“I can’t believe that just happened.” Alexis shimmies into her panties and makes a grab for the designer jeans I divested her of within seconds of finding her in her office. Alone. She gives them a quick shake, sending tiny dust particles dancing through the air.

I roll my eyes. I can put Alexis into fancy designer clothing, but I can’t keep her out of boxes of dusty treasures. “It was completely unprofessional.”

She lifts her head and her big blue eyes find mine. “This is your fault, you do realize that right?” she says accusingly.

“I was a good girl with a flawless reputation before you wormed your way into my life.”

“True.” I wind my arms around her bare mid-riff and kiss the spot behind her ear that always makes her shiver. “But you’re having more fun now.”

She laughs, the sound going straight to my heart. “You’ve got a point.”

I nip her shoulder. “I’m up for another round if you are.”

“Tempting, but I can’t. Shelly and Tessa are waiting for me. Why are you here, anyway?”

“I just wanted to spend some time with my wife. Since we got back, it seems like we’ve hardly seen each other.”

It’s true. Between my fencing lessons and royal duties, and the way that Alexis has become obsessed with putting this museum together, it seems like the only time we’re together is late at night, in my bedroom, where we basically ravish each other before falling asleep, completely exhausted.

The funny part is that, usually this kind of situation suits me perfectly, but now, whenever I’m not deeply engaged in something, I find my mind drifting back to Alexis – and missing her so much I ache.

I long for the lazy days at the villa where we did nothing but make love, walk in the garden, eat bad food, read. I really miss the sound of Alexis’s laughter.

It was that longing that made me cancel an appointment with my dad and hurry over here. My intention had been to take Alexis out to lunch, but the sight of her in the same bottom hugging jeans she’s wiggling into right now, and all thoughts of lunch fled my mind. In that moment, I’d been desperate for the feel of her around me.

I hadn’t been able to stop myself.

Alexis buttons her pants and reaches for her bra. Watching her put it on is nearly as much fun as taking it off. “I was hoping you’d join me for lunch.”

“I can’t,” she pulls her shirt over her head. “I have to see what Tessa’s talking about.”

“Oh.” Disappointment snakes through me. Until this moment I hadn’t realized just how much I’d been looking forward to simply talking to Alexis. “Mind if I come along?”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. Then Shelly will really know what was happening in here.”

I shrug. “It’s not like she hasn’t done it a time or two herself.”

Alexis’s eyes widen. “Really, you’ve caught her?”

“Not exactly.”

Alexis bites her lip and seems to be debating something. “Do you know about her and-” she trails off.

“Her maestro?” I button my pants and take Alexis’s hand in my own, lacing our fingers together and leading her from the office.

“Yeah, I know they’re having an affair. Shelly’s not as discreet as she thinks she is.”

“And you’re okay with it?”

We turn down the hallway and walk towards the room where Tessa catalogs the antiques and other treasures, and I think about her question.

“I don’t like the guy. I think he’s a slimy weasel who’s always working an angle, but Shelly’s an adult and free to make her own decisions, both good and bad.”

Alexis slants me a warm look and squeezes my hand. “That’s a very progressive attitude. I’m impressed.”

We pass a group of construction workers who are standing next to a large window and trying to decide if the cracked glass is worth repairing.

“I do my best. Speaking of my sister, Shelly’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t know if she mentioned it or not, but some family friends are hosting a big black-tie garden party that’s designed to help raise money for the local youth symphony so they can go on an international tour. Shelly’s part of the board and she’s sitting in with the kids, accompanying them on the piano.”

Alexis bites her lower lips and searches her memory banks. “She might have said something about it, I’m not sure.”

“It’s tomorrow night and I thought we should go.”

Alexis stumbles. “Really? And you’re just now telling me.”

“I wasn’t planning on attending, but it would be a low key, pleasant way for you to make your first public appearance as my wife.”

Plus, I happened to get a glimpse of the fancy dress Shelly’s personal stylist has picked out for Alexis and can't wait to see how she'll look in it – and more importantly how she'll look when I slowly peel it off her body.

“I guess that sounds reasonable.”

“Great, it’s a date. Be ready to leave at eight tomorrow night.”

I lead her into the room. Tessa and Shelly hunch over a computer, their brows furrowed. Alexis hurries over to them. “What happened.”

“Lucas,” Shelly grins at me. “When did you get here.”

“Couple of minutes ago.”

“Really,” she and Tessa exchange amused glances. “Because I could have sworn I saw you pull in to the parking lot well over a half an hour ago.”

“You must have been mistaken.”

“Alexis,” Tessa’s voice shakes with laughter. “Shelly said you stubbed your toe, but I can’t help noticing that you’re not limping.”

Alexis turns beat red and points at the computer. “What’s going on. Shelly mentioned lost paintings?”

Tessa slides over so Alexis can crouch beside her chair. I walk around behind them and look at the screen.

“Three small Viscargeo miniature paintings have just disappeared,” Tessa explains.

Alexis leans close to the screen and reads the information Tessa had already entered into the computer. “That’s impossible. They must have been misplaced.”

Tessa shakes her head and points to a low, sturdy table. “No, they were right there. I was working with them. I left the room for a few minutes and they were gone. Someone took them.”

“But who? We keep this room locked up tight.”

Shelly raises an eyebrow. “Really, you honestly think so?”

Tessa and Alexis stare at her and she laughs harshly.

“Wow! You’re good about locking up when you’re going to be gone for a few hours, but when you just step out, you never lock the door, I’ve been in on three different occasions when you didn’t even bother shutting the door, even though no one was in here watching over the stuff.”

Tessa and Alexis look at one another and deflate.

Tessa runs a hand through her long hair. “You told me that there’s been someone working their way through Europe, robbing private collections. Looks like we’ve been hit.”

“It’d be easy for the thief to get in here. All they’d have to do is pose as one of the construction workers we’ve hired,” Alexis says, her face crestfallen.

Tessa picks up her cell phone. “I’ll call the police.”

My stomach flops over and cold sweat runs down my spine. Alexis is here, sometimes alone, all day and often long into the evening. What would happen if she accidently stumbled upon the thief while they were in the act of liberating some of the valuables. Most art and antique thieves aren’t violent, but there’s always exceptions.

The idea of Alexis’s life being in danger …

I touch her shoulder and she turns to me. “I have to make some phone calls. I’ll be in the hallway if you need anything.”