“You’re lashing out, Skye.”
“You want … me to be someone … I’m not. And so you … insist I speak … at the symposium.”
His shoulders sagged, and he settled into the chair behind his desk. She stood a bit longer, then took a seat, too. “I love him, Daddy. And he … loves me.”
Her father sighed. “Let’s say that’s true.”
“It is.”
He didn’t even pause for her comment. “It doesn’t matter because nothing can come of it. The man is going to be a king. And soon if the reports about his father’s health are accurate.” He leaned forward. “Sweetheart, no matter how you feel about this man, you should end it.”
She said nothing. He was right, of course. But she wasn’t going to admit that aloud.
“What are you prepared to do if he wants you to go back with him? You’re not royal. You’re not a citizen. You can’t marry him.”
“You researched that?”
“You’re my daughter. Of course, I did.”
She blinked, fighting tears. “We know, Daddy.”
“Tell me you aren’t contemplating being his mistress.”
She swallowed. The temptation was there, yes, if for no other reason than to stay with Leo. But she shook her head. “I couldn’t be that girl.” She managed a rueful smile, then shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter anyway. I’d be in his circle no matter what, and I’d wither in the spotlight.”
Her father stood then circled his desk. He stopped in front of her and held out his hand. She took it and rose, confused as to his purpose. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I tossed you into the symposium line-up thinking only of myself.”
She swallowed, her throat suddenly thick with tears. “I don’t know what you want from me, Daddy.”
His shoulders sagged. “Oh, baby. All I want is your forgiveness.”
A single tear escaped. “Then we’ve been at … cross purposes. Because all I’ve wanted is for you to … forgive yourself.”
“One more week,” Leo said as she snuggled close. They were in her bed, having gotten distracted when Skye was changing for the evening’s celebration honoring Professor Malkin and his impressive body of work. “I have to leave right after the symposium. The royal physician has asked that Gisele and I both meet with him in person.”
“I know. I don’t want … you to go.”
He looked at her, and she shook her head, certain she knew what he was going to say. She pressed her finger to his lips, then bent forward and kissed him. “We’re going to enjoy the week … we have left.”
“Yes,” he said. “We are.”
Her phone chimed, and she rolled over to find a text from Hannah about a possible client referral. As Skye started to type an answer, Leo slid out of bed, motioning that he was going to the kitchen.
She sent the reply and started to follow, only to stop when she heard the voices just beyond the door.
“Sleeping with my fiancée?” The humor in Bart’s voice was clear.
“Hey, if you couldn’t keep her satisfied…”
Skye clapped her hand over her mouth so as not to laugh aloud at Leo’s response.
“A fair point,” Bart said. “But, listen, I’ve got to say this, because I love her, too, you know? Not the way you do, but…”
“I get it.”
“Yeah, well, for the record, you hurt her, and we’re going to have issues.”
“That’s why I like you, man.”
From behind the door, Skye grinned.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Bart said.
“But I have to be honest,” Leo continued. “In the end, Skye and I both know that hurt is inevitable.”
“Yeah,” Bart said. “The royal thing is cool, but I gotta say, I don’t envy you.”
“Understood. There are times I don’t envy me, either.”
She sighed, then headed into the living room to join them. And, hopefully, to lighten the mood. “You two talking about me?”
“No,” said Bart.
“Of course,” said Leo.
Bart shot him a glance. “Tattletale.”
“Don’t worry,” Skye said, holding up her phone. “It’s what all the … cool kids are doing. Here’s the latest. It flashed on my notifications as I was answering Hannah’s text.”
She pulled it up again, then passed her phone to Bart with the headline filling the screen.
“It’s L-L-Love for the P-p-pr-ince,” he read. “Good grief, that’s horrible. And you don’t stutter.”
“Right?” She held out her hands as if in exasperation. “If they’re going to … make fun of me … at least get … it right.”
She turned to Leo, expecting him to join in the banter. Instead, he just looked sad.
“It’s … okay.”
“No. It’s not. I’m so sorry.”
“For what? You … didn’t encourage them.”
“She’s right,” Bart said. “You’re not the asshole here.”
Leo’s mouth twitched. “Fair enough.” He reached out and ran a lock of Skye’s hair through his fingers. “We should get dressed. The limo will be here within the hour.”
The professor had invited them over for cocktails, and Leo had offered to rent a limo to take all three of them from the professor’s home to the auditorium where he’d be receiving his award, something to which the professor had eagerly agreed.
Skye was looking forward to it, too. A limo might not be a treat for Leo, but she’d only been in one once before, after her father had rewarded her for graduating first in her law school class.
That night, she’d been crammed in with a dozen other students. Not friends so much as hangers-on. She’d kept to herself too much in law school to have made many close friends.
Tonight, she slipped into the limo with only one other person, and she felt so much more special than she had that night.
“Ever made out in a limo?” Leo asked, making her giggle.
“The driver and Jürgen can see us.”
“Not anymore,” he said, pushing the button to raise the privacy screen. He pulled her close and kissed her. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“Are you kidding? This man is like a surrogate father to you. I’m dying to meet him.”
“He’s looking forward to meeting you, too. And, unfortunately, he lives in Tarrytown,” he added, his hand sliding up her thigh and under her skirt.
“That is a shame,” she said, as his fingertip grazed the juncture of her thigh, tracing the elastic of her panties. “We’re practically already there.”
“Not quite,” he said, slipping his finger under and making her gasp.
But she was right—they were almost there, and as the limo pulled in front of Professor Malkin’s house, she was breathing hard. But not quite there.
“You’re a tease, Your Highness.”
“Just a preview of things to come. Literally,” he said, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered the promise.