Let It Snow... (6 page)

A trip to the nearest store was first thing on his list for morning.

“Well, how was it?” a voice asked as he reached his door.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw both his compatriots, peeking at him from across the hall. Teeny was so much taller, his gleaming round eyes were a good foot above Shelby’s.

“We had a...very nice evening,” Philip said, hearing the satisfaction in his own voice. He didn’t elaborate. What he and Claire had shared was nobody else’s business but their own.

“Is it settled, then? Is she the one?” asked Shelby.

Philip didn’t even have to think about it. “She is most definitely the one.” Whatever feelings he’d had for Claire before paled in comparison to what he felt for her now. Having spent so many hours in her company—some just walking and talking, some being more intimate than any he’d ever spent in his life—he knew he was falling in love with her.

“When is the wedding?” Teeny asked, his expression as close to happy as it ever got.

Philip laughed softly. “I haven’t even proposed to her yet.”

“Well, why not?” Shelby let out an annoyed sigh. “You know she is the one, so tell her who we are, and we can get out of here.”

“I have to court her.”

Shelby blew out a rude sound. “Just give her some diamonds. That’ll convince her.”

“Have you forgotten that the entire reason we came here was so I could make sure my future bride loves me for myself, not for what I can bestow upon her?”

His cousin suddenly snapped his fingers. “That reminds me! You will never believe what Teeny and I watched on that television device tonight! It was your story!”

Teeny piped up. “It was quite remarkable, Your Highness, as if some performers had decided to act out your life.”

Curious, Philip waited for an explanation.

“It was a film,” Shelby explained, nodding his head and sounding knowledgeable—as if he knew all there was to know about this world already. “A film about a prince and his very handsome, talented, witty, well-dressed manservant, coming to America to find the prince a bride who would love him for himself.”

Shocked, Philip felt his mouth fall open. “What happens?”

“They go to work in a fast-food restaurant, mopping floors, and live in a tenement building much like this one.”

Teeny broke in again. “At one point, the manservant pretends to be the prince and woos the heroine’s sister with talk of his—the real prince’s—wealth.”

Shelby glared up at the bodyguard. “That’s beside the point.”

“Don’t you dare,” Philip warned his cousin.

“I wouldn’t dream of it!”

Sure he wouldn’t.

“Does the prince win the maiden?” Philip asked.

“He does, Your Highness, although he fears all is lost when she finds out he has been lying to her. In fact, he goes back to his kingdom in sadness and disappointment, and it isn’t until he is at the altar about to wed another that he realizes she has come after him.”

Claire wouldn’t be able to come after him if Philip left without her. As of right now, she didn’t even know his world existed. Few on Earth did, though most Elatyrians knew about their neighboring world, some even moving back and forth between them on a weekly basis. But she certainly would have no way of finding it.

“Are you saying I need to tell her the truth?” he asked.

Teeny nodded and Shelby did too the very same instant. These two never agreed on anything.

Philip answered his own question. “I will,” he stated firmly. “I need just a few more days, then I’ll be completely honest with her and ask her to come back with me to Elatyria.”

“She’ll say yes,” Shelby insisted loyally.

Teeny didn’t look so sure.

“What is it?” Philip asked the frowning man.

“Well, that brother of hers...”

“Have you seen him?”

“I saw him,” Teeny admitted. “He and another man were up the block this afternoon. Mr. Freddy was pointing toward the shop, appearing nervous and guilty.”

Philip’s blood raced through his veins. He could think of no reason for Claire’s brother to be skulking around, showing people where she lived and worked, unless he was in more trouble and was counting on his sister to get him out of it.

It was time to teach that pup a lesson. Past time.

But until Philip got hold of him, it was back to full-time guard duty for him and his friends.

“I know, I know,” Shelby said, as if reading his mind. “I’ll take the first watch tonight. Teeny will relieve me in four hours. I assume you intend to guard her tomorrow?”

“I certainly do,” Philip said. He’d planned to give her some time, to perhaps wait until late afternoon to stop in and see how she was feeling about things, after all that had happened tonight. Now, knowing she might be in danger, he couldn’t afford to wait. “Thank you, my friends.”

Murmuring good night, Philip went into his sorry little apartment, which, he had to admit, looked much better than it had ten days ago, when he’d first seen it. Though he hadn’t spent a great deal of money, in case Claire or anyone else should come up and wonder how he could afford it, he and his friends had invested some physical labor. It had felt good to scour, fix walls, seal windows and clean. Philip was used to a lot of physical activity at home—mainly riding, jousting, and occasionally leading a battle against the brigands who sometimes invaded the kingdom from the desert. Other than walking around the city, he’d had no outlet for his pent-up energy here, so working on these rooms had been cathartic.

He wondered what Claire would think when she saw them. He also wondered how she’d feel about leaving this behind.

Part of him suspected she would not want to go, since she appeared devoted to her small shop. But there were candy shops in his world, too, and while she might be the first royal princess to have a job, that’s what she would have if that’s what she wanted.

First, though, he had to convince her to come with him. Which wouldn’t be a problem if she truly fell in love with him.

The question was, would she? And did he have enough time for her to?

His month of freedom was more than halfway over. He had to leave a few days at the end for the return, and had already decided he would have to depart New York City on Christmas Eve to make it home in time. Which meant he had less than two weeks to capture the love of the woman who’d win his.

He’d possessed her body tonight—and the memory of what they’d shared would haunt his dreams and his fantasies for the rest of his life. Now he needed to lay siege to her heart.

6

T
HOUGH
SHE
WOULD
NEVER
regret the incredibly sensual interlude she’d shared with Philip, Claire couldn’t help wishing it hadn’t been a workday. Because the next morning, she was weary and dragging. She felt drugged. Maybe she’d OD’d on chocolate.

“But oh, God, what a way to go,” she whispered as she put the finishing touches on some beautifully decorated sugared plums. She’d already been at work for two hours, finishing up the special orders she’d neglected the night before, and realized it was time to open the shop.

After starting the industrial-size coffeepots, she lifted the chairs off the small tables and set them in place. Then she pulled open the blinds and went to unlock the door, flipping the sign from Closed to Open.

Through the glass, she was surprised to see a small line of people waiting outside.

“Please come in!”

She stepped back and gestured for them to step in out of the blustery morning air. Claire had been in business for almost a month now, but this was the first time people had actually been waiting for her to open. She couldn’t contain a rush of pleasure and satisfaction at having come this far, this quickly.

With a smile on her face, she served coffee and pastries—something she’d recently added to the menu to appeal to the breakfast crowd. Plus there were plenty of order pickups, orders placed, and on-the-spot treats purchased.

It wasn’t until nearly eleven that she had a chance to sit down, feeling both exhausted and energized, somehow. And of course, that was the moment when her lover—well, her oral lover, anyway, since they hadn’t taken that oh-so-intimate final step—walked through the door.

As always, Philip filled up the room. He had such presence, an almost regal air. His amazing body was always perfectly straight, his jaw tilted slightly as his beautiful bedroom eyes surveyed the room. The guy could part a crowd—she’d seen that last night—and could dominate a large space. Suddenly, the walls seemed much closer, the room more intimate, and the setting far more private than a shop that had been filled with people ten minutes ago.

“Good morning, Claire,” he said, that throaty voice almost purring. “Did you sleep well?”

Thinking of the night’s sleep she had—of the erotic dreams he’d inspired and the way she’d been shaken awake from one of them by a powerful orgasm—she felt color flood into her cheeks.

“Oh. I see you did,” he said, a small smile playing on that sensuous mouth she had grown to adore.

“Yes. And you?”

“Not really,” he admitted.

Her stomach lurched. Had she been the only one affected by the incredible intimacies they’d shared? “No?”

“I could think only about the coming of morning, when the sundry store around the corner would open for business.”

Not understanding, she tipped her head in confusion.

Philip lifted his hand to show her the small plastic bag he was carrying. She peered at it, able to just make out the lettering on the small box within.

“That’s... Oh,” she whispered, her legs suddenly wobbly as she realized he’d gone out first thing this morning to buy a box of condoms.

“You approve?”

She nodded vehemently. “I most definitely approve.”

He appeared relieved. Good grief, had he really been wondering if she’d had second thoughts? If, after having that amazing mouth and those remarkable hands bring her to the height of pleasure, she would possibly not want more? Only an insane woman—or one without a hint of estrogen—could have been pressed up against that hot, sexy male body, could have seen that massive, proud erection, could have tasted the heat of him, and not wanted more.

Philip cast another glance around the shop, as if to make sure no one else was there, and strode toward her. Wrapping his arms around her, he hauled her against him for a deep, hungry good-morning kiss. His body was so big, broad and warm, his kiss so devouring and demanding, she couldn’t help but melt against him, kissing him back with every ounce of passion he’d aroused in her the night before. Both during their amazing kitchen interlude and in her dreams.

“I thought about you all night long,” he admitted.

“Ditto.”

He raised a curious brow.

“I mean, me, too,” she explained, liking the way he sometimes didn’t understand her way of speaking. He was old-fashioned in some respects, almost otherworldly at times. She liked that about him. Hell, she liked everything about him. Every damn thing, from the way he looked to the way he talked to the sound of his husky laugh, to the light in his eyes, to his brainy conversation, to the way he used his mouth...everywhere.

He intoxicated her. Aroused her. Thrilled her.

She was falling for this man, hard and fast. And somehow, the logical, care-taking Claire, who should have already put on the brakes, since she had little time or room in her life for a relationship, was keeping her big fat mouth shut. The Claire who sometimes dreamed of more, who fantasized about true love and happily-ever-after, was strictly in charge.

“So when’s closing time?”

A gurgle of laughter rose in her throat as she heard the boyish anticipation in his tone. She suspected that box of condoms would be burning a hole through the bag, from all the heated thoughts sent its way.

“I usually stay open later on Wednesday evenings, so not until eight.”

“Your assistant—is she working today?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And the lady who is helping with the cooking?”

“Yes, Mrs. West will be in, too. She’s fantastic.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” he said with a satisfied smile, as if he’d personally selected the woman for the job. “So can you, perhaps, leave a little early?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy already, I honestly doubt it.”

“Hmm... What if I got someone else to help man the store?”

“Your mastodon in the china shop? I don’t think so.”

“No, not Teeny. I mean Shelby.”

Remembering the slightly snooty guy who’d been flirting with Jeannie the day before, Claire scrunched her brow. “I doubt he’d—”

“Oh, he’d love to,” Philip insisted with a nod. “He was just telling me this morning how much he’d love to learn more about business. And about candy. About the candy business.”

That didn’t sound like the man she’d met. “Seriously?”

“Indeed. He’s quite anxious to learn. You would be doing him a favor by allowing him to be your employee’s assistant tonight. And then you could leave early and come with me.”

Claire wrapped her arms around Philip’s neck and smiled up at him. “Where? All the way back to my bedroom?”

“No,” he said, dropping his hands to her hips and stroking gently. “I have arranged a surprise for us.”

Ooh, that sounded interesting. And very tempting.

“Well, if it’s just for an hour or so, I suppose I could—”

“Excellent. It’s settled. I will meet you here at six o’clock.” He kissed her forehead. “Dress up.”

There was that bossy tone again.

“Are you sure you can afford for us to go somewhere that requires ‘dressing up’?” In New York, dinner at a fancy restaurant could cost a lot of money, and on his visiting student income, she didn’t want him to overextend himself.

“I wasn’t entirely forthcoming with you about my finances,” he admitted. “I’m perhaps not quite as poor as I let on.”

She’d suspected as much, given the way he dressed and his confident manner. “So why did you say you were?”

“Because I wanted to stay here, in this building.” He dropped his mouth to her temple and kissed her again. “Near you.”

Every inch of her felt lighter, somehow, and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. Because as strange as it seemed, she believed him. He had only just met her when they’d argued about the apartment, yet she’d felt an incredibly strong attraction to him. Was it so crazy to think he’d felt the same?

She turned so their noses touched, and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ll be ready.”

* * *

T
ELLING
C
LAIRE
HE
WASN
’
T
poor had been the first step in easing her toward the truth. Philip knew that most women, here and on Elatyria, would be thrilled to find out their supposedly penniless suitor had wealth beyond their imagining. But Claire wasn’t like most women, which was why he’d fallen in love with her. She wouldn’t be happy that he’d deceived her—like the woman in the film his friends had watched last night. He only hoped she understood when he told her the whole story.

In the meantime, though, now that he was free to use some of his money, he intended to make the most of it. Claire had worked hard every single day since he’d met her, with very little help. She deserved a fantasy night out, and he intended to give it to her.

He knocked on her door right on time, heard her call from within. “Come on in, it’s unlocked.”

Unlocked. That displeased him, although he couldn’t tell her so without revealing that he, Shelby and Teeny had been guarding her full-time again. Stating that fact might not be so bad. Telling her it was because her brother, who hadn’t even contacted her in the weeks since he’d used and exploited her, was possibly in trouble again, could make things very painful for her. And causing her pain was something Philip did not intend to do. Now, or ever.

He twisted the knob and let himself in. Claire’s apartment was as immaculate and prettily decorated as her shop—nothing like the units upstairs. The front room was expansive, with tasteful furniture and soft lighting. The colors suited her—cream and mauve, subdued, elegant and graceful. He suspected this was her retreat after long days in the hectic shop, which had appeared to be empty of customers only during the brief minutes he’d spent with her this morning.

Of course, that had been because Teeny had been standing right outside the door, telling customers they had to wait a few minutes.

The rest of the day had flown by; Philip had watched from the restaurant across the street as the crowds streamed in. Knowing she was surrounded by people, he’d finally allowed himself to go upstairs and get ready for their evening.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said, sounding breathless as she emerged from a back room.

He sucked in a breath himself, his whole body heating up as he beheld her. Claire was always lovely. Right now, though, she was the most stunning creature he had ever seen.

She wore a black dress that clung to her curvaceous form. It was short, coming to just above her knees, showing off her slim legs to advantage. The dress plunged low in the front to reveal those magnificent breasts he’d so thoroughly enjoyed tasting. When she turned slightly to retrieve her coat, and he saw that the back plunged even farther, he had to swallow, hard, and remind himself to breathe.

“Are you sure you won’t be too cold?” he choked out, both loving the way she looked and dreading any other man seeing her that way.

Her eyes sparkled and her lips twitched. “I’ll be fine.”

She sauntered closer, her pose casual, but her trembling mouth betraying her. She liked this power, was reveling in her feminine strengths, confident and stunning.

Philip strode to her and grabbed her in his arms, pulling her against him and capturing her mouth in a kiss. Their tongues swirled, hot and hard, and he knew she’d worn this dress on purpose, wanting to inflame him, wanting him hungry for her every minute until they finally consummated their union.

“You know what you do to me,” he growled against her mouth.

She looked up at him, smoothing her hand over the shoulder of the tailored tuxedo he’d purchased earlier in the week. “The same thing you do to me?”

“I hope so.”

“Philip, if you told me you’d changed your mind and wanted to walk right back to my bedroom and strip me out of this dress, I would have absolutely no objection.”

That was so very tempting. But tonight wasn’t about merely seducing her body. He wanted her mind, her heart, her soul.

“You will tempt me all night long,” he told her as he reached for her coat and helped her put it on.

She looked the tiniest bit disappointed. So right before he led her out of the apartment, he bent to whisper, “Before we go, though, I must know.... What are you wearing under that dress?”

She licked her lips, smiling mysteriously. Then, without a word, she reached into the small black purse, opened it and withdrew a tiny tuft of soft black fabric.

“I
was
wearing these.”

Gods, the woman tormented him. He grabbed the tiny panties from her hand, brought them to his mouth and rubbed the fabric against his lips, catching the warm, sweet scent of her. Then he tucked them into his pocket, planning to keep this souvenir forever.

They had to leave now or they wouldn’t leave at all. He took her arm and escorted her down the hallway to the front exit. Standing outside at the curb was the long black vehicle he’d engaged for the evening.

When he led her toward it, she gasped. “You hired a limo?”

He shrugged. “I don’t have a driving license.”

“Ever heard of a cab?”

“This seemed a better choice.”

She let him help her in, and scooted over so he could move into place beside her. Exchanging nods with the driver, who had received his instructions earlier, Philip watched as the privacy panel slid up, leaving him and Claire entirely alone and shielded from the outside world in the shadowy darkness of the car.

“This is amazing,” she said as she examined the interior. When she saw the bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket, with two accompanying glasses, she licked her lips. Beside it were two china plates, silverware and tempting appetizers. “You really thought of everything.”

“I wanted to pamper you. To take care of you for a change.”

She blinked rapidly, as if moisture threatened to spill from her eyes. “Nobody’s ever done that for me before.”

“Never?”

She shook her head. “Not since I was young. My mother was...not strong.”

That surprised him, given the extraordinary strength and will Claire possessed. His own mother was as gracious and kind as could be, but had an iron spine. He had little use for weak women.