Now come on, wife to be. I think we should tell Etienne together.”
Getting up, he offers me his arm. I rise, taking his arm, a sigh on my lips. “Lead the way.”
9
Lars
I’m waiting anxiously at the swankiest hotel in Copenhagen, trying not to freeze my ass off while I wait by the front doors. Pippa’s my New Year’s Eve date. Actually, we have had this planned out for weeks.
It just so happens that now I have just added a ton of weird pressure by making it our debut as a couple. And royal couple at that.
I’m genuinely a little worried. Pippa was pretty grumpy all of yesterday, fueled in part at least by our brand new arrangement.
And I get it. She is doing me a huge, immense favor, getting me out of a less than savory situation.
So she gets to be a little grouchy, I guess.
When her limo pulls up and she emerges, I’m beyond relieved to see her look for me and then smile.
Then I allow myself to breathe a little… and to take her in. She’s wearing a huge fuzzy floor length white coat, which she sheds the second she walks in the door. What she reveals actually makes my mouth water. She’s wearing a floor length, long sleeve gown made of what looks like molten silver. It hugs every tantalizing curve and only enhances her fiery copper curls, which trail down her back.
She turns for a second, handing her coat off to a waiting attendant, and I see that the dress is cut very low in the back, emphasizing her amazing skin. Looking at her right now is making my tuxedo pants a little tight. I feel like ripping off my bowtie. I’m stifled, looking at her silver-coated curves.
She floats over to me, a smile curving her lips. “Don’t you look dashing.”
I drag my gaze away from her, refusing to be thirsty. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
She touches my arm, looking up at the hotel’s second story. I follow her gaze up to see several people taking pictures of us surreptitiously.
But when Pippa leans over and kisses my lips ever so carefully, it still takes me by surprise. Worse than that, when she pulls away again, I’m left aching.
God, this is going to be a long night.
A long four months, really.
I shouldn’t have chosen the girl I’m in love with to fake an engagement. I’m kicking myself over the choice now.
I clear my throat. “Shall we?”
Pippa smiles, seeming in good spirits. “Lead the way, your highness.”
“Don’t start with that shit,” I say, rolling my eyes.
I usher her to the escalator and we ride up to the second floor. I spend the whole time looking at Pippa’s ass and speculating whether or not she’s wearing any panties.
My guess is no.
On the way off the escalator, I stop and look around. Tonight, my favorite hipster bar has taken over this floor and they’ve really gone all out. The doors to the grand ballroom are thrown open, revealing some extremely hip black and white decor. To our right, there is a bar set up, the stylish bartenders in their black shirts and denim aprons busy mixing drinks. And to top it all off, there are uniformed waiters walking around with trays of drinks and appetizers.
Pippa pulls away, heading for one of the waiters. I follow, noticing that people are looking at me oddly.
Pippa hands me a glass of champagne, nodding subtlety to a group of girls who are gawking at me. “What do you think is going on there?”
I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “If I had to place odds, I would wager we are watching my pool of dating prospects drying up.”
Her eyes twinkle as she takes a sip of her champagne. “How will you ever survive?” She laughs. “Just remember, you were the one who pushed for four months of faking your engagement.”
Before I can come up with a good comeback, Margot peeks her head out of the ballroom. “There you two are!” she says, beaming. “Come on, we have a table waiting.”
Pippa throws a look at me over her shoulder, heading into the ballroom. I follow her, entering the dimly-lit space. Electronic music courses through the whole place. The ballroom’s high ceilings and classic parquet floors are enhanced by the white tables and futuristic white decorations hanging from the ceiling. Margot waves us over to a corner where Stellan is sandwiched in with Erik and Annika. I repress a sigh, pulling up