The Knight's Kiss by Nicole Burnham

Author:Nicole Burnham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2003-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

“That’s the most casual outfit you own?”

Isabella tugged at the hem of her short-sleeved lilac sweater, which topped a pair of black capri pants and simple flats she’d pulled from the very back of her closet. “It’s what I wear when I’m at our country house. And only then on days when no media access is granted. I’m afraid it’s as casual as I get.”

Nick had promised to help disguise her, and once she’d accepted his dinner invitation, he’d sent her back to her apartments with instructions to put her hair in a ponytail—a style she never wore—and dress down as much as she could before dinner.

“No ripped jeans? Ugly sweatshirts?” he teased. “No, of course not. Do you at least own a pair of sunglasses?”

“At night? That’d be obvious, wouldn’t it?”

He glanced at the small window above the desk. “Right. Been on the lower level so long I forget what time of day it is.” He studied her for a moment, his forehead creased in thought. “To pull this off, you need to dress in such a way that even if someone thinks you look just like Princess Isabella, they’ll automatically assume that you couldn’t possibly be her.”

“Trust me, no one will believe this is me.” At least she hoped not.

Nick shook his head in disagreement. “Maybe some reading glasses? Something you’re not photographed in?”

The last thing she wanted Nick to see her wearing. Not that it should matter. “I have a pair in my purse. But they’re ghastly.”

“Put ’em on, Princess.”

She smiled to herself as she pulled out the leather case. What was it about Nick Black that made her heart leap? Certainly no one spoke to her as he did; it was as if he knew a hundred princesses and spoke to them every day. Formal enough to show respect, yet relaxed enough to make her feel like a real person, someone who could hang out in a restaurant with a bunch of other twenty-and thirty-somethings, maybe slouch in her chair and have a beer without raising eyebrows.

Okay, so she wouldn’t slouch. Or have a beer. But hanging out with people her own age, without worrying about whether she’d arrive late for her next appointment or be questioned by reporters who hung on her every word, sounded heavenly. And with Nick, it felt possible.

“I wouldn’t call them ghastly,” he said once she had the black-rimmed glasses on. He met her gaze, assessing her disguise. His perusal sent a shiver of excitement through her. It was a huge risk, going out with Nick, knowing how attractive she found him. But today was her birthday. If ever she deserved to indulge in a little fantasy, a little adventure, it was today. Hopefully, no one would ever know. And if the tabloids did discover her, she’d just say she was conferring with an expert on a project for the museum. Surely that was boring enough not to warrant coverage.

“Well, I feel ghastly,” she said as she slipped the now-empty leather case back into her purse.

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