One Night with Prince Charming by Anna DePalo Read Free Book Online Page B

hand.
    â€œThank you for scheduling this appointment on such short notice,” Lucy exclaimed, her inflection British. “I was just about to come down the stairs when Ned told me you were here.”
    â€œIt was no inconvenience, Ms. Montgomery,” Pia responded with a smile of her own. “Client service is what my business is all about.”
    â€œIt’s Lucy, please.”
    â€œPia, then.”
    â€œGood,” Lucy responded happily, and then glanced at the clock. “I’ll have tea brought in, if that meets with your approval.” She smiled. “We British consider late afternoon to be teatime, I’m afraid.”
    â€œYes, please. Tea would be wonderful.”
    After Lucy had gone to the door and spoken in low tones with a member of the household staff, she returned to sit on the sofa with Pia.
    â€œNow then,” she said. “I’m rather in desperate need of help, I’m afraid.”
    Pia tilted her head and smiled. “Many brides come to that conclusion at some point during their engagements. May I offer my congratulations, by the way?”
    Lucy lit up. “Thank you, yes. My fiancé is American. I met him while working on an off-Broadway play.”
    Pia’s eyebrows rose. “You’re an actress?”
    â€œShakespearean trained, yes,” Lucy replied without a hint of boast, and then leaned forward conspiratorially and winked. “He was one of the producers.”
    Money married money, Pia thought, if only because the people involved tended to move in the same social circles. She’d seen it many times before. And yet, it was clear from the way Lucy lit up that she was in love with her fiancé.
    â€œYou see,” Lucy explained, “Derek and I were planning to marry next summer, but I’ve just landed a new role and we need to move up the wedding. Suddenly, everything seems upon us at once. Since I’m currently working in another production—” Lucy spread out her hands helplessly “—I have no time to organize things myself.”
    â€œHow quickly would you like to wed?”
    Lucy gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m hoping for a New Year’s Eve wedding.”
    Pia kept her expression steady. “Three months. Perfect.”
    â€œI should say that the church has been booked and that, quite astonishingly, the Puck Building is available for a reception.”
    Pia’s shoulders relaxed. The most important details had been taken care of. Since the church and the reception hall were set for the new date, she wouldn’t have to scout locations.
    She and Lucy discussed some other details for a few minutes, until Lucy glanced at the door.
    â€œAh, tea. Perfect,” Lucy said as a middle-aged woman,obviously one of the household help, appeared with a tray of tea.
    Pia felt she was going to like Lucy. Her hostess had a sunny disposition, and there was already a lot to suggest that she would be easy to work with.
    Lucy leaned forward as the tray was set down on a table in front of them. “Thank you, Celia.”
    â€œHow do you take your tea?” Lucy inquired as Celia departed, and then shot Pia a teasing, self-deprecating look. “No matter how long I’ve been in New York, this is teatime for me. You can imagine the problems it causes when I’m giving a matinee performance!”
    Before Pia could respond, Lucy glanced toward the door again. “Hawk,” Lucy acknowledged with a smile. “How nice of you to join us.”
    Pia followed the direction that Lucy was looking, and froze.
    Hawk. Him.
    It wasn’t possible.
    What was he doing here?
    Pia felt a sensation like emotional vertigo.
    Hawk looked relaxed and at home in a green T-shirt and khakis, as casual as she’d ever seen him. He looked, in fact, as if he might have sauntered in after watching some television or grabbing a bite to eat in another part of the house.
    Pia glanced at Lucy,