My fingers go numb, and I nearly drop my glass because she’s supposed to be in New York, on the other side of an ocean, not here. I’ve spent weeks trying to burn her out of my memory while sitting through dinners with women who made me want to claw my own eyes out from boredom. I told myself her face and the sound of her voice would fade. They haven’t.
Then I notice Marcelo’s palm on her lower back, and my jaw sets tight. My cousin and I have been competing since we were old enough to keep score. I’m shaking when I set down my glass. Watching him with her makes me want to tear him apart piece by piece. I stopped pretending I was going to handle this with dignity approximately thirty seconds ago.
He turns, and his irritation is evident. “Louis. Didn’t realize you were back.”
“I’ll make a public service announcement next time, so then you’re aware.”
The silence stretches between us, charged with years of rivalry, and I can see him calculating whether pushing back is worth the fallout. Whatever he reads in my expression makes him step away from Addison.
“Yours for now, cousin.” His smile is forced. “Try not to bore her.”
He melts into the crowd, and then it’s the two of us,standing close. I want to press my nose to her throat and breathe her in until I’m drunk on it. I have no claim on her or right to feel this way, but watching my cousin near her made me violent.
“That was a tad dramatic—don’t you think?” Her voice is cool, like she’s completely unbothered.
“That was restraint.”
Her lips twitch like she’s fighting a smile. “Are you always like this?”
“Being territorial is in my blood. Marcelo knew exactly what he was doing.” I take her elbow and guide her away from the party. “And so did you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she quips.
I look her up and down. “That dress says otherwise.”
She lets me lead her outside, and we weave past the clusters of people smoking and flirting against the railing. We take a stone staircase at the far end, which opens up to a private balcony that overlooks the gardens.
When we step out onto the balcony, moonlight catches the white roses that climb the walls. Muffled music and laughter drift from the distance, but we’re alone. Finally.
Addison pulls her arm free and sinks into a perfect curtsy. With her head bowed and posture flawless, she gives the exact depth required for addressing a crown prince properly. She holds it for precisely the right amount of time before rising with grace. “Your Royal Highness.”
“Please, don’t do that,” I mutter.
She grins, her eyes sparkling as she looks at me. “I’m supposed to honor you.”
“I don’t care about protocol.” I step closer. “Not with you.”
“I will get you in trouble, Louis,” she whispers.
As I study her, I feel a prickle over my skin. No woman has ever made me feel this way. “Why are you here?”
This makes her laugh. “Delphine invited me to join her tonight.”
“In Montclaire,” I state, noticing how she’s not giving me any additional information.
“Once again, Delphine invited me.” The strap of her dress shifts, and my eyes follow her bare shoulder, up to her neck, and to her red lips. “Why? Do you plan on using your princely powers and banishing me?”
“I’m actually considering it.” It’s impossible for me to hold back my smile.
“Please.” She playfully rolls her eyes, then moves farther onto the balcony and stares up at the starry sky.
The warm breeze brushes against my cheeks, and this feels like a dream.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say. “I’ve thought about you.”
“Aw,” she says. “I must have made an impression.”
I want her to give me something, anything, but she doesn’t. I’ve sat through dinners with women whose names I can’t remember, but I haven’t been able to get hers out of my head.
