Page 80 of In Shining Armor

Wulfram always said that Dieter had abominable taste in women. “You said you have sisters.”

His sharp looked warned her to back off. “They aren’t in the picture.”

“Okay. You have to retrieve Alina. I’ll be in Nevada, and I’ll figure things out.”

Dieter took his gun from a holster on his ankle and released the magazine from it. He opened the body to pop out the round in the chamber and check the barrel. “I can’t let you stay there alone.”

“Alina needs you. I can take care of myself.”

“We’ll figure it out later,” he said.

“The important thing is that we’ve got tonight,” Flicka said.

A slow smile reached his eyes as he laid the gun on the little kitchen countertop. “Yes, we’ve got tonight.”

She walked over to Dieter and reached for his hand, letting their clasped hands hang between them.

“What if we pretended like the last few years never happened?” she asked, trying to phrase this right. “What if we pretended that we were back in London at Kensington Palace, and we’ve just come in from somewhere, and now we’re alone? Could we do that?”

Dieter slipped his arm around her waist and drew her against his chest. His heart beat against her palm. “Flicka, I’m worried about you.”

“I’m holding myself together, but I just don’t want to think anymore today. I just want to be happy for a little while.”

“You were happy in London?”

“Every minute. I wish we were back there.” She wished the last two years had never happened, but saying that would be accusing Dieter. She didn’t want to think about when he had walked away. She just wanted a moment with him.

Dieter’s voice dropped low in his throat, and he growled, “When we’re out there, who are you?”

“PrinzessinFriederike Augusta,” she whispered.

“And in here?” he asked. “In my bed,whoseare you?”

“Yours,”Flicka whispered.

Dieter stroked his hand down her body and whispered, “If I move too fast, if you want to go slower or stop, tell me.”

“My whole life is shattered. I just want not to think.”

“Durchlauchtig,anything for you.” He bent and lifted Flicka, holding her in his arms. “You didn’t have to pretend you were drunk. I always loved carrying you to bed.”

She wound her arms around his neck. “MyLieblingwächter.”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

She wasn’t going to question that. She definitely wasn’t going to ask him for clarification.

That small glow of vindication might warm her for weeks.

And it might have to, if Dieter had to take care of his daughter and leave Flicka alone in Las Vegas.

This might be their last night.

Flicka squeezed her eyes shut and demanded that her mind not think and justpretend.