expecting her boyfriend to come out of a bedroom, a welcoming expression on his handsome face. The galley kitchen to her right was empty, as was the balcony visible through the sliding glass doors. Her body heated up immediately inside her poofy jacket, but she wasn’t about to take it off. Or kick off her sexy but uncomfortable high-heeled purple shoes. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“I’m Loretta. Come in, sit down. Let me fix you a drink.”

It was barely after breakfast, but Brandi followed Loretta into the sitting area where she went to the wine bottles placed on the desk. Her robe swished around her ankles, and the outline of a negligee was clearly visible through the thin material. And other things were clearly visible under that.

Andy had made the weekend seem intimate. Romantic. And all about her. It had been a refreshing change from her previous relationships.

And that was the point. After spending a lifetime changing herself to fit someone else’s ideal, she was now discovering who she was and what she wanted. Since Andy traveled so much, she needed this time to figure out if he was her ideal.

Plus this was her vacation. Away from managing the whiskey distillery and helping out at the family Inn, away from having to meet the needs of others, away from responsibility. She was here for fun, frolicking, and getting naked.

With Andy.

And only Andy.

“Are you his…” Brandi trailed off, hoping Loretta would fill in the blank, but she remained silent, a seductive grin lifting her red lips. “Sister?”

“I’ll let him explain. He ran out for a minute and had hoped to be back before you got here. I told him not to go.” Loretta poured a glass of wine, her wedding band clinking against the glass as she held it. “Do sit down. It wasn’t too chilly out, was it?”

Brandi didn’t move. “Not too bad.” She smoothed down her blonde hair, wondering why she’d bother to stop in the lobby restroom to touch up her makeup before coming to Andy’s room. And Loretta’s room. And whoever else was hiding behind door number two.

“My, you sure are pretty. Andrin told me about your eyes. How unusual.” Loretta handed her a glass of something white. “What’s it called? Hetocornea?”

“Heterochromia,” Brandi corrected automatically, resisting the urge to cover her one-half brown and green eye. It should have been a compliment, but something about this wholesituation was definitely off. Was this the sign she hadn’t been waiting for?

And Andrin? She hadn’t realized that was his name. Why would he keep something like that from her? She had thought it was Andrew. And with a last name like Conners, it explained why she could find so little information on social media.

She guessed Sebastien probably looked him up, too, but hadn’t found anything. He didn’t think she knew, but some past boyfriends had broken up with her rather suddenly after she had mentioned their names to her long-time friend.

“This is very nice and all, but I think I’ll wait for And…rin in the lobby.” Though she would have liked to relax after her flight and cab to the hotel.

“I did tell him he should be here when you arrive, but he insisted he wouldn’t be long. Can I get you some strawberries?”

Brandi practically jogged to her bag. The door opened before she could lift it, revealing Andy – Andrin – whoever on the other side.

“You’re here!” His smile crinkled his eyes and he reached over to embrace her, but Brandi danced out of his reach.

“So are you.” She turned into the room and gestured to Loretta, who was lounging on the couch, her robe opened to her thigh. “So is she.”

“Yes.” He bustled into the room and put the bag he carried on the counter. Crumbs, he looked good, in a flannel jacket with a pair of jeans. His face was reddened from the cold, his normally straight hair all windblown and careless. He was a shade shorter than her own five eight, and she had been drawn in by his relaxed casual look on the dating app and the air of confidence he exuded when they met.

It was that confidence that now had her questioning herself. She had been so careful when choosing him on the app. Apparently, she couldn’t be trusted to find a boyfriend on herown.

He presented her with a bouquet of flowers wrapped in cellophane. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“You can just put those down.” Her gift to him was a game of kinky truth or dare, but she wasn’t about to give it to him. And the receipt was lying on her dresser at Fountenoy Hall.

Andy fixed his soft brown eyes on her and gestured to the sofa. “Please, sit down. I can explain everything.”