“I’ll walk you out,” I said as I stood, displacing Shadow, and took our plates and glasses into the small kitchen. After setting the dishes in the sink, I met Dash at the door.
“One more day and your life will go back to normal, and we’ll look back at this and laugh.”
I jumped as a knock sounded at the door. Dash and I glanced at each other with a look that said,Who the hell is at the door at eleven thirty on Christmas night?
“I’ll get it,” Dash said as he puffed his chest up a bit. He had been protecting me since we were kids.
I started to open the small entryway closet to grab the croquet mallet I had borrowed from my neighbor a few years ago but quickly realized a robber wouldn’t knock on the door. Well, at least not a smart one.
“Your Highness?” Dash said from the door. I looked around his broad shoulder and found Oliver standing on my porch.
“Hi. Tadashi, right?”
“Yes, sir. Come in.”
“Dude!” I hissed from behind him. “You can’t just invite people into my house!”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you just want me to leave the future king of Wexstone standing on your porch while it’s snowing?” he hissed back.
“Well, no, but at least ask first!”
“You’ve been courting him for months now, I would assume that it would be okay for me to invite him in, Adelaide.”
Oliver laughed nervously from the entryway. Dash and I looked at him, Dash smiling and me glaring.Why is he here? What is so urgent that it can’t wait until the morning?
“Well, I was just on my way out. It was a pleasure to see you, Your Highness.”
“It was nice to see you as well, Tadashi.” Oliver smiled warmly as Dash let himself out.
I inspected the prince standing by my front door. He was wearing a heavy wool coat over a black long-sleeved henley that hugged his chest perfectly and fitted jeans that left little to the imagination when it came to the package that I had once been very fond of.
Snap out of it, girl. This man is about to be engaged.
“Happy Christmas,” he said as the side of his mouth rose, putting his delicious dimple on display.
“Happy Christmas, Your Highness.”
He rolled his eyes to the sky. “Oh, stop. You know better than to call me that.”
I noted the tense way he held his shoulders. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Can we talk?” His tone was nervous.
“Yeah. Have a seat.”
He walked over to the couch that Dash and I had just been occupying, removing his coat and draping it over the neighboring navy armchair before he took a seat.
“Would you like something to drink?” I asked.
“I really would, thank you.” He laid his head back on the couch and ran a hand down his face.
“Something stiff?” I smiled ruefully.
“Preferably, if you have it.”
I did. My dad enjoyed a strong whiskey, so I kept a bottle in the house for when he came over. I poured Oliver a double and refilled my wine. I didn’t know what was going on but by the looks of it, I might need a drink as well.
I handed him the small tumbler. “Thank you,” he murmured as he took a long drink.
