“Nope,” Nick interrupted him. “Raluca’s still with me. We made up. Everything’s cool now.”
Everyone stared at him.
“Hey, Fiona,” Nick said before any of them could speak, in a less-than-subtle attempt at distraction. “How was the job?”
The blonde woman gave a shrug, her elegant eyebrows raised. “It was fine. Nick, after all the times I’ve offered to teach you how to go undercover in high society, why —”
Hal interrupted her. “Hold on, Fiona. Raluca, I want to hear it from you. Do you really want to stay with Nick?”
“Yes,” Raluca said.
Everyone but Fiona instantly switched from staring at Nick to staring at her, all with identical looks of bafflement.
Irritated, Raluca thought, Is it truly so shocking that he and I settled our disagreement?
They are surprised at your voice, her dragon explained. Only Fiona has never heard you speak before.
Raluca didn’t want to explain why she sounded so different. Hoping no one would inquire, she addressed Hal. “Nick is correct. We quarreled, but it was due to a misunderstanding. He saved my life last night. I do not wish to be guarded by anyone but him.”
“Actually, if you still want to go to that nightclub tonight, I could use a little help,” Nick put in. “Can I have two volunteers to guard the doors?”
Destiny, her eyes dancing with merriment, raised her hand like a schoolgirl.
At the same time, Rafa said, “I’m in.”
“Oh, well. I’m tired anyway. I could use a night off.” Fiona turned to Raluca and made a flawless curtsey with the skirt of her little black dress. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Princess Raluca.”
Raluca, unable to curtsey in fatigues, bowed instead. It was incorrect for a woman, but it seemed like a better option than awkwardly offering her hand, as Hal had done when they’d met. “I am pleased to meet you as well. But I am no longer a princess. I am only Raluca.”
Fiona smiled, but her green eyes stayed cool and watchful. They were as intense as Nick’s, but a lighter shade: spring leaves, not emeralds. “In that case, Raluca, please make yourself free with my clothes.”
Raluca gritted her teeth. She was certain that the woman was making a veiled insult, given that Raluca was already wearing her clothing with no invitation from their owner, but it was subtle enough to be worthy of Uncle Constantine. From Nick’s lack of reaction, he’d completely missed the implications and taken the remark at face value.
What on earth had Raluca done to offend Fiona? They’d only just met. Was she really that annoyed over her clothes being worn without permission? Coolly, Raluca replied, “Thank you, I shall wear them whenever I feel like it.”
“Oh, you don’t need to,” Destiny put in. “Rafa and I collected everything from the hotel. No signs of assassins, but we’re keeping your belongings at Protection, Inc. for now. We stashed it all in the other bedroom first thing this morning. You know, the one you two weren’t sleeping in.”
Instantly, Nick said, “I slept on the floor.”
Hal and Rafa again stared at him, Hal with a carefully straight face and Rafa with dawning realization. Raluca groaned inwardly. From their lack of reaction, Destiny and Fiona were still unaware of Nick and Raluca’s actual relationship, but Nick had obviously just given it away to the men.
“Of course you did,” Rafa said, his voice quivering. Raluca was certain he was trying not laugh. “Well. This should be an exciting evening.”
“I fucking hope not,” Nick said. “I’m counting on you and Destiny to stop any assassins before they get to the door. I’ll pitch in if you need me, but I’m really hoping Raluca can get one fucking evening of goddamn fun without anyone trying to murder her.”
“You make it sound so appealing,” Rafa remarked.
Hal held up a huge hand, silencing them all. “Okay. Fiona, get some rest. Rafa and Destiny, scope out the nightclub. I want you both watching from the rooftops three hours before it opens. Maybe you can catch someone trying to set something up. If you don’t, get down and blend in. Nick, you’re in charge of this operation from the ground. Call me if you need me, of course.”
Then a startlingly sweet smile altered the masculine planes of Hal’s face as he looked from Nick to Raluca. “But I hope you do have just a fun night out. ”
“Want me to teach you the latest moves before I go?” Destiny asked Raluca. “I saw your nightclub outfit. It’ll look great on you.”
“I saw it too,” Fiona said to Raluca. “Wise of you to go to the cheap store. I’m sure you’d be very put out if Nick was injured protecting you and bled on an expensive dress.”
An inferno of fury blazed up in Raluca. Her eyes felt like flames, and she knew they were glowing like molten silver. She took a step toward the blonde woman, intruding upon her personal space, daring her to back away. Fiona held her ground, but her eyes turned icy as her snow leopard readied itself for a fight.
Raluca’s voice rang out with the power and depth of a great bell in a tower, echoing around the office. “As I’m sure you’re aware, over-dressing is just as ill-mannered, improper, and insulting as under-dressing. And if Nick is ever injured on my behalf, I shall be too busy tending to his wounds and taking fiery vengeance on those who harmed him to pay any heed to my clothing.”