him her best You know nothing, Jon Snow glare. “Please. Have you ever been to a mall?”
“No.” Christian lodged his tongue firmly in his cheek. “But I’ve seen them in movies and they look like magical places, full of fun and wonder.”
“Yes. As well as screaming children, projectile bodily fluids from the aforementioned children, roving gangs of teens, and slow-walking seniors.” It had been five glorious months since she’d descended into a mall’s hellmouth.
“Wow. Don’t quit your day job to go into marketing. You’re a horrible saleswoman.”
“My expertise is in fundraising. If I’m passionate about something, I’ll convince you it’s wonderful, and make you decide to empty your wallet for it. A.k.a. I’ll passionately sell you on internet shopping you can do at two a.m. in your pajamas. That’s the web’s greatest gift to mankind.”
Christian pointed toward the interior of the palace. “What about its power to connect long-lost relatives and friends?”
Talk about a weak sales pitch. The last thing Kelsey had wanted was to ditch her dreams and come live with the total strangers who were her long-lost relatives. It had all worked out, sure, but the odds it’d turn out this well every time were astronomically slim.
“When I want to connect with a new dress by Thursday, the internet is there for me. Instant gratification.”
“See, that I’m passionate about. The instant gratification.” Christian spread his legs wide to pull her right in between. “And I’m feeling very in need of it right now…”
She couldn’t just ignore the legacy elephant in the room without giving it one more attempt at making Christian see his gift was a mistake. Wonderful and thoughtful, yes. Breathtaking, yes. But too much for this random woman from Michigan.
“Genevieve, your father—won’t they be shocked when they see it on me?”
“I think we’ve covered how unavailable Papa’s been for months, until today. If this sends him into a snit, that’d be freaking great. And as far as Genny goes, I did ask her, first, if she had any desire to keep it. Remember, she’s had years to paw through Mama’s jewelry boxes and choose what she likes.”
The princess had been an icy bitch to both her and Kelsey when they first arrived. Apparently Mallory’s getting shot had completely thawed her, or so Kelsey claimed. The two of them had become easy and close while Mallory healed in America. Since her return, Mallory hadn’t spent enough time with her to witness the transformation. So she was genuinely curious as to Genny’s reaction.
“What did she say?”
“That I could have it as long as it didn’t become a party favor for a one-night stand. That it went to someone who mattered.”
Huh. Guess Genny was as warm and nice as Kelsey said. It defused much of Mallory’s concern about accepting the gift. “That’s very generous of her.”
Christian’s hands clasped at the small of her back. Which meant the sides were resting on the top curve of her ass. Almost all of Mallory’s attention dropped to that singular location of heavy pressure. Because oh my God it felt so good to have his hands on her again.
Then he dropped a kiss at her temple, nibbling down her cheek. “Besides, Gran just gave you heraldic baroness jewelry. This isn’t any different.”
“Mmm. Okay. I promise you that I’m not holding a grudge against Moncriano.”
“Fine, then.” One corner of his mouth quirked up. “I’ll take it back—”
Mallory threw up an eyebrow so hard she practically heard it snap. “No, you won’t! I love it. And I love that wherever I do end up, I’ll have a reminder of your wonderful country.” He’d teased her, so she’d lob it right back. “You know, the one that stole my sister away from me, ruined my move to Manhattan, and cost me not only a job, but two pints of blood…yeah, I’m definitely keeping this bracelet.”
“Brat.” Christian nipped at her earlobe. “Will it remind you of any, ah, person in particular?” His hot breath seared her neck right before his lips continued their slow trail down the side of her throat.
Always ready to be helpful, Mallory tilted her head and tossed her hair back out of the way. “Are you actually fishing for a compliment, Your Highness? That strikes me as several rungs below both your station and your manliness.”
“Then stop making me work so hard for it, woman!”
Aha. She had something as precious to him as this bracelet now was to her. The right words. Words of appreciation to the man, and not the prince.
Mallory felt