He grinned back at her. "Are you putting yourself in the same grouping?"

Keira snorted. "You wish, playboy prince… I'm your punishment for being a naughty boy."

Alexei gave her a look that said he was going to make her eat her words.

"Alexei—"

A sharp knock at the door cut through the moment. They both froze.

"Miss Warner?" Elena's voice called from the hallway. "I have your dress for this evening's state dinner."

Reality crashed back in. The engagement announcement was ...