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‘RSVP?’ Edward comes up behind him, frowning down at the pearlescent rectangle with its silver scrawl and embossed fairy tale scene.
‘Thank you,’ I say.
‘You’re very welcome.’
‘RSVP?’ Edward repeats, stronger this time, his brows raised to us both.
‘For the Halloween Ball...’ I smile sweetly. ‘You know...the thing we were just talking about...’
He makes a sound deep within his throat...
Did he just growl at me? Oh, this gets better and better.
‘Aww, don’t look so put out...’ I touch his chest, well aware I’m poking the bear. ‘You’re invited, too. You’re my Prince Charming.’
Juan chokes on a laugh, and I swear I hear Edward curse under his breath. Serves him right. If he’d paid attention, none of this would be a surprise.
I got a grunt from him when I asked for sign-off on the people I intended to invite, another when I said I was going to ask his personal assistant for help, so as far as I’m concerned at this juncture anything goes.
Though I may have made something of a poor judgement call when it came to using Katherine’s old guest list as a starting point. I’m either a sucker for punishment or just a tad too soft. In either case it’s done now, and the responses are flooding in.
I haven’t received theirs yet, but never say never...
Perhaps they’ll do me an unconscious favour and not attend.
But if they do the black look on Edward’s face now might not be the worst I witness in connection with the ball.
‘Well, if the weather keeps up,’ Juan is saying, ‘you’ll certainly have the magic of a winter wonderland to add to your fairy tale theme. I was worried we weren’t going to make it.’
I look outdoors, to the blanket of white quickly thickening, and grimace. ‘It’ll certainly help keep the ice sculptures cold, but if the guests can’t get here we won’t have a ball at all.’
‘Don’t you worry yourself with that. Edward will make sure the roads are clear—won’t you, Edward?’
He slaps his friend on the back...his friend who looks as if he might want to string someone up right now... And I’m not sure if it’s me or Juan, my new and wonderful comrade-in-arms.
‘Excellent. So I can leave that job in your capable hands—yes, my Prince?’
I bat my eyelashes at him and suppress a laugh at the look on his face. Okay, so maybe ‘my Prince’ was a step too far, but winding him up is so much fun. Payback of a sort.
‘I’ll take care of it.’
It’s a grumble under his breath, and for the added fun of it I leap up at him, kiss his cheek. His warmth teases at my lips, his scent at my nose, and all that strength beneath my palm flexes as I lean into him.
Oh, heaven.
‘Thank you.’
His eyes collide with mine, their depths wild and dangerous, and then I’m dropping back and turning away before Juan sees more than he should.
I feel the thrum beneath my skin long after he’s gone. And if I had the sense to dwell on it I’d likely be worried. But I don’t dwell. I act.
And right now I have boxes to shift and a snow-loving dog to walk.
‘Right, Rufus. Boxes and then walk. Deal?’
He gives an animated bark.
‘At least you still love me...’
