Page 68 of A Royal Mistake

The others nodded in silent agreement.

“Where should we hide the flag?” she asked.

The lawn had grown quiet, the other team disappearing to God only knew where to hide their flag.

“We need a place that’s easily defensible. Preferably with some cover to protect our defenders,” he said, thinking out loud. “And an open area that would make it difficult for the other team to sneak up on us easily.”

“How about the gazebo?” Pippa suggested. “Would something like that work?”

Henry visualized the gazebo in his mind’s eye. He passed it every morning during his run. The railings and benches would provide some cover, and though it sat deep in the garden, there were at least ten yards of open grass between the garden and the vegetation. It was probably the best option they had, assuming the other team hadn’t staked it out already.

“The gazebo is perfect.”

Pippa beamed and damn if he didn’t want to shower her with compliments. And kisses.

Hell, he wanted to cover every damn inch of her body with his lips.

But first they had to win the game.

To the victor go the spoils.

“We should jog over there and check it out.” He did a quick time check. Three minutes down and they still had no plan. “Then we can strategize positions.”

At least regrouping at the gazebo would put some distance between them and the other team, buying them more time, if they were lucky.

When they arrived at the gazebo, Gabriel made a big show of scoping out the location. What he was looking for, Henry had no idea, so he ignored the prince, suggesting Pippa tie the flag to the back railing. She set about positioning the flag immediately, her curvy backside on full display as she bent over to knot the strings.

His cock twitched in response.

Fuck. It was bad enough they were all sweating their arses off in the blistering heat. The last thing he needed to do was add an erection to the situation.

At least the hideous suit would disguise it.

The count lifted his mask and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

“Masks stay on,” Henry barked. “A little sweat in your eyes is nothing compared to the pain of taking a shot to the head.”

His voice was muffled by the facemask, but the Frenchman got the message, quickly yanking his mask down over his face.

“Why don’t you two take up defensive positions?” he suggested, pointing to Delacroix and the count. “The rest of us can go after the flag.”

For once, no one argued.

Although he desperately wanted to tuck Pippa away in the gazebo—keeping her as far from the action as possible—he needed to keep her close. He couldn’t protect her if he was on the other side of the garden, and he simply didn’t trust anyone else with the job. Besides, eventually the other team would make their way to the gazebo and then all bets would be off.

They’d tag her if it meant securing the flag, and he had no intention of letting that happen.

Pippa sidled up to him, speaking in a low tone. “You, me, and Gabriel? I didn’t see that coming.”

Henry nodded. “I don’t trust him at my back, and I have a feeling he’s our best bet if we want to win this thing. You want to win, don’t you, princess?”

Pippa spared a glance at the defensemen and laughed, the sound low and throaty under her mask. “Fair enough.”

Gabriel finally made his way over, satisfied with his sweep of the perimeter. “Everything seems to be in order.”

This fucking guy. What exactly did he expect to find? The game hadn’t even started yet.

“Let’s do this,” Pippa said, giving a firm nod. “I’m so ready to pop some—”