Page 48 of A Royal Mistake
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked defensively. Which was ridiculous. This was Lena and Evie. She might not know them as well as she’d like to, but she knew them well enough to know they didn’t give a damn about royal heritage or titles. They wouldn’t care if Henry were raised in a barn, so long as he treated her right. So why was she being so prickly?
“Tall, dark, and smoldering,” Evie supplied. “The sex appeal is strong with that one.”
“Muy guapo,” Lena agreed, nodding like one of those bobble head figurines. “The man has swagger for days.”
“He is handsome, isn’t he?” she said, ignoring the heat that flooded her cheeks. “Fine, okay. Yes, we kissed, but it wasn’t a regular kiss. It was… amazing. Romantic. Hot.”
“Told you!” Evie crowed, pointing at Lena. “You owe me five euros.”
She glared at them. “You bet on me?”
Evie grinned, smug as you please. “I told Lena you were falling for him. The way you were looking at each other last night? I knew this suitor bullshit was DOA.”
“I do not want to talk about the suitors.” She groaned. “I’ve never been so excited for summer to end in my life.”
“Fair enough.” Lena patted her hand gently. “We won’t talk about the suitors. Henry’s far more interesting anyway. What’s the deal with you two?”
“No deal,” she said emphatically, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Not the kind Lena meant. “He’s helping me lay the foundation for Stanley International.”
“That’s not all he wants to lay,” Evie teased, earning a snort-laugh from Lena and another fierce blush from Pippa.
Was Evie right? Did he want more from her than one stolen kiss? After Xander’s antics, she might never know. Despite the passionate kiss they’d shared, he’d been in a hurry to get her back to the palace. She knew it was the right thing to do. Five more minutes and Sarah would’ve stormed the gardens with a full team in tow, but it didn’t lessen the sting of feeling like she’d been the only one who wanted more.
More kissing. More touching. More Henry.
Pippa worried her bottom lip. She was being silly. And naïve. At least, that’s what her mother would’ve said. She should be glad Henry was responsible enough to ensure they didn’t get caught.
The problem was, she didn’t want him to be logical and responsible. She wanted him as besotted with her as she was with him. Totally, completely enamored.
“What is it?” Lena asked, touching her arm. “You can talk to us, you know. All kidding aside, we’re here for you. Whatever you need.”
“Henry asked me to go to Liechtenstein with him. For a fundraiser,” she quickly added. Because could she be any more awkward?
Lena arched a brow. “An overnight trip?”
“That’s serious,” Evie said, eyes going round.
“No.” She toyed with the hem of her skirt. “It’s just business. Networking for Stanley International. A chance to rub elbows with some of his biggest donors.”
“Right,” Evie quipped, giggling. “Rubbing elbows. With big donors. Got it.”
Evie and Lena exchanged a knowing look, and the meaning was plain as day on their faces. They so knew she was a virgin. God, could this be more humiliating? Maybe she should just get‘virgin’tattooed on her forehead and get it over with.
That would give Their Majesties something to squawk about.
“So, um, how do you feel about an overnight trip with Henry?” Lena asked, twisting her hair up in a bun and securing it with a pencil she’d pulled from her pocket.
How did she feel about an overnight with Henry?
She hadn’t given it much thought. But now that Lena had brought it up? The idea scared the crap out of her. Which was ridiculous. This was exactly what she wanted. To be treated like a capable woman. Like someone worthy of respect. Like someone worth taking seriously.
And maybe, if she was lucky, like someone worth kissing again.
She shrugged, striving for indifference. “It’s just a business trip. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Riiiight,” Lena drawled. “Do you have any questions?”
Pippa furrowed her brow.