The Princess Finds Her Match

“Her Highness is by the poolside.”

“Where is it?”

“Behin’ the stage,” she gestured vaguely. “Have to keep it hidden away or people who have had too much bubbly might be fallin’ into it by accident,” she giggled again.

Nic was off before she even finished talking, his long strides eating up the several yards to reach the pool, dodging waiters with their trays, uncaring if he cut across groups of chatting men and women. The Olympic-size pool was glittering in the moonlight and was dimly lit. Lexie was nowhere to be seen.

“Fuck!” he swore for falling for the bitch’s trick.

“You read my mind exactly.” Tansy had approached from behind him, and before Nic could move, she had wrapped her arms around his waist. With an abrupt movement, Nic flung his arms out to break free.

Tansy shrieked as she tottered on her heels, her hands flailing as she tried to break her fall by grabbing the nearest object to her, which was Nic. Her handbag shot an arc through the air and into the pool with a splash.

“My fuckin’ Judith Leiber bag,” she shrieked, running to the edge of the pool and dropping on her knees in anguish. “Oh shit,” she wailed. “Oh shit!”

Exhaling a sigh of exasperation and annoyance, Nic grasped her elbow and hauled her up onto her ridiculous heels to prevent her from going over the edge of the pool. He sure didn’t give a shit if she went over the edge of insanity over a purse! What he did care about was not getting involved in a search-and-rescue mission at this time of night and in this unusually cool fall weather for one drunk, ditzy blonde.

He shoved her into a lawn chair while she tore her hair out over her handbag. Loath as he was to do it, he whipped out his mobile and dialed Butler’s number so he could collect his hysterical wife.

“What are you doing?” She stopped wailing for a moment to question him suspiciously.

“Butler, your wife−“ As soon as she realized who he had called, the mad woman jumped to her feet, surprisingly agile as a cat for someone as pissed as her, and snatched the mobile from him.

“Oh, Rupie,” she cried, sounding sober enough.”Darlin’, where are you? The most horrible thing ‘appened.” She paused, fixing Nic a venomous glare. “My phone fell into the pool and I saw Nic passin’ by and borrowed his phone.”

Nic couldn’t make out what was being said on the other end, but Tansy’s face whitened and her grip on the mobile became tighter. Before Nic could stop her, she started walking very fast towards a glass door panel to the interior of the mansion, nodding her head vigorously.

He made a move to follow her, but a lilting voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Nic?” Lexie’s face was puzzled. “Was that Tansy?”

The moonlight kissed her pale, creamy skin with a pearly glow. A soft breeze carried that hint of lavender he would forever associate with her. He took his time looking his fill. She let him, not uttering a single sound. Perhaps she had sensed his strange mood.

She belonged with Walkden, not with him. She might have convinced herself that she was in love with him but Nic knew all too well that love was not enough. After the rosy glow had faded, reality would reassert itself and Lexie would miss her way of life. He was comfortable enough that she would never want for anything, but she doubted she would be able to adjust to a ranch in Argentina or traveling like a nomad for half a year for tournaments. After the glow had faded, she would leave like Melissa did.

As if by telepathy, she broke the silence first. “I saw her in the party. Melissa Rathborn.” She was watching for his reaction.

He kept silent.

“I thought I’d warn you,” she said. “That is, if you didn’t want to see her. Priscilla said you might not want to.”

It warmed his soul and filled him with foolish yearning to know that Lexie was trying to look out for him, even if he made little of what she thought were her feelings for him last night. “Pris is a busybody,” he said without heat.

“I like her.” There was a stout defensiveness in her voice for her new friend that Nic just had to smile. Her next words wiped it off. “Is it true, Nic ? Did she get rid of your baby?” she whispered starkly.