She tried to discreetly check out Topher from the corner of her eyes. He looked so damned handsome garbed in full military regalia: the crisp blue uniform, the sheathed sword, the sash and all the medals. For the first time in forever, she felt her heart almost skip a beat over a guy. But could it be a worse guy? Thanks to Pippa, Topher was pegged with that embarrassing nickname by his brothers and could never live down something that undoubtedly the whole lot of them did daily under that palace roof. Poor Topher had the grave misfortune of being caught red-handed. Literally.
She burst out laughing at her own mental joke, so loudly that everyone in the conversation turned to look at her. She tried to cover up her laughter by pretending to be choking on a sip of champagne. But her eyes met Topher’s and in that brief exchange, they both knew they were each revisiting that moment yet again.
Pippa felt horrible: the poor guy could never live down such an isolated instance in his life. No thanks to her.
Chapter Two
TOPHER spent dinner engaged in conversation with some princess from Sweden or Denmark or another very blonde country. She was absolutely stunning: deep blue eyes, natural blonde hair (he assumed), perfect skin, knockout figure. Who could complain? In the days of his ancestors, no doubt he’d have been seated by the woman someone else had deigned it necessary for him to marry to forge a union with another country. Which made him quite happy this was not the culture nowadays. Because while this blonde princess was incredibly hot, she was a bit boring. And her breath smelled. Besides, the last thing he wanted was a) to get married, and b) to be told he had to get married.
He was perfectly happy pursuing an advanced degree in marine biology and traveling to tropical climates in pursuit of that pursuit. The last thing he needed was an anchor in the form of a woman to tie him down. Nope, the type of anchor he preferred got lowered by a chain into sand at the bottom of the ocean, when whatever boat he was sailing in was stopping for the night. Nothing thrilled him more than being on the water, maybe kicking back with a steak fired up on the tiny grill on the back of the boat, a cold beer in his hand, and Bob Marley blasting on the speakers as the horizon swallows the last of the day’s sun in a spectacular show of color.
It’s not that he didn’t get into the whole dog and pony show of royalty; it’s just that as third in line to the crown, it wasn’t something he had to bow to quite so often, and he really did enjoy his freedom.
After dinner the orchestra resumed playing, and he made a point to avoid his dinner companion before having to take it to the dance floor with her halitosis. But soon everyone was coupled up, and while he stood discreetly to the side, trying to not be seen, making small talk with people he really couldn’t have cared less to talk to, he noticed not far away, Pippa stood, perhaps also avoiding being seen. But she had a little bit of a sad look in her eyes, and it made his heart ache just a touch. Enough so he decided to approach her.
“You’re looking somber for such a happy occasion,” he said, handing her a flute of champagne he’d grabbed from a passing waiter.
Pippa shook her head. “Really?” she said. “I didn’t mean to look so disconnected. I guess I’m just lost in thought.”
Topher shook his head. “Please, don’t tell me it’s that thought.” He decided it was high time to just make light of the damned thing, at least face-to-face with her.
Pippa blushed, and stammered her reply. “Oh, God, no! I mean, what thought?”
Topher lowered his head and arched his brow. “I think it goes without saying which thought.”
“Oh, that? Heavens no! I thought about that hours ago.” She covered her mouth with her hands. “I mean no! I haven’t been thinking about that! I haven’t thought about that in ages. Actually I’ve never thought about that.” Pippa placed her hand over her eyes, mortified at her stupid remarks.
Topher repeated his dubious look. “I’m pretty sure if I thought about it when we first ran into each other, then you did.”
Pippa cringed. “Oh Toph. It was so long ago. I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to resurrect that dead issue.”
Zander laughed. “Not to worry. It never died, so you can’t be accused of bringing it back to life. Like it or not, it’s part of me now.”
Pippa snorted. “Were it not for me, it wouldn’t have remained in you long enough to be an issue.”
She burst out laughing.
Topher smiled. “Yep, talk about wank-us interruptus.” They both laughed. “I think it’s time we let bygones be bygones with this one, what do you say?”
Pippa nodded, though looked down, feeling a little sheepish. The whole thing still made her uncomfortable, and she normally wasn’t one to wither at the first sign of awkward conversation.
“Yeah, sure.”
Topher reached out his hand. “Would you like to dance?”
She smiled and nodded, and he pulled Pippa toward him to escort her to the dance floor as they joined the hundreds of guests around them. For several minutes they just enjoyed each other’s company, not saying a word.
When the orchestra started playing Beyond the Sea, Topher pulled her closer, his hand around hers, pressed to his chest.
“This is my song,” he said to her.
“You have your own anthem?”
Topher smiled. “Smart ass,” he said, tapping her on the nose with the tip of his finger. “No. But it makes me think of what makes me happiest: being out on the ocean.”
Pippa cocked her head. “Oh really? You’re a sea-going creature, are you?”
He nodded. “Something about the water calls to me. I’ve been pursuing my studies in marine biology, which takes me there often. I feel most at home when I’m bobbing on a boat in azure waters.”
She nodded. “I understand what you’re saying. It’s like I feel when I’m helping others. It’s almost like I’m home, too, in a way.”
“Helping others?”
“I work for Zander’s charity,” she said. “I often travel all over the world, whether I’m trying to enlist support or helping out with a project myself.”
Topher had no idea that’s what Pippa did. He was relieved she wasn’t one of those trustafarian royals who rested on her daddy’s bank account and shopped till she dropped. Though to be fair, he could easily be of the same ilk. Except that his parents would kill him if he tried that.
He found himself leaning in and whispering into her ear. “Wow, you’re quite the international woman of mystery, now.”
Pippa shook her head. “Not so much. Just doing my job is all. But I’d love to hear about your travels.”
Topher’s eyes lit up. “I’ve been doing research on global warming and it’s impact on coral reefs. Which means I get to sail in beautiful locations all in the name of work.”
“Not too shabby,” Pippa said. “I could almost be jealous about that.”
“Maybe you could figure out a way to incorporate your charitable work with it, and come sailing with me some time.” Topher lifted his brow.
Pippa caught her breath. “Me? Sailing with you?”
Topher leaned back to take in Pippa’s demeanor. “If it’s something you might enjoy.”
“Who doesn’t love to sail?” Pippa said. “But I’ve only sailed in the Mediterranean. What’s it like in the Caribbean?”
Topher took a breath as he thought about it. “The water is so clear, and comes in so many intoxicating shades of blue and green.”
Pippa smiled dreamily. “I never thought of those colors as intoxicating.”
“Oh, but they are,” he said. “Imagine, looking at water the color of the finest turquoise stones. So pure and so inviting. It warms the soul.”
“But what about sharks?”
Topher shook his head. “The biggest sharks you have to worry about there are of the male variety,” he said. “Some of those beach bars, you just never know what type of disreputable men you’ll encounter.”
“Disreputable, eh?” Pippa said, cocking her eyebrow. “But surely you’d pro
tect me from these shark men, right?”
Topher pulled her in tighter, thinking about how he’d fantasized about being that man to take care of Pippa.
“That goes without saying,” he said, his voice warm and rumbly in her ear.
“So what do you do with yourself when you’re all the way out there in the ocean? How do you while away those long, lonely nights?”
Topher laughed. “To be honest, I’ve never had to concern myself with whiling away the hours. After a long day of work, the best I can muster is kicking back with a rum drink, grilling a steak, and blasting some music while absorbing yet another perfect sunset.”
“By yourself?”
“There’s always the skipper,” he said.
“Now that’s not exactly romantic,” Pippa said. “You, a romantic sunset, and the captain.”
Topher cracked up. “Unless the skipper’s a woman,” he said with a wink. “But seriously, you’ve got a point. Though I suppose some might find it romantic to be with the captain.”
“What about companionship?” she asked. “Don’t you find it lonely being out to sea so long?”
To be truthful, Topher did. It wasn’t like you could pick up a one-night stand so easily when you were out to sea. Nor did you want to pick up someone you’d regret being stuck with. He tended to keep his philandering shore-side. Not that he philandered much, but still.
“You ask funny questions, you know that?” he said. “For someone who would barely talk to me for all those years, now you’re concerned about my love life?”
Pippa thought for a minute, then broke out into a wide grin. She glanced up into his face, and he knew exactly what triggered her reaction.
“Oh, my God,” he said. “Surely you’re not asking me that?”
Pippa shook her head. “I wasn’t at first,” she said. “But then I started to think about it. What does one do when one is away from members of the opposite sex and the need is there?”
Topher grinned. “That might depend upon whom you’re talking about. I am a man, after all,” he said. “Let’s leave it at that.”
Pippa’s mind flashed to the episode, where the boy Topher was deeply engrossed in that very activity. Her face flushed as she recalled it.
“But,” he added, “If you really want to discuss this, then, what about you? What would you do all alone on a boat?”
Pippa pursed her lips and thought about it. “Depends if the boat has thin walls.”
Topher laughed some more. “I’m starting to think I’d love to be your skipper. I’d tell you the walls were fortified, if that’s what it took.”
Pippa fake-slapped him. “Why, how dare you, Prince Christopher!”
“Oh, so we’re going to do it on a dare, then?” he asked, pulling her in closer, whispering into her ear.
Pippa’s breathing got heavier as she thought about Topher all alone on a boat. “I could be persuaded,” she whispered back into his ear.
It was Topher’s turn for heavy breathing as he pressed himself up against Pippa, leaving no question about where this discussion was going in his mind. “It’s gotten so crowded in here. Perhaps we should continue this discussion somewhere a little more...private.”
Pippa locked her hazel eyes onto his soulful gray ones. “But everyone would know we’d disappeared together.”
Topher shook his head. “We’ll slip off discreetly. You go first and I’ll follow in a minute. I think you know the way to my apartment.”
Pippa took a deep breath. “Our secret?”
Topher nodded. “No one will be the wiser.”
~*~
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Bad to the Throne Page 16