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“So that means, what? That the Petrovs were planning to kill Prince John? Why?” Ned said. “Why would the Russians want to kill the prince?”
A beat.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Ned said. “We stopped them, and you said your team has extra security, right?”
“Yes,” Pippa said.
“And so does the ELF.”
“So, it’s over?” Shae said. “We foiled their plan? I feel like I should have a mustache to twirl.”
Her joke didn’t hit. Pippa looked at Fraser. He made a face. “I don’t know.”
“I think it’s time for Imani and me to head back to Lauchtenland.”
Fraser blinked at her, frowned, and then gave her a look that said maybe right now wasn’t the time to have this conversation.
“You let us know when you’re coming home,” her father said, leaning forward to pick up the phone. Now it was just his face in the screen. “Iris. I love you. Hud? Take care of my girl.”
“Dad.”
“Iris—”
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
“Yes, sir,” Hud said, and they hung up.
Iris turned to Shae. “Eloping?”
Hud shook Ned’s hand. “Okay, so Iris and I are going to get out of here and let you figure that out.” He got up. “C’mon.”
“Where are we going?”
He pulled her toward the door. Handed over her jacket. She slipped on boots, a hat, and he did the same.
Oh, he was cute in his puffy black parka, his hat that turned his blue eyes rich. The man was unbearably handsome.
And he was hers.
He took her hand again and led her downstairs, through the lobby, then outside to the square, where music bounced off the cobblestones into the star-strewn night. Street vendors hawked caramel stroopwafels and french frites with mayonnaise, ginger cake and poffertjes—pancakes with powdered sugar.
Musicians busked in the corners of the square, their violin or guitar cases open for money.
Hud made a direct line for the Ferris wheel. He bought a ticket at the counter, then added them to the line.
“What are we doing?”
“We are…taking a moment.” He put his arm around her, pulled her close.
“A moment?”
“Yep.” He climbed into the hanging basket, and she settled in beside him.
The Ferris wheel began to move.
He pulled her close, against him.
