One Night with Prince Charming by Anna DePalo

bewildered.
    â€œHave you met my brother, James Carsdale?” Lucy said with an inviting smile, seemingly unaware of anything untoward happening.
    Lucy cast her brother an impish grin. “Do I need to recite all your titles, or will it suffice to enlighten Pia that you’re also known as His Grace, the Duke of Hawkshire?”
    â€œCarsdale?” Pia repeated, still forcing herself to focus on Lucy. “I thought your surname was Montgomery.”
    â€œPia knows I have a title,” Hawk said at the same time.
    It was Lucy’s turn to look perplexed. She glanced between her brother and Pia. “I feel as if I’ve walked in during the middle of the second act. Is there something I should know?”
    Pia swung to look at Lucy. “Your brother and I are—” she spared Hawk a withering look “—acquainted.”
    Hawk arched a brow. “Well-acquainted.”
    â€œPast tense,” Pia retorted.
    â€œObviously—on all counts,” Lucy put in before turning to look at her brother. “You didn’t tell me that you knew Pia. You suggested only that, on good authority, you had the name of an excellent wedding planner whom you wanted to recommend to me.”
    â€œThe truth,” Hawk responded.
    Lucy arched a brow. “I take it the good authority was none other than yourself?”
    Hawk inclined his head in silent acknowledgment, a mocking look in his eyes as they met Pia’s.
    â€œYes,” Pia put in acidly, “your brother is practiced in making the artful omission.”
    Lucy looked with interest from her brother to Pia and back. “On the stage, this would be called a moment of high drama,” she quipped. “And here I thought, Hawk, that I had a lock on the thespian skills in the family.”
    Pia stood and reached for her handbag. “Thank you for the offer of tea, Lucy, but I won’t be staying.”
    As Pia tried to step by Hawk on the way to the door, he took hold of her elbow, and she froze.
    It was the first time he had touched her in three years—since the night they had first met. And despite herself, she couldn’t help feeling Hawk’s casual touch on her elbow to the tips of her toes. Her skin prickled at his nearness.
    Why, oh why, did she have to remain so responsive to him?
    Pia forced herself to look up. It was at a moment such asthis that she rued her lack of stature. And Hawk bested her on all counts…physical height, bearing and consequence in the world.
    â€œI see you have the knack of anticipating requests,” he said smoothly. “It’s a useful skill in a wedding planner. And, as it happens, I was going to ask for a private word.”
    Fortunately, she regained some of her combativeness at his words, and she fumed silently even as she let Hawk guide her out the door to the parlor without protest. She was headed in that direction anyway and there was no use making a scene in front of his sister.
    Once in the hall, however, she pulled away from Hawk’s loose hold. “If you would summon your butler or majordomo, or whatever you call him, for my coat, I’ll be on my way and we’ll put an end to this charade of an interview.”
    â€œNo,” Hawk responded, pulling shut the parlor door.
    â€œNo?” The gall…the utter nerve.
    Hawk smiled grimly. “Why pass up the chance to tell me, again, what you think of me? Or better yet, say it with finger food?” He nodded toward the room they’d just exited. “I noticed at least a few good scones in there.”
    â€œI’ll permit Lucy to enjoy them.”
    â€œWhat a relief.”
    Her gaze clashed with his.
    â€œIt seems we’re at an impasse,” Hawk said dryly. “I refuse to let you leave with your coat until we’ve spoken, and you’re—” he looked at a nearby window and the steady drizzle coming down “—determined to get wet.”
    â€œYou’re all