Chapter 858: Rafe’s Interest
As she stared at His Highness Prince Rafael Ignis, she understood exactly what Dora and Cai meant when they talked about the instant attraction thing. Holy hell. It was like she was a candle, and Rafe was the matchstick, striking her alight with even a fleeting touch.
The briefest brush of their hands had left her shaken, her nerves tingling like live wires. Her body was hyper-aware of his proximity, her mind a chaotic mess of thoughts she didn’t want to entertain. Bloody hell! Who carried that kind of magnetism, that ability to command attention and set hearts racing? It was practically unfair. How was it that random women weren’t sticking to him like magnets every time he walked into a room?
But Arabelle wasn’t about to fall into that same trap. Nope. She had more sense than that, or so she told herself. Sure, Dora and Cai had been swept off their feet by this whole "instant attraction" nonsense, but Arabelle had things to do—important things that didn’t involve mooning over some impossibly attractive prince with a smug grin.
She had goals, responsibilities, and not a single one of them involved losing her head over someone like him. Especially not a royal. Getting tangled up in that kind of drama was the last thing she needed.
And yet, it wasn’t easy to ignore him. That maddening smug smile of his made her blood simmer, not because it was charming, but because of the sheer arrogance behind it. Oh, he knew how good he looked. That much was obvious. The way he carried himself, the way his lips quirked in amusement—it all screamed, I know I’m irresistible, and I am enjoying watching you try to resist me. It was infuriating. Men like him didn’t even have to try. They were used to women falling at their feet, batting their lashes, and throwing caution—and better judgment—to the wind.
No, thank you. Arabelle had no intention of being another name on his undoubtedly long list of admirers. Sure, he looked like he could sweep someone off their feet with a single look, but she bet he wasn’t even a good lover. Arrogance like that rarely came with the effort to back it up. He was probably the type who relied entirely on his looks, expecting them to do all the work for him.
She could practically feel her blood pressure rising as she mulled over it. No, she decided firmly, she was not about to let some royal heartthrob, no matter how ridiculously attractive, derail her plans. If Rafe thought she was going to fall at his feet like everyone else, he was in for a rude awakening.
Now that she had already secured his agreement, she would eat a polite dinner with him and then she would definitely make her escape.
"Lost in thought?" Rafe’s voice pulled her back to reality and she blinked, realizing she’d been staring at the menu in front of her while her mind wandered over other things...