I reached across the table, took his hand properly, and held it.
"This is complicated," I said.
"I know."
"And political."
"I know."
"And there are snipers on the roof right now making sure nobody assassinates us during dessert."
"Also true."
"But I'm having a really good time."
"Me too."
We sat there for a moment, hand in hand, while somewhere outside Captain Steiner's team maintained their perimeter and Giuseppe pretended not to notice that his VIP guests were having a moment.
"We should probably head back," I said eventually."Before the security detail stages an intervention."
"Probably."
Neither of us moved.
"Archie?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you.For negotiating with Steiner.For wanting to give me a normal evening even though normal is basically impossible for us."
"You're welcome.For what it's worth, this is the best abnormal evening I've had in years."
We drove back to the palace as the city lights sparkled below us, the Mediterranean a dark mirror reflecting the stars.Our fingers were still loosely intertwined on the seat between us, and neither of us seemed inclined to let go.
"I had a good time tonight," I said, breaking the easy silence.
"Past tense?The evening's not over yet."
"Isn't it?"
He turned to look at me, and something in his expression made my breath catch."That depends on you."
The security detail maintained their professional distance, eyes forward, but I caught Captain Steiner's gaze in the rearview mirror once.She might have been almost smiling.
When we arrived at the palace, Archie helped me out of the car, his hand lingering on mine longer than necessary.We walked through the corridors together, and I was acutely aware of how close he was, of the heat radiating from his body, of the way his cologne had become familiar over the course of the evening.
At my bedroom door, we stopped, facing each other in the soft light of the wall sconces.The hallway was quiet, the rest of the palace sleeping or at least pretending to.
"So," I said, my voice coming out softer than I intended."Same time next week?Assuming no international crises or assassination attempts?"
"I'll have Roberto clear my calendar."
"Very efficient."
Neither of us moved to leave.The air between us had changed, charged with something that hadn't been there at the beginning of the evening.Or maybe it had always been there, and I'd just been too stubborn to acknowledge it.
"Betty."His voice was low, and the way he said my name made my skin tingle.
