A Royal Mess and Her Knight To Remember (17 page)

Below, off to the right and hidden behind a box, was Jimmy, his gun hand jerking all over the place.

Kyle glanced up and nearly had a coronary. Annie had scooted toward the ledge on the far side of the loft where he'd left her. Slowly, she stood. Slowly, she lifted one leg over the edge, then the other, holding on to the wood behind her as she prepared to… Good God. She was going to jump!

Down on top of Jimmy.

And Kyle was too far away to stop her, too far away to call out to her or he'd cause Jimmy to look
up. He'd shoot her. Kyle had no doubt of that. Jimmy would shoot that bright, sassy, stubborn, amazing, beautiful woman without a qualm.

“Jimmy!” he bellowed, waving his arms. “Over here.”

Dutifully distracted, Jimmy swung toward him, and with an evil grin lifted his gun.

Crying like a banshee, Annie let go of the wood and flew into the air. Pink satin whirred. Golden hair whipped her face as she jumped Jimmy.

It all seemed to happen in horrifying, terrifying slow motion.

Jimmy glanced upward. His jaw dropped. He slowly lifted his hand, the one that held the gun.

Kyle leaped over the banister, landing at a dead run and getting halfway there before Annie landed right on top of Jimmy.

The gun flew in the air.

Still in slow motion—or what felt like it—Kyle hauled Annie off of Jimmy, then reached down and flipped the thug over so he was kissing the ground. Kyle wrenched Jimmy's hands behind his back and held him still with a knee to his back.

“This isn't over,” Jimmy spit out.

“For now it is.” Kyle, breathless, lifted his head
and pinned a furious gaze on Annie, who sat where he'd dropped her.
“You.”

“Me,” she agreed, coming to a stand, tossing back her hair, putting her hands on her hips, and overall looking so damn proud of herself he felt his anger dissolving on the spot. “No need to thank me.”

His anger returned as he stared at her.

“I saved us,” she said.

Jimmy laughed and Kyle dug his knee a little harder into his back. “You want to run that by me again, Princess?”

“Princess?” Jimmy repeated.

“Shut up,” Kyle and Annie told him in unison, still staring at each other.

From the direction of the elevator came the sound of running feet. Through the smoke, several uniformed policemen appeared, all with guns drawn.

“Now they show up,” Kyle said to no one in particular.

 

B
Y THE TIME
the fire was put out and Jimmy was hauled off, Kyle had a killer headache.

Annie sat not too far away from him. Someone had tossed a blanket around her shoulders. Her hair
had long ago rioted wildly around her face, and yet she looked every bit the princess—chin high, eyes flashing—as he approached.

“You coming over here to thank me?” she asked, and he had to pause. She was a most remarkable woman, he'd give her that. But he didn't want a tough-as-nails, know-it-all, irritating, sexy-as-hell woman in his life.

Annie rolled her eyes and stood. “Who asked you?”

He blinked. “What?”

“You just said you didn't want a tough-as-nails, know-it-all, irritating, sexy-as-hell woman in your life—thank you for the compliment by the way—but I'm wondering…who asked you?”

He'd spoken out loud. Perfect. He would attribute it to the usual adrenaline rush after a close brush with death, as he was most definitely feeling an adrenaline rush.

But he was deathly afraid he felt something else as well. A rush of lust for the hot princess with the cool head. “It's nothing personal,” he said. “All I want right now is a nice long leave of absence and a one-way plane ticket.”

“To where?”

“Anywhere.” He needed to rejuvenate, needed
to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. And if a woman, or two, came along during that time and wanted to wear him out with wild sex, then great.

But he doubted a princess would fit the bill.

 

A
ND CERTAINLY
no cop would fit the bill for Annie, though it had nothing to do with his profession.

In fact, his profession, and all the innate danger and excitement associated with it, was a turn-on for her.

No, it was his upcoming nuptials that stopped her. Even if just looking at him made her hormones quiver he belonged to someone else.

It was normal, she assured herself. He was a decorated, respected, intense, badass cop. She'd learned those details from his fellow officers, all of whom were as in awe of him as she was.

He was a magnificent specimen, standing there shirtless, his body tough and rugged. She could well imagine her sisters' reaction to him. Lili would blush. Natalia wouldn't. She rarely blushed over anything.

And suddenly Annie was grateful Nat wasn't here to bat her long lashes, and that she alone could look at this man.

He had a streak of dirt over one rock-hard pec and a bruise forming on his equally rock-hard jaw. She had a terrible urge to touch it.

“Well, I'm not interested, either,” she said to him. A big, fat lie, but she had no qualms about speaking it, not when her own pride was at stake. “I don't covet other people's fiancés. Not one little bit.”

Confusion flickered over his face. “What?”

Annie had plenty to say on the matter, but she didn't want to hear what a fool she was, so she whirled on her feet, taking herself and her destroyed bridesmaid's dress right out of his presence.

And this time, luckily, both nipples stayed where they belonged.

T
HE LAST THING
Kyle wanted to do that night was play dress up again, but as the best man, he had little choice.

It was bachelor-party night. A time where grown men made utter fools of themselves, all in the name of wedded bliss.

Only a few more days, he told himself, and then he'd be finished with all wedding duties. Not that he didn't feel happy for Kevin, but who'd have thought having his brother get married would be so torturous—on
him.

“Uh, Kyle? There's something you should know about tonight.” Kevin pulled into the restaurant parking lot where the party was to take place, turned off the car and looked at him.

Uh-oh. Kyle leaned his head back against the headrest of Kevin's car and reminded himself that he loved his brother. “Why does the tone of your voice make me quiver in fear?”

“Hey, after facing Jimmy Tarintino, anything else should be a breeze.”

Kyle studied Kevin's smile and decided it was a fake one. “What the hell have you done?”

“Oh. Well.” Kevin looked straight ahead and shrugged. “It's no biggie, really.”

“Then why are you sweating?”

Kevin let out a little laugh. “Have I mentioned I love you, man?”

“Spill it.”

Kevin took a deep breath. “Lissa really wanted to be with me tonight.”

“It's called a bachelor party, Kev, not date night. No fiancées allowed.”

“Yeah.” Kevin bit his lip. “She didn't want any strippers.”

“Which is why we didn't get any.”

“She wanted me to get a good night's rest before the wedding.”

“Which is why we're doing the bachelor party tonight, two days before the wedding.”

Kevin closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands. “She really wanted to come.”

“Yeah? So did Mom.”

Kevin was silent.

And Kyle's stomach sank. Kevin had done
something stupid, he could feel it. “Tell me you didn't invite Mom.”

“Worse.”

“You told Lissa she could come.” When his brother just groaned, Kyle sent his gaze skyward. “Terrific.”

“She invited herself,” Kevin said into his hands. “All the bridesmaids are coming, too. It's a bachelor-bachelorette party.”

“Funny, Kev. You're a funny guy.”

“I'm not kidding.”

“Ah, hell.” Kyle closed his eyes and pictured the scene perfectly. Lissa would be there.

Which meant so would Annie.

“Let's look at the bright side,” Kevin said from behind his hands.

“There is no bright side.”

Kevin dropped his hands and stared at him for a moment, then let his shoulders sag. “You're right. There is no bright side.”

 

K
YLE ENTERED
the restaurant, expertly dodged the crowd that immediately swallowed Kevin, and headed straight to the bar.

The bartender was drying a glass as he eyed Kyle's maneuver. “You're good.”

“Yeah. Something stiff. Straight up.”

The bartender's brows lifted. “Buddy, maybe you'd better rethink this getting married thing if you're stressing already.”

“I'm not the groom, I just look like him. If I was the groom I'd have hung myself by now.”

The bartender slid him a drink.

Kevin came up and sat next to Kyle. “Hey, Kyle, I thought you stopped drinking after Uncle Joe tossed back one too many and wrapped himself and your beloved Jeep around a tree.”

“I've gotten over both losses.” Kyle slid his fingers around the cool glass and thought of the evening ahead.

Lots of required smiles.

Required politeness.

And worse, lots of Annie. He took a long swallow.

Kevin stared longingly. Lissa had asked him not to drink tonight, so they'd have clear memories to last them a life time. Kyle shook his head in disbelief.

Clear memories.

Why anyone would want clear memories of getting locked to another person was beyond Kyle.

Besides, he wanted some help forgetting the
events of the day. How he'd nearly bought it. How he'd nearly bought it for an innocent—irritating—woman with the biggest, most expressive gold eyes he'd ever seen.

Kyle went utterly still and ran that last thought again. Yep, he'd just been waxing poetic over a pair of eyes.

He tossed back the rest of the drink and waved for another, which came promptly. He lifted it to his lips but Kevin was just sitting there, looking a little regretful that he'd promised Lissa he wouldn't quench his thirst.

And with a regretful sigh, he passed the glass to Kevin. “Be quick about it, and don't tell her I gave it to you.”

His brother put a grateful hand to Kyle's shoulder and took the drink in one swig. “Oh, yeah.” He put a fist to his chest. “That's going to do the trick.”

“Doubt it,” Kyle muttered.

“Well, look who's here.”

Kyle didn't turn because he knew that slightly nasal, slightly whiny voice. Lissa. The woman his brother had decided to marry. The woman bound and determined to set up Kyle to the same fate.

“Hey, baby,” Kevin said with a smile. “You look real pretty tonight.”

Lissa beamed. “It's my prewedding glow.”

“No, it's you,” Kevin said, and slipped his arms around her.

Kyle looked away and tried not to puke.

“Well, well, well,” Lissa said to Kevin. “You're sitting next to the man who single-handedly destroyed one of my bridesmaid dresses.”

He could feel her dark eyes boring into the back of his head and wished he had his drink back.

She put her face in front of his and he prepared to die.

“I wanted to thank you,” she said, surprising him.

“Look, I'm sorry about the dress,” he said a little defiantly. “And the tux.” Okay, he wasn't sorry about the tux. “But I wasn't thinking about the clothing while trying to save—”

“I know,” Lissa said, and her smile was genuine. “Kyle, I meant it.” She leaned in, and kissed his cheek. “I really did want to thank you. And so does someone else.” She pulled back and gestured to the woman standing next to her. “Kyle, I'd like
to formally introduce you to one of my bridesmaids.”

Kyle looked into the gold eyes he'd never forget. She wasn't wearing any horrendous pink creation now, but cream slacks and a thin sweater to match, both of which seemed sedate, and almost boyish, after what he'd seen her in earlier.

He liked it.

Everything about her, from the tip of her leather shoes to the top of her head, screamed elegance and sophistication. Her hair had been tended to, the golden waves falling past her shoulders. She wore little makeup, but she didn't need it. She looked natural. Stunning.

And very much like a princess. A very…
angry
princess.

“It's one of my mother's fondest wishes to have her best friend's daughter in my wedding,” Lissa said. “You don't know much about my family, Kyle, but my mother called some very famous people her friends.”

Kyle could care less, but he couldn't take his eyes off Annie. A woman he'd drilled Kevin about, and now knew the basic facts. She really was royalty, one of the Three Jewels of Europe, so nicknamed by the European paparazzi. German was her
first language, though she'd been taught English at the age of two by a British nanny, which explained her almost-British accent.

Yet, she was so utterly…real. Tough. Amazing. And he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Annie seemed similarly afflicted, although he had to admit, while he felt his eyes soften as they landed on her, her eyes most definitely did not soften. In fact, they sparked fire.

Lissa, oblivious to the tension, continued, “Kyle, this is Her Serene Highness Andrea Katrine Fran Brunner of Grunberg.” Lissa turned to Annie. “And this is Kyle Moore, Annie. Kevin's brother.”

When neither Annie nor Kyle moved, Lissa let out a little laugh. “You two do remember each other, right?”

Remember? He'd never forget. God, she was beautiful. So serene, so quiet and calm. Nothing like the kick-ass woman he'd traipsed with to hell and back today.

But then he looked into her eyes again, caught the flashing emotions, and saw his Annie.

His
Annie? Oh, boy. Not good.

“Well, at least we won't have that sort of excitement tonight,” Lissa said, smiling into the quiet tension. “No gunmen hanging around here, trying
to ruin more wedding plans, not to mention wedding clothes.”

What would Annie say if she knew Kyle had grown rather fond of that ill-fitting pink satin dress? And that it had little to do with its inability to keep her perfect nipples hidden?

It gave him pleasure to remember how strong she'd been. He couldn't remember respecting a female more, and suddenly his forced smile felt warm and real. He stood, getting ready to make a little joke about how well she cleaned up.

But she stepped forward and stabbed a finger into his chest. “I remember you just fine.”

Really?
he wanted to say.
Do you remember that first heart-stopping sensation when I kissed you, just before you punched me?

Do you remember how we both melted, for that brief moment?

Or how about afterward, when we were both safe and there was that strange sense of loss because our time together was over.

But Annie didn't look like she would enjoy a trip down memory lane. Clearly, she was furious.

Confused, Kyle looked at Kevin, who was gesturing to the bartender for another shot. No help coming from that department.

“Why did you let me think you were the groom?” Annie demanded.

He looked at her again.
“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Yes, but…I never told you I was the groom.” Because the idea was so ridiculous, he laughed, and she poked him again, harder. “Stop that,” he said, grabbing her finger.

“I made several mentions of the wedding,” she spat out, pulling her finger free. “And you…”

“And I…what?”

“You wore that tux.”

“Yes, but I sure as hell didn't say I was getting married.”

“Yes, but…” She trailed off, staring at him, wide-eyed.

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “You're catching on, now, aren't you? I was wearing the tux because I'm in the wedding, too. Just like you.”

She made a low sound that managed to perfectly convey that this was still all
his
fault.

Kevin, on his third shot of liquor now, snickered, but cut it off at a look from Lissa.

“Look,” Kyle said, trying to appease, “I had no idea you had me pegged as the groom.”

“Well you should have figured out what I was
thinking and corrected me,” she said with another stab to his chest. “A woman would have.”

He grabbed her finger, and this time held on. “I'm not a woman.”

“I…” She swallowed hard. “I did notice that much.”