sparkle as she sips her cocktail.
I lean in, liking the feistiness of her words. “I’ll have you know that I only race expensive yachts and go base jumping on weeks when I’m not scheduled to fly in the RAF.”
She rolls her eyes. “You are so irresponsible. Perpetually, I fear.”
“You wound me.” I smirk again, belying my own words.
Her slow smile tells me everything I need to know. She shakes her head. “Hey, speaking of which. Did you get the invitation for St. Matthew’s winter celebration?”
I snort. “No. Maybe our alma mater realizes I live here in Denmark and have no interest in flying back to the Swiss Alps in this weather.”
“I am wholly certain that they sent it to you and you just didn’t read it. It’s okay though, because I’m pretty sure that they’re just asking alumnus to come back as a fancy way to open our checkbooks.”
I nod slowly. “It is always about the money with them. In any case, I’m sure that the royal family just writes them a big fat check every year. The next time that they donate, I should just have them add your name to the roster.”
Pippa glances down into her drink, frowning for a split second. I realize I’ve accidentally tripped over my own tongue. Pippa and I both went to an elite boarding school, but we went under very different circumstances.
Pippa is an orphan who attended the school thanks to a mysterious benefactor.
And me?
I attended because I was such a bad kid at thirteen that I had been kicked out of every notable prep school in Denmark.
I clear my throat, changing the subject to cover my gaffe. “You’re coming to the palace tomorrow, ja?”
She smiles softly at me. “If you want me to be there, I will.”
“I always want you,” I say. The words just tumble out of my mouth, unchecked.
When Pippa’s cheeks go pink, my neck heats. I look down at my drink, shaking my head. “You know what I meant. Just come, please. Save me from my own family like you do every year.”
She smiles. For a moment, I can’t tell if her expression is genuine or not. “I will come. Thanks, Froggy.”
Her use of my childhood nickname draws a laugh from my lips. “Anything for you, little witch.”
She looks up, catching my gaze for just a second. She bites one of her soft, full lips.
Those kissable, perfectly plump lips. So close and yet…
So very, very off limits.
I swallow. Just now, I know a moment of pure want.
God, I could just reach across the table right now, drag Pippa over here, and plunder those sexy fucking lips.
Then she breaks the spell by tipping up her glass, finishing the last drops, and grabbing her voluminous coat. “All right. I should get home. And you should too, though somehow I don’t think you will find yourself there anytime soon…”
She tips her head toward the bar. I look over and see the blonde from earlier still waiting there. I squint, looking back to Pippa with a shrug.
“Let me drive you home,” I say, yawning. “I’m tired anyway.”
Pippa stands up, shaking her head. “No. You stay. Have a good time!” She gives me a quick grin, touching my shoulder as she passes me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Lars.”
I move my hand up my chest to touch hers as it lands against my skin. I’m too slow, though. She’s gone before I can do anything else, leaving my heart aching just a bit.
Isn’t that always the way of things? Pippa slipping away, while I’m still trying to tamp down my more dangerous emotions around her.
Quaffing the rest of my drink, I stand up, turning to watch Pippa’s elegant form disappearing through the crowd. Taking my wallet out of my pants pocket, I toss a wad of cash on the table. Then I make eye contact with the simpering blonde from earlier.
I only have to cock a brow and jerk my head toward the exit. She positively beams at me, nodding her head enthusiastically. I grab my leather jacket, putting it on.
There is something wrong though.
I know it even as I head for the door.
The blonde’s smile doesn’t light me up inside the way Pippa’s does.
No one else even comes close.
As I push the heavy door open and try to put that thought out of my mind as I escort the blonde out to my waiting chauffeured car.
3
Pippa
God, how beautiful the world is right now. I blink up into the winter sky, thankful that it’s