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mattered not at all to her. Yet he knew it mattered a great deal with that single movement.
    “It’s okay if you don’t want to m-make love,” she said, casting her eyes toward the floor when she said
make love,
as if it embarrassed her to say the words.
    Now why did that hint of innocence spike the heat in his blood?
    “Paige,” he said, waiting until she looked at him again before he continued, “I think you need to get some sleep. Tomorrow, everything will look brighter.”
    How many times had he told that lie to Katerina? They’dboth known it was a lie, but it was a fiction they’d counted on to get them through the hard times.
    “I have to be back at the hotel by eight,” she said numbly. “Cha—my boss has an important meeting to attend.”
    Alexei couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear. He was the good guy here and he planned to make her see it. “Da, I know this.”
    She frowned. “I really wish you would tell me how you know these things.”
    He smiled as tenderly as he could. It was a risk, but if he wasn’t truthful with her, she wouldn’t trust him. And he wanted her trust now that Russell had broken it. It was vital to the new plan he was formulating.
    “Because his meeting is with me.”
    Her eyes grew big. For the first time since he’d met her, he truly believed she had no idea who he was. His sense of purpose redoubled. He would destroy Russell Tech when he was through, thanks to this woman.
    “You are Mr. Valishnikov?”
    He shook his head. “I am the other V.”
    If anything, her eyes grew bigger. Her fingers flew to her mouth, pressed against her lips. When her hand dropped away, her face was pale.
    “Oh my God,” she said. “You’re Prince Voronov.”
    It was snowing as the Mercedes moved through the city. Fat flakes that ghosted down and gathered on the pavement. Paige stared wide-eyed out the window. She’d never seen so much snow in her life, and it was April! Dallas was balmy this time of year, and Atkinsville, on the Gulf Coast where she’d grown up, had always been temperate.
    She wanted to turn to the man sitting beside her, to thank him for taking her back to the hotel so early when the meetingwasn’t for another two and a half hours, but she couldn’t look at him.
    Alexei Voronov. A
prince.
She’d been kissing a prince. Trying to seduce him when her feelings were hurt, and he’d turned her down flat. Of course he had! Not only was he a Russian prince, but he was also gorgeous on top of that. Not at all the sort of man to be interested in her.
    Paige’s face grew hot as she thought about how he’d kissed her in Red Square, the way his body ground against hers, the way she’d nearly splintered apart simply from the delicious pressure.
    A game
, she reminded herself.
A necessary act to save them both.
    But the man who’d rescued her wasn’t just any prince. He was Prince Voronov—and Chad seemed to hate him. According to Chad, Prince Voronov was determined to absorb Russell Tech into his vast operations—which he would be in a prime position to do if he acquired Valishnikov’s land.
    If he succeeded in his quest, Russell Tech would cease to exist.
    Jobs would be lost, people displaced—including herself. She wasn’t unemployable, but in this current economic climate, how long would it take to find a new job? And how would she make her rent and utilities until then?
    Worse, would she find new work in time to make Emma’s tuition payment next semester?
    Last night, she’d had plenty of time to think as she’d tossed and turned in the guest room Alexei had shown her to, and she’d realized that though she was hurt, it wasn’t Emma’s fault at all. Paige had never said she had a crush on Chad, and it wasn’t fair to be mad at Emma. Her sister couldn’t help being beautiful and vivacious; of course Chad had been attracted to her!
    “You are very quiet, Paige.”
    She turned her head slowly, steeling herself to