AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re playing a dangerous game.” He pushed her back, her face in his hands, to look into her eyes. “We both are. My brother Artur has been teasing me that he’s hearing rumors of an impending marriage proposal.”
Katie’s eyes flashed. “Where
would he get that idea?” She bent forward and kissed the line of his jaw.
“Apparently, someone saw me looking happy.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Aren’t you happy?”
“I’m a desperate man.” He kissed her again, feeling the little shivers of pleasure that rose through her. “And Artur is jealous. Clearly…clearly there’s nothing untoward going on. He needs his own wife.”
“Maybe he should get a nanny,” Katie said. He laughed until someone knocked on the door and she hopped up, going to answer it as if nothing had happened.
The next morning, he brought her an updated schedule with a new rotation of lessons. He found Katie in the corner of the dance studio, a notepad in her hand, her head bent over her notes. The girls pirouetted across the studio, their teacher looking on approvingly. They took no notice of Armin, other than a few quick glances in the mirror.
Katie didn’t notice him coming until he was right next to her. He glanced at her notepad and with a little jolt of surprise, saw his brother’s name there.
She must have sensed him standing there, because she looked up at him with a quick smile, flipping the tablet shut. “Prince Armin.” She straightened her back. “What can I do for you?”
“Taking notes? And not about the dance lesson.” He could have been a little less blunt, but there it was.
Katie blushed. “It’s how I keep things organized. I…take notes for myself.”
“About my brother?”
“About…most things. It’s how I remember your habits, what the girls want, what we spoke about in case it comes up again.” She bit her lip. “The truth is, my memory isn’t very good without a little help.”
This was new. “I thought you were especially observant.”
Katie looked to both sides of them, as if seeking out listening devices. “Well…I guess I’m a bit of a fraud, then. And now you know my secret. Don’t tell the girls.”
“I won’t.” He resisted the urge to kiss her cheek. “I brought you this.” He handed her the new daily itinerary for the girls. “No more violin. They didn’t like the instructor or the classical music.” He surveyed the dance lesson. The girls were absorbed in it, working hard. “Do you…have a free moment?”
Katie frowned, clearly disappointed. “They’re done in a few minutes. And I have to run into town after I drop them with the French tutor.”
Armin’s disappointment mirrored hers, but he did his best not to let it show. “Go now, if you’d like,” he offered. “I can spend some quality time with them on my own.” He pulled up another chair as Katie stood from hers.
“Are you sure?” He felt pulled to her, like she was her own source of gravity.
“I’m sure. Go.”
He settled into the chair. Now the girls did notice him, staring openly in the mirror. He gave them an encouraging nod, and they continued on.
Katie hovered, one hesitant moment, and then she was gone.
She took all of her notes with her.
“I’m done.”
Katie dropped the notes on the table in front of Papazyan. The café was crowded, the perfect cover for their meeting—not a single person would be paying attention to them.
Papazyan picked up the little packet of papers and leafed through it.
“Did you hear me?”
He glanced up at her. “I heard you.”
“I’m done.”
