The Princess Finds Her Match

Slowly, as if almost leisurely, Nic finally stuck his hand out and grasped hers, not breaking eye contact. He held on a bit longer than was polite until Lexie was forced to step back and pull her hand away discreetly.

“Congratulations, Mr. Fernandez,” she murmured, her voice composed. Shite. He could have left it at that. And he would have had if she hadn’t flashed him her bloody ice princess smile.

That did it. He said nonchalantly, in an insultingly familiar manner, a bit loud enough for several people nearby to hear, “Have we met, Your Highness?”

Off to the side, the Prince’s brows drew together. He swore Butler’s ears perked up.

It was juvenile but savagely gratifying the way her blush stole all over her cheeks and down her graceful neck, exposed by her upswept hairstyle. He almost felt a tinge of regret for making her feel awkward, but her next words wiped them out.

“No, we haven’t,” she said in an emotionless tone, her eyes not meeting his. “Have a good day, Mr. Fernandez.” And she walked away, leaving him stupidly staring after her once more.

Chapter Five

Crap! Crap! Crap! Other languages were beyond her linguistic ability at this moment. Lexie wanted to play sick and stay holed up in her hotel suite, but she was as robust as a horse. Her nonna had witheringly said that this was due to an infusion of peasant blood from Colleen Gallagher. She had never had anything more serious than the common flu, and Stefan might come up and investigate her disappearance from tonight’s championship after party.

She took a surreptitious peek at her reflection in the ballroom mirror. Her color was a bit high but other than that, she looked normal. Theia had looked at her askance when she insisted on wearing a shrug earlier while dressing up, as it required covering the fabulous beadwork of her off-shoulder gown.

“I might get cold,” she said defensively, and did she imagine it, or did a certain spot on her shoulder blade tingle just a little a bit with her lie? It was just probably from getting raw with the vigorous scrubbing she had been doing in an attempt to erase her souvenir from that night. Thankfully, her Press Secretary’s job description didn’t include styling her clothes, so she didn’t inquire any further. Nor argue. Although Theia occasionally slipped and called her by her title, which Lexie insisted she use only when they were in public, she and her secretary had formed a relationship that was more than employer and employee. Theia had become much like a sister to her.

Blair, looking very sexy in a bias-cut turquoise gown, materialized at her side with an equally sexy young man in tow. Lexie recognized him as one of the players of Arion.

“All alone?” Blair arched one perfectly plucked eyebrow. Her grin spelled trouble.

Lexie kept her tone polite for the sake of the other guest. “Theia had to go to the ladies’ room.” Then, as she couldn’t contain it any longer, demanded in a fierce whisper, still keeping her expression neutral. “How could you not have told me who he was?”

They both knew who he was.

Blair appeared unrepentant. “It was much more interesting that way.” She kept her arm on the polo player with the sultry mouth. “Besides, it wasn’t my fault that you didn’t share life stories after your wham-bang. Honestly Lexie, I can’t believe you didn’t recognize Nic Fernandez. Don’t you read People magazine?” She rolled her eyes, as if not believing how much of a provincial hick her cousin was, royalty or not.

Lexie never read the tabloids. It was the only way she could avoid inadvertently running across photos of Peter. “Keep your voice down.”

After the awarding ceremony, Lexie had isolated herself back in her hotel suite and clicked on the Internet for information about Nicolas Fernandez. As images of him filled her computer screen, she recalled the shock and panic she felt earlier, as if she had conjured the reality of the man who had filled her every waking minute since she had left him standing at the lobby. Her mind had gone momentarily numb and she went on autopilot. It was only after several minutes, slowly emerging from the shock, and ensconced in the car that would whisk her back to the hotel, that she recalled what she had answered to his question.