The tiniest shudder runs through me.
It’s important to remind myself that she’s also Stellan’s little sister, just nineteen years old. She makes me feel old and decrepit at twenty six. But my body and my brain are not on the same page here. They’re not even reading the same book.
My body finds every little thing that Princess Annika does to be extremely attractive.
“Are you fucking serious?” Lars asks, interrupting my train of thought.
I tear my eyes away from Annika. “What?”
He slowly shakes his head and rakes his fingers through his messy dark hair. “You can’t really think that ogling Annika openly is a good idea.”
My neck heats. “What? No. I wasn’t ogling her. I was just trying to see what she’s throwing a fit about.” I squint. “Probably some dramatic nonsense, knowing your sister.”
Lars snorts. “I see your mouth moving, but I don’t trust anything you’re saying right now.”
I roll my eyes. “Even if I found Annika the slightest bit attractive — which I don’t — there are a thousand reasons why I would never, ever touch her. Not the least of which is Stellan.” I squint into the distance.
He laughs. “No fucking kidding. That’s pretty much the only reason I can think of, aside from you being way too old to date her.”
I slide him a look. “There’s also a great deal of income disparity between us.”
Leaning against the wall, he sips his champagne. “She would find that with almost anyone she tries to date. And besides, aren’t you some kind of secret day trading wizard? Last time we talked about it, you were making the stock market your bitch.”
My lips twitch. “I shouldn’t have told you that. I was drunk, as I remember.”
Annika materializes, eyeing both of us as she stalks over. I push off the wall, straightening.
Lars gives me a look out of the corner of his eye. I button my tuxedo jacket as Annika arrives, looking flushed.
“Ugh!” she declares, looking around. She flags down a waiter and grabs a glass of champagne. “Momse is such a piece of work.”
I clear my throat, looking over at Lars. He seems unconcerned by Annika’s complaint, sipping his drink. So, I step in.
“What happened now?”
Annika flaps her hand impatiently. “Nothing. I just had an argument with Momse. It’s so ridiculous.”
She’s referring to the Queen Mother, or Momse for short. The Queen Mother is the one that pulls all the strings in this royal Danish puppet show. Her son, the former king, and her daughter-in-law are…
What’s a polite way to say that they’ve never shown much aptitude for parenting their five children? Maybe… disinclined to be in the state of Denmark, much less spend any time with Stellan and his siblings?
That still sounds harsh but it’s true.
“What did the old girl do now?” Lars asks.
Annika’s mouth turns down. “She says that I have to figure out what I’m doing with my life. And I’m like…” She makes a strangled gesture. “I’m trying. Momse is always in such a hurry to make decisions. God.”
She finishes her statement by swallowing half her glass of wine.
“Easy with the champagne, Nika,” Lars says, surveying her critically. “You’re toeing the line with Momse as it is. The last thing you need is to get drunk and misbehave while at an event like this. The place is packed with the press. And we both know that the press already has you pegged as a troublemaker.”
She makes a wounded sound, scrunching up her face. “I thought you would be on my side, Lars.”
He pushes off the wall with a shrug. “I’m on my own side. Always have been, always will be.”
With that, he strolls off toward the door. I catch a glimpse of bright red hair moving out of the ballroom; he must be going after Pippa.
Annika puts her hand on her hip and shakes her head at him. Then she makes a moue of displeasure as she looks me up and down. “Isn’t it past your bedtime, old man?”
I glare at her, checking my watch. “I’m here for as long as your brother is here, little girl. I go wherever he goes. I’m hoping that he’ll leave soon… but I’ve already heard whispers of an afterparty.”
She looks at Stellan, tilting her head thoughtfully. “Stellan is pretty damn victorious tonight. I can’t believe my big brother is engaged.”
I slide her a glance. “No?”
She shrugs. “I mean, it’s not like Stellan and I are very close. I’ve only been back from Swiss boarding school for a year. Stellan always looks surprised to see me, like he forgot that I was here or something. But still.” She scrunches up her face. “I have to say, I do like Margot.”
I tug on my tie. “Yes. She’s very… American. Very brash. But she’s a good egg anyway.”
She makes a face at me. “What will you do once my brother gets married? Huh? That’s sure to open up a lot of free time.”
My neck heats. I cock my head. “Oh, Annika. The things you say. You have truly been a shining gem since you’ve returned from boarding school.”
Her lips twitch, her eyes on me. “I’m so glad I can perform that service for you. Really fill a niche. You must love me for that.”
My lips curve upwards even as my eyes narrow on her face. “You are a brat, Annika.”
She runs her fingers around the rim of her champagne flute, her eyes sparkling and sparking. “So, I’ve been told. I wonder, will you take me over your knee and spank me?”
My expression goes from shocked to disapproving almost instantly. “Annika, what the fuck!”
She dips her fingertip into her wine, then pops it in her mouth, sucking off the remnants. “What? You can admit it to me right now. There is no one listening.”
Shaking my head, I give her a baffled face. “Admit what?”
She arches a brow. “That you totally want to sleep with me.”
“What?!” I ask, my voice choked. “Annika, I could never… That’s unthinkable. And I don’t want you to go around telling people that, either.”
She gives me a pout. “Ouch. It’s lucky that I realize that you’re full of shit.” She grins. “Everyone wants me. Or a facsimile of who they think that I am.” She rolls her eyes. “Haven’t you heard? I’m the only princess and I’m almost old enough to marry. The boys flock around me like bees swarm around a rose.”
My fists clench. “You are so full of yourself, Annika. Christ.”
She blushes but keeps grinning. “Nah, not really. I just like to goad you because it gets you all tongue tied. Nobody else sees my wicked side.”
Shaking my head, I adjust my stance. “Lucky me.”
“I know, right?” Annika winks and then looks over her shoulder. “I don’t see Stellan… I think I’m going to leave.”
Arching a brow, I cross my arms. “What, you have somewhere better to be?”
She turns, pinning me with her gaze. “Wouldn’t you like to know.” She lifts up her voluminous skirts and tosses her head. “Goodnight, Erik.”
And with that, she heads out of the ballroom, strutting like she’s on a runway. I stare at her retreating figure, wondering why I find her so compelling.