He looks surprised, striding up to me and taking one of my hands. It's only then that I realized my fists is still balled up. He looks down at my hand and then catches sight of his grandmother in the office. She inclines her head but otherwise says nothing.
Lars slides his gaze back to me, trying to figure it out. But I don't give him that kind of time.
?Can we go please?” I ask him softly. “Please, Lars.”
He gives his grandmother one last glance and then puts his arm around me, pushing me toward the exit. “Of course,” he says.
I've never been so glad to leave the royal palace as I am at that moment.
31
Lars
I sit in my kitchen, brooding as I stare out at the early morning light falling onto the city of Copenhagen. The city is quiet right now, in my view is breathtaking. But I'm in no mood for the dazzling panoramic views. I sip my coffee, sighing silently.
Behind me, I hear Pippa’s bare feet padding into the kitchen. I turn, casting and eye over her form. She has bed head and wears nothing but one of my overlarge t-shirts. She nods to me quietly and then goes to pour herself a cup of coffee.
“Are you feeling any better today?” I ask.
She turns to me, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. “Yes,” she says quietly. She looks down at the floor as she answers, making me wonder if I'm getting the entire truth. I hate that feeling, sloshing around in my stomach like acid. Still, I try to make conversation. “Do you want to talk about what happened with between you and my grandmother?”
She sips her coffee, shaking her head a little. “I'd rather not. It was just a petty disagreement about my wedding dress. Nothing to be worried about.”
I walk over to the kitchen counter, setting my coffee down. I straighten my tie, trying to read the expression on her face. She glances at me, her blue eyes pinning me in place for a moment.
Something electric shivers through the air, bouncing back and forth between us. I don't understand exactly why she is so morose and withdrawn, but I'm willing to bet that it has something to do with Momse.
“If there is something wrong, you would tell me, wouldn't you?”
She ducked her head and drops her gaze again, nodding. “Sure.”
“Pippa,” I say. “Look at me.”
She looks up, her eyes flashing with emotion. If I didn't know better, I would think that she was feeling guilty about something. But what could she possibly be guilty for?
She sets her mug down too hard on the counter, sloshing coffee over the edge. She mumbles a curse and turns around to get a wad of paper towels, mopping up the mess. I watch as she moves around the kitchen, that strange acid washing around in my stomach again.
The feeling that she's not being truthful. I hate that.
I clear my throat. “I have to go meet one of my commanders for coffee this morning. Will you be okay here by yourself?”
She nods, swallowing. “I'm fine. I'll be fine. I just need some self-care, I guess.” She frowns. “When you get back, we should talk about your royal schedule. I think… I think it's just too demanding for me.” She looks up at me, tugging the hem of her oversized T-shirt down.
My eyebrows rise. “That's what you're upset about? Jesus, Pippa. You had me worried. Of course we can talk about paring my schedule back.”
She blows out of breath, nodding. “That would be great.”
I walk over to where she's standing, reaching out and sliding an arm around her waist. She comes easily to my side and I place a kiss on the crown of her head, my nose probing her coppery curls. “I have to go,” I say. “Be good.”
She looks up at me, a small smile appearing on her sweetly shaped face. “Should I plan for you to be back by lunch?”
I can't help but smile when I looking at her. “I think you should,” I say.
She wrinkles her nose. “Okay. I'll miss you.”
I pull her in for a final kiss, loving the way she fills all my senses. Her scent tickles my nose, she feels so good under my hands, she tastes even better than she smells. I open my eyes, gaze deep into hers, and then it just pops out of my mouth.