One Night with Prince Charming (Aristocratic Grooms #2)(23)
Author: Anna DePalo

Belinda looked at Tamara. “Doesn’t your husband own this paper? Can’t you do something about this awful woman?”

Tamara cleared her throat. “I have news.”

“You already told us, remember?” Belinda quipped. “We know you’re knocked up, and Sawyer is the daddy.”

“Old news.” Tamara looked from Pia to Belinda. “The new news is that Sawyer and I plan to stay together.”

“For the sake of the baby?” Belinda shook her head. “Honey…”

Tamara shook her head. “No, because we love each other.”

Belinda stared at her blankly for a moment. Then she waved to a passing waiter. “Another Bloody Mary, please.”

Pia knew this was a sore point for Belinda, since her friend still needed to get an annulment from the Marquess of Easterbridge.

“I suppose I should be addressing you both as My Lady,” Pia mused. “Sawyer is an earl, making Tamara a countess, and since Colin is a marquess, you’re entitled to be called—”

“Don’t you dare,” Belinda retorted. “I’m planning to shed the title as soon as possible.”

Pia sighed. “Oh, well.”

Belinda turned to Tamara. “I can’t believe you’re abandoning our trio of girlfriends for the aristocratic cadre.”

“I’m not. It’s just…”

“What?” Belinda asked, her expression sardonic. “You moved in with Sawyer and made a marriage of convenience. And then—” she snapped her fingers “—next thing you know, you’re pregnant with his child and declaring yourself in love.”

Tamara smiled and shrugged. “It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me,” she admitted. “I wasn’t looking to fall in love, and if you’d asked me months ago, I’d have said Sawyer was the last man…”

Tamara got a faraway look as her words drifted off. “I realized Sawyer was the one I wanted all along,” she eventually continued. “And the best part is he feels the same way about me.”

Belinda accepted the Bloody Mary that the waiter was about to set down in front of her, and took a healthy swig. “Well, I’m happy for you, Tam. One of us deserves to find happiness.”

Tamara gave a faint smile. “Thanks. I know you and Pia don’t like Sawyer’s friends—”

“You mean my husband?” Belinda asked archly.

“You mean Hawk?” Pia said at the same time.

“—but Sawyer and I are hoping you all will make nice enough to be in the same room together. In fact, we’re hoping to have all of you over next Saturday night for a small postwedding celebration.”

“A we’re-staying-married party?” Belinda queried.

“Sort of,” Tamara acknowledged before looking across at Pia, who’d taken the seat to Belinda’s right. “Please come. You love anything having to do with weddings.”

Pia sighed again. She did. And she hated to disappoint Tamara, though it wasn’t wise for her to spend too much time in Hawk’s company.

“How are you getting along with Hawk these days, Pia?” Tamara asked suddenly, as if reading her mind. “I know you’re planning his sister’s wedding. And you just noted that Mrs. Hollings is gossiping about how he helped you last night.”

Pia hesitated. How much should she reveal? Certainly not the stolen kisses—and the fact that she’d enjoyed them.

He’d said he was trying to make amends. And so far, she’d let him. More than let him.

The kisses came back to her. The tingle of excitement, the remembered feeling of delicious passion—just like the first time, and just like in her dreams—and the sensation of melding with a kindred spirit.

Pia shook her head slightly as if to clear it. No.

She was playing with fire, and she’d be foolhardy to go down that road again.

And yet…

She’d felt an acute sadness for Hawk when she’d discovered what had precipitated his abrupt departure from her apartment after they’d slept together. Her parents were alive and well back in Pennsylvania, and while she didn’t have any siblings, she imagined that Hawk had been understandably devastated by the unexpected loss of his brother.

None of this is intended as an excuse.

Hawk had still acted toward her as if he felt he was at fault and was feeling guilty. Of course, his brother’s untimely death didn’t explain why he hadn’t sought her out after their night together. Had the abrupt severing of ties made it easy for him to forget her? The thought hurt. And yet what other explanation could there be? She hadn’t meant enough to him.

And yet…

She knew even if she softened toward him, let their explosive chemistry play out to its natural conclusion, this time she would no longer be the naive virgin who was new in town. She could show Hawk that she could play in more sophisticated circles, too, these days.

He was flirting with her, and she could enjoy it and not become besotted.

Why couldn’t she be one of those women who enjoyed a fling or a casual hookup? She’d already had a one-night stand. With him.

These thoughts and more flitted through her mind.

Pia became aware of Belinda and Tamara staring at her.

She cleared her throat. “Hawk has been…helpful,” she hedged, and then shrugged. “I—I suppose I’m feeling ambivalent at best.”

“Ambivalent?” Belinda questioned, and then rolled her eyes. “Isn’t that one step away from infatuated these days? Pia, please tell me you’re not falling for the guy again.”

“Of course not!”

“Because you have a soft heart, and I’d hate to—”

“D-don’t worry. Once burned, twice shy.” She shrugged. “But I am planning his sister’s wedding, and I do need to be on cordial terms with him.”

“Great,” Tamara commented. “I’m so glad you won’t have any trouble being in Hawk’s company next weekend.”

Belinda frowned. “It’s not Hawk I’m worried about.”

Pia refused to admit that Hawk was the one she was worried about.

Hawk took another sip of his wine and his senses came fully alert.

Pia.

He spotted her immediately when she came into the parlor of the Earl and Countess of Melton’s Upper East Side town house. But it was as if he’d been able to sense her presence even before seeing her.

She looked spectacular. Her high-waist sheath dress with its black bodice and white skirt flattered her curves, making her seem taller than she was and showing off her great legs in black patent peep-toe pumps.