Part 10 (2/2)

He followed the inconsistencies into the living room and came to a dead stop at what he saw. A wicked smile unfurled on his face. ”Let me guess. I've been a bad, bad boy?”

She looked at him with a pouty yet serious look. ”The way I hear it you're breaking laws all over the place.”

”Am I under arrest?” The blonde pushed him down into a chair in the middle of the room. ”Aren't you going to read me my rights?”

She took out her nightstick and slammed it against the chair, making him jump. ”Well my name's Miranda and I have the rights to do whatever the h.e.l.l I want to.” She put a knee on the seat between his and leaned forward, popping open a few b.u.t.tons at his eye level. ”Does that work for you?”

He laughed. ”Yes ma'am.” She retreated to fiddle with his stereo in the corner. As the music started she removed her hat, threw it across the room, and began to strip.

Kat was running late. The event had been a nightmare and she couldn't even imagine seeing anyone tonight. But she wasn't about to stay at home it had been ten days since Marco had showed up on her doorstop and she wasn't about to be there. Outsider or not, she was going to find that man a wife if it was the last thing she ever did. She couldn't see Sebastian without was.h.i.+ng the ghastly day, and layer of white wine sauce, away though. If she hadn't missed that bus she'd have been exactly on time, something that would have annoyed her anyway. These extra fifteen minutes were killing her.

She breezed past the hired muscle in the lobby with an offhand smile. One of them gave her a funny look. She knew that look guilt, amus.e.m.e.nt, enjoyment. Sebastian was home all right, but what he was doing there she didn't think would impress. As she approached she heard the loud music through the door. Forehead ruffled in confusion, she walked in.

”You've got to be kidding me?!” Kat burst. Not that she was heard over the strains of Katy Perry's suggestive ditty playing or seen through the blonde's spastic gyrating. Slamming the door closed got both of their attentions.

”Kat?” the girl asked, stepping away from Sebastian. For a moment Kat's anger melted. It couldn't be.

”Oh my gosh Randi?!” She smiled and stepped forward. ”How are you? How's Mitch? I haven't seen you in forever.” They hugged quickly.

”Did not think this could get any better boy was I wrong,” Sebastian smirked.

Kat broke away and punched him in the shoulder, hard. ”What the h.e.l.l are you doing? I take your little black book so you decide to hire a stripper. She's not going to sleep with you, ya know.”

”That's true, I'm not,” Miranda said. She shot him a look of judgment, standing there in her bustier and fishnet stockings, and he couldn't take it.

”What are you yelling at me for? I didn't hire her.” The girls shared a look, the eye roll heavily implied. ”Seriously, I didn't. Why would I need to hire someone when I got you?” He winked at Kat and she shook her head, sticking a finger down her throat and pretending to gag.

”Kat, is this your fiance? I hope I didn't ”

Kat interrupted her before she could finish that thought. ”Him? No. I'm just here to help him get his act together.”

”Needs a lot of help. He enjoyed my dance a little too much if you know what I mean.”

”I'm still standing here.” Sebastian said with a grin. ”You, Officer Feelgood can you go call your boss to prove I didn't pay for your exquisite services and Kat here can take over the dancing duties.”

”I'll go make a call,” Miranda said with a hint of an att.i.tude at Kat's nod, grabbing her jacket and slipping into one of the bedrooms.

Kat and Sebastian were now alone together first time since opera night. From the look on Sebastian's face she knew exactly what he was thinking. ”Aren't you going to start dancing? I'm waiting for my show,” he murmured in her ear.

”Keep dreaming Casanova,” she said, mocking him, but still not able to meet his eyes. She wound the still wet strands of her hair into a bun instead. He made a tsk of disapproval which, besides the scar, was why she did it.

”But that's the punishment for running late.”

”I'll remember that the next time you're tardy.”

”And we were just getting to the good part. Didn't you listen to the song? She wanted to see my peac.o.c.k.”

”G.o.d sometimes you're so disgusting.” Kat walked away and dropped down on the couch.

”The peac.o.c.k is the national mascot of Sezynia. We take great pride in our ma.s.sive population and awe-inspiring plumage.” His wink, as he dropped down next to her, stopped her with a laugh.

”You know I can never decide are you a rebel, a cliche, or a cartoon character. You're most definitely a pig though.”

”Oink, oink baby,” he murmured, his hand boldly reaching for her knee. She slapped it away and he just grinned.

”Got it,” Miranda said, reentering the living room. ”Tab for this surprise bachelor party paid for with money wired from a Sezynian bank account.” Kat shot Sebastian her haughty and annoyed look with a raised brow. ”Name of Vladimir Petrescu.”

Sebastian's face shut down. The entertained expression melted away so quickly it looked like someone had taken an eraser to it, an etch-a-sketch given a quick shake. The next second he was off the couch, cussing rapidly in his native tongue as he paced the floor.

A startled look pa.s.sed between the girls. ”Who's Vladimir Petrescu?” Miranda asked as he lapped the room a handful of times.

”My uncle. Anton's father. Prince Vlad.”

”Why would he order you a stripper?” Kat asked.

”Only one reason,” Sebastian murmured. He walked over to the window and threw open the curtains. And there below were the cameras.

”Strippers actually.”

”What?” Sebastian asked, tearing his gaze from the window.

”Strippers. Plural. Orders were for a VIP surprise bachelor party. There's three more girls on the way, should be here in ten minutes when they said the other guests would arrive.”

”Is that common?” Kat looked confused.

”No. Kind of a weird request but he paid really well for it. And I know how to handle big crazy men if I have to so I was fine coming in alone first.” Kat and Miranda shared a look of understanding. Sebastian saw it but didn't have time to consider it.

”Can you call them off? Cancel it? I'll pay whatever just as long as they don't show up.”

”Yeah, I got it,” Miranda murmured, turning to make the call.

”What's going on?” Kat asked.

”I need Sergei,” he murmured.

”Where is he? I'll go get him.”

”He is in Sezynia. Flew back yesterday to organize and I can't even call him because over there it's the middle of the night. He's no good to me groggy.” He started talking rapidly in Sezynian again. Kat had to snap her fingers to get his attention.

”English please if you wouldn't mind.”

”Anton and I used to send each other strippers to celebrate things. It was a stupid thing we did in college. Prince Vlad was always reprimanding us for it, saying that if anyone found out how we spent our time we'd be disgraced. Threatening us that Baba Katya wouldn't approve. Now he's trying to disgrace me. Look how he set everything up! He probably has some scheme to get all the cameras up here too. Planning it when Sergei's out of town, nice touch. I'm screwed. I'm screwed.”

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