Page 37 of At Midnight

“I am. I’m all right.”

She patted his shoulder, the one she was smashing her face against. “You’ve been working out.”

He laughed.

She sniffed and wiped her cheek. “At least you’re healthy. It would have been so disappointing if you’d returned to us as a pathetic, pasty weakling with no chin.”

“You look good,”he said.

“No, I don’t. I’m almost forty-five. I’m thinking about getting my lips plumped and things injected into my cheekbones.”

“You’re as stunning as ever. Don’t.”

She pushed back and looked him over thoroughly. “You’re all grown up.”

“That happens.”

“I hate it. I want my baby brother back, or at least the skinny kid whom I could beat at arm wrestling.”

He chuckled. “The last time wearm wrestled, I was ten.”

“Absolutement.I won the last time we arm wrestled, so I am the victor and still champion.”

He held her hand. “I have a daughter.”

Her eyes lit up. “No!”

Yes, Raphael remembered what his father had said about keeping their existence and location secret. He’d also weighed the risk of no one knowing that Alina was in Switzerland or even existed. “Her name is Alina SophieMirabaud. She’ll be two years old in a few months.”

“I can’t believe you named her afterMaman.”

“It’s traditional, yes?”

“I suppose.”

“And my fiancée is here, too.”

“No!Get out!What’s her name? Is she nice? Well, of course, you have to say she’s nice. Is she Alina’s mother?”

Raphael laughed at his sister again. “Flicka von Hannover. Yes, she’s nice. And no, she’s not Alina’s mother, butshe’s good with her.”

Océane’s mouth opened, and her eyes rounded.“TheFlicka von Hannover?”

“The same.”

“I just went to her wedding.To some other guy.Tothe Prince of Monaco.”

Raphael laughed again because her confusion was funny as hell and because it felt good to laugh. “I can’t believe it either.”

“I’m going to need a lot more details,” Océane said.

“I’ve been her bodyguard for years.”

“Oh, my God, how cliché. She fell in love with her bodyguard.”

“I guess it happens sometimes.”

“Wait, were you at her wedding?”