A Hard Day’s Knight
A 1Night Stand Story
By
Cate Masters
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2012 by Cate Masters
ISBN: 978-1-61333-215-3
Cover art by Fantasia Frog Designs
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~DEDICATION~
To Gary, ever my knight in shining armor.
Chapter One
Stifling a yawn, Lance stretched out his legs as the Human Chess Match scattered across the oversized board under the scrutiny of the overly made up queen. How had he let Kurt talk him into coming here? Of course, the Castillo Resort’s grand style appealed to him, but the medieval-themed dinner? Medieval Merriment, indeed. He abhorred it and its ragtag imitation of everything he held dear.
Catching Kurt’s eye, he shot him a tight smile. Why had the man insisted he tag along with him and his new girlfriend? Obviously smitten, they paid him scant attention.
When she rose to excuse herself, Kurt finally turned to him. “Isn’t Darien great?”
If one tolerated a woman with hair shorter than his own. “Lovely.” Lance crossed his arms and slumped. “Congratulations.”
Beer breath tainted the air. “We have a surprise for you.”
Like a fox trapped by hunting dogs, Lance froze. “Oh?” His friend had pestered him for weeks to try the 1Night Stand service. Lance had refused, with good cause. Hadn’t Kurt mentioned the owner, Madame Evangeline, used this resort’s facilities?
Kurt’s smile tightened into a grimace. “You’re here to meet your date.”
Lance contained his scowl. Barely. “No.”
Kurt’s eyes flared wide. “Yes.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow for Sedona. You knew that.” For a shrewd businessman, Kurt sometimes acted like a buffoon. Affable, but a buffoon nonetheless. Unless it truly was an act?
Kurt clasped Lance’s shoulder. “That’s what makes this perfect. You meet her, have a little fun, and then, pfft.”
“Pfft?” What in blazes did that mean? Lance threw a pitiable look at him before concentrating on the board, where human chess pieces disbanded and swarmed to its edges.
The match ended, the audience scattered too.
“Hey, you did such a great job teaching the fencing workshop, I wanted to throw in a little bonus. I had a tough time convincing Madame Eve to go through with it, too. She wasn’t thrilled about hooking up a Castillo Resort employee. She’s very protective of Castillo’s people, and her clients.”
“How provincial of her.” Reminded him of some less than scrupulous nobles.
“Not at all. She’s concerned for their welfare.”