Cady found herself struck with a sudden case of nerves. She wasn't used to feeling nervous but when she was, it made her irritable. And the fact that she had been so nervous over the past couple of days did not help her mood.

"Cady," Sky knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Please," Cady called back.

Sky walked in wearing her plain, red dress with her straight mahogany hair hanging down just past her shoulders. Her face was made up with just a touch of lip gloss and mascara. She looked simply pretty and comfortable.

But she doesn't have to impress anyone tonight, Cady thought as her friend walked confidently into the room.

"Cady, you look great! When did you get that dress?" Sky asked as she sat on the edge of the bed.

The Princess stood by the vanity wearing a knee length dress in smoky blue silk that brought out her brilliant blue eyes. It was straight cut, clinging to her curves without giving too much away. Around her throat was a string of pearls that her parents had given her for her eighteenth birthday along with the matching pearls that hung from her ears. Her thick golden curls were pulled back behind her ears with pearl lined combs and on her feet were white pumps that matched her jewelry. Over the back of the vanity chair was draped the wrap that matched her dress.

"Thanks, Sky. I got it a couple of weeks ago, do you think I'm overdressed?"

"I think you look great and I think you're nervous."

Cady crossed to the bed and sat beside her best friend, "I am, Sky, I am really nervous."

"You have no reason to be, Cady. They will love you. Just don't spill your meal all over yourself and you'll do fine."

"What if I do spill it all over myself?"

"Then you're screwed."

"Oh geez, Sky, now I will, thanks, you've cursed me."

The door had been left open ajar and Erik knocked softly.

"Come in," Cady said, standing to pace the room.

"Wow, you girls look great," he said.

"So do you," Sky looked him up and down. "It's not often I get to see you in a suit."

Erik tucked his thumbs behind his lapels and rocked back on his heels, "What can I say, I clean up rather nicely."

He wore a gray suit with a sheen in the fabric, a darker, almost silver shirt, and a tie with silvery gray stripes.

"Yes you do, you look hot," Sky assured him, moving to stand in front of him and straightening his tie.

"If I had known you were wearing that, I would have brought my blue suit and red tie," he said, looking her up and down before lowering his voice. "You had to wear that dress, didn't you? You know what that dress does to me."

"What?" She asked innocently. "You told me on your birthday that you liked it."

Erik groaned quietly and whispered, "No, I said I liked taking it off you."

"I can hear you," Cady said from across the room as she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. "And I am hearing too much."

Somewhere in the house a clock chimed the hour.

"Okay, it's seven," Cady said unnecessarily.

Erik looked at Sky, "Our little Cady has learned to tell time."

"Don't pick on her," Sky warned him. "She's nervous."

"Cady? Nervous? No."

"Yes, so you be nice."

"You both better behave yourselves," Cady said.

Erik rolled his eyes, "Come on Cady, you're not the only member of royalty here. I've taken a few etiquette classes myself."

"Well, me, I'm just a stupid bumpkin," Sky grumbled. "I hope I can at least remember to keep my finger out of my nose tonight."

"I would appreciate that," Tristan said wryly as he stood in the doorway.

Cady swallowed hard and took in the sight of her boyfriend. He was wearing a dark blue suit, a light blue shirt, and a modern looking tie with a blue and red design.

"I am so glad I didn't bring my blue suit," Erik said. "If we had shown up in the same suit, it would have made the society pages as a major faux pas."

"Erik!" Cady hissed, mortified.

"Come on, Erik, I need your help," Sky took his hand and pulled him toward the door.

"With what?" He asked.

"With giving Cady and Tristan a moment alone," she answered, shutting the door behind them as they left.

"You look beautiful," Tristan said.

"Thank you," Cady replied shyly. "You're looking rather dapper this evening."

"In this old thing? You will outshine us all tonight, Cady."

"Is…is everyone here?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Why, my beautiful Princess, are you nervous?"

"No."

"I think you are. Come here," he held his hand out for her. He pulled her close, holding both her hands with his own. "You have faced gatherings ten times as large as this one and fought off dozens of suitors. You have nothing to be nervous about."

"I never had to worry so much about impressing a group of people."

"You have impressed me," he assured her. "And that's all that matters."

"What if I don't fit in with your friends?" She asked quietly, toying with the buttons of his jacket

"My friends are a great group of people, you will all get along just fine. I fit in with your friends, didn't I?"

"Yeah, well, you're very likeable…"

"Thank you."

"…when you don't have that stick up your butt."

Tristan gave her a look of surprise, "I've never had a stick up my butt."

"Yes you did, when you first arrived on Arus," she told him, slipping her arms under his jacket and around his waist, resting her cheek against his chest. "And you ignored me."

"I never ignored you," he assured her, wrapping his arms around her. "You drove me crazy."

"Oh yeah?"

"You have no idea."

Cady tilted her head up, "I think I have some idea."

Tristan slowly lowered his head but before his lips could touch hers, she pulled back and smiled at him.

"I can't let you mess up my makeup," she said simply, stepping out of his embrace. "Besides, we should head downstairs, shouldn't we?"

"Tease."

Cady looked over her shoulder, her hand resting on the doorknob, "What goes around, comes around, honey."

"True, Cady, and remember, you're the one who said it," he winked at her as they left the room.

Tristan and Cady were the first down the stairs, followed by Erik and Sky. The Princess had her hand tucked into the crook of his elbow as they descended into the foyer where more guests were arriving.

"Tristan! Oh, I am so glad you're home!" A plump woman with brown hair clasped her hands together and rushed toward the stairs.

"Aunt Frannie," Tristan smiled and hugged the woman. "It's nice seeing you again. I have someone important for you to meet." He turned to Cady and took her elbow, "Aunt Frannie, this is Cady Whitaker. Cady, this is my Aunt Frannie, by father's sister."

"Younger sister," Frannie winked at Cady. "And it is such a pleasure to meet you, Cady. Now, you're a princess, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Cady said, knowing that she would like Frannie.

"That must be terribly exciting. I know my daughter, Jenifer would just love to talk to you about it."

"Aunt Frannie," Tristan interrupted. "I would also like to introduce friends of ours, Erik Johasson and Schuyler Collier. Erik is a prince, you know."

"Really?" Frannie turned her attention to the other two. "How exciting, two royals attending dinner with us."

"Tristan, darling," Josie Alexander approached them from the parlor. A tall, distinguished man with silver hair and dressed in a dark suit walked with her. "There you are, we've been looking for you."

"Cady, this is my father Tristan Vincent Samuel Alexander the fifth, everyone calls him Vince," Tristan introduced them. "Dad, I would like you to meet Cadence Whitaker."

"It's a pleasure, my dear," Vince said, taking the hand Cady offered him and kissing her knuckles.

She smiled at the handsome man who bore a striking resemblance to her boyfriend, "The pleasure is all mine, sir."

"And Dad, these are friends of ours, Erik Johansson and Schuyler Collier," Tristan introduced.

"You are two lucky men," Vince said as he shook Erik's hand. "To be traveling with such lovely young women."

"Yes sir," Erik winked at Sky, "we're very lucky."

"Why don't you all join us in the parlor now, there are so many people you all need to meet," Josie ushered them through the open doorway where butlers moved through the small crowd with trays of hors d'oeuvres.

The din of conversation rose slightly as the four of them entered the room with Tristan's parents.

"Tristan, your grandmother is waiting to see you," Josie said. "And I know she is just dying to meet your friends."

Cady slid her hand down Tristan's arm and laced her fingers through his as they moved through the room. Tristan would nod and greet a few people as they approached the sofa in the center of the room beside the massive fireplace where a merry fire was crackling and warming the room.

"Grandmother," Tristan stood before the elderly woman who was seated in the center of the sofa, two young girls sitting beside her.

"Tristan," her voice was wavering and surprisingly deep. "It's so wonderful to see you again."

He leaned over and kissed her cool, powdered cheek, "And you, Grandmother. You look well."

Iona Alexander, the matriarch of the family, mother of five, grandmother of twelve and great grandmother of two, surveyed her grandson and his friends. The young blonde woman standing beside him was quite beautiful in a sweet way and she was obviously Cady. "As do you, Tristan, as do you. Now, have you forgotten your manners, or are you going to introduce me."

"Of course, Grandmother, these are my friends, Erik Johasson and Schuyler Collier. Erik, Sky, this is my Grandmother Alexander. And Grandmother, this is Cady Whitaker."

They each took turns gently shaking the woman's frail hand. "How are you all finding your visit here?"

"It's a lovely home, Ma'am, and Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have been so kind to us." Cady replied. "We just arrived this morning, but we can't wait to see more of Boston."

"You're the Arusian Princess, aren't you?" Iona asked.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Are you really a Princess?" The little girl sitting on the sofa asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Uh, Cady, these are two of my cousins, Jenifer and Cecilia," Tristan introduced them.

"What's it like?" Cecilia asked. "Being a Princess?"

"Where's your crown?" Jenifer asked.

"Are you gonna be Queen some day?"

"If you marry Tristan, would he become a Prince?"

Tristan groaned quietly as Cady smiled.

"Being a Princess," Cady began. "Is like being a normal person, but with more work and responsibilities."

"But you get to wear a crown and pretty dresses."

"Yes, I do."

"Do you live in a castle?" Jenifer asked.

"Yes, I do," Cady glanced at her cousin. "And Erik is my cousin, he's a Prince on his home planet of Pollux."

Both girls gasped. "You are?"

Erik glared at his cousin before turning to the two girls and smiling, "Yes, I am."

"Do you live in a castle too?"

"Do you have a crown too?"

"Are you going to be King some day?"

"Are you a Princess too?"

The last question was aimed at Sky who jolted with surprise.

"No," Sky told them. "I'm a pilot."

Jenifer and Cecilia looked at each other and giggled.

"Girls aren't pilots," Cecilia whispered.

"Excuse me?" Sky raised an eyebrow and put both hands on her hips.

Iona patted her granddaughter on the arm, "That's not true, Cecilia, a girl can do anything a boy can do. You know that."

"Sky is a great pilot," Tristan told them.

"Do you fly a plane?"

"Or a space ship?"

"I fly a big Lion," Sky told them.

"What?" Both girls said at the same time.

"Have you ever heard of Voltron?"

Jenifer and Cecilia nodded.

"I fly the Red Lion and Erik flies Black Lion."

"Wow," the little girls gasped.

"Here, why don't you have a seat," Iona moved aside to make room on the sofa. "Tristan, Erik, go get drinks for your lady friends."

Cady sat beside Tristan's grandmother and smiled.

"Where's your crown?" Jenifer asked again.

"I left it at home, crowns don't travel well," Cady whispered.

Erik and Tristan made their way to the back corner of the room where a bar had been setup.

"I think they're safe with my Grandmother, but when my mother gets them alone is when we have a problem," Tristan muttered as he watched his mother parade a few more relatives up to Cady. His Uncle Jack bowed and Aunt Diana curtsied.

"Don't worry about it, man," Erik replied. "Cady loves being the center of attention."

"I know. But I didn't bring her here to be put on display for my mother's friends."

Erik studied his friend as they waited for the waiter to pour the wine. "Cady knows that. She can handle this."

Tristan nodded, took the two glasses of wine and turned. It took every ounce of self-control that he had to keep from dropping both glasses when he came face to face with Alexis Wellington.

"Tristan."

"Alexis."

Erik looked from Tristan to the gorgeous woman standing in front of him. Alexis stood nearly as tall as Tristan in her ice-pick heels. Her platinum blonde hair brushed her shoulders in a sleek, stylish bob. She wore a black dress that clung to every curve and raised the blood pressure of every man in the room. If he had thought it was possible, Erik would have said she had stepped right out of the pages of a fashion magazine.

He cleared his throat.

Tristan looked at him, "Erik, this is, uh, this is Alexis Wellington. Alexis, this is Erik Johansson."

Erik took the hand she offered and shook as she flashed him a beguiling smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Alexis."

"And you," she replied huskily.

"If you'll excuse me," Erik picked up two glasses of white wine and moved to return to the couch.

"That is certainly one attractive man," Alexis said, watching Erik walk away.

"He's a pilot," Tristan told her.

She turned her gaze to him, "There are worse things in the world."

"So you've changed your view?"

"On more than one thing."

"See the brunette sitting on the couch?"

Alexis nodded.

"That's Sky Collier, Erik's girlfriend."

"Are they engaged?"

"Not yet."

"If rings haven't been exchanged, then he is still on the market."

Tristan rolled his eyes, "You haven't changed as much as you think. What Erik and Sky have is something you could never understand, Alexis."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that you could walk up to him right now, completely naked, and he wouldn't even notice you. The two of them have a relationship that you normally only see in movies or books. You could work every trick in your book and he wouldn't even give you the time of day."

She licked her lips, "Sounds like a challenge."

"It's not, Alexis. Especially if you don't want Sky to tear you apart."

She turned back to him, taking one of the wine glasses from him, "I'm really glad I got to see you, Tristan."

"It was nice seeing you too, Alexis," Tristan turned to the waiter and requested another glass. "But I would like to get back to Cady."

"Where is she?"

"The beautiful blonde sitting next to Sky."

Alexis glanced over at the sofa and examined the Princess. "She's cute."

"She's amazing."

"She looks young."

"She's twenty."

"Really?" Alexis turned back to him. "How is she fitting in here?"

"Just fine."

"Are you really going back to that…planet?"

"You mean Arus? Yes. We're just visiting."

"You can't tell me you're really happy out in the middle of nowhere."

"Arus is not out in the middle of nowhere. And yes, I am very happy there. I am able to fly and I can be with Cady."

"There was a time you were very happy here."

Tristan glared at her, "Don't start with that, Alexis. If you'll excuse me, I would like to get back to my girlfriend."

"Thank you," Cady smiled up at Tristan as he handed her a glass of wine. "Your grandmother was trying to acquaint us with all your family members."

"And since my grandson didn't think to get me a drink," Iona held her hand up and allowed Tristan to help her to her feet. "I will see to it myself."

He gave Cady a sheepish look, offered his arm to his grandmother and escorted her to the bar.

"I like you a lot better than Alexis," Jenifer whispered to Cady.

The Princess glanced at her best friend, but Sky and Erik were talking to some woman. She turned back to Jenifer, "Who's Alexis?"

"She's the other girl Tristan was gonna marry," Cecilia explained.

Cady felt her stomach fall to her knees and an iron vice of envy and pain tighten around her heart. "Marry?"

"Uh huh, they were gonna get married, but when Tristan became a pilot, she broke up with him."

"But she isn't nice, she doesn't talk to us," Jenifer explained.

"Is, uh, is Alexis here?"

The two girls looked around, Jenifer saw her first. "Yeah, she's talking to Aunt Joise, the girl in the black dress."

Cady turned to see 'the girl in the black dress' and felt a strange combination of dread, jealousy, and slight panic. That's Tristan's ex-girlfriend? She thought. Then she turned and Cady caught a full picture of Alexis Wellington. She's gorgeous! And she broke up with him, he didn't break up with her? Cady suddenly wanted to be home, in her room, away from here, away from Tristan's gorgeous ex-girlfriend, away from the obvious stares of his family.

"Cady?"

She looked up to see Tristan standing before her, "What?"

"Are you okay?" He shooed his young cousins aside and sat beside her. She had been staring at his mother and Alexis with her mouth opened slightly and her face frightfully pale.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine, why?"

"You looked like you saw a ghost or something."

She smiled unconvincingly, "I'm great, honey, where's Grandmother Alexander?"

"She's lecturing my cousin Josh on how to properly tie his necktie."

She nodded, "Do you know when dinner is going to be served?"

"It should be soon. Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she assured him, taking a large gulp of her wine.

Tristan reached up and gently brushed her hair behind her shoulder, confused by her behavior, "Easy on the wine, babe, or you'll be leaving the wrong impression on my family."

"Tristan!"

They both looked up to see a young man, shorter than Tristan, with brown hair and a sweet, round face. He walked over to them as Tristan jumped to his feet, a grin on his face.

"Owen!" Tristan greeted his friend with a backslapping hug.

"How are you man?" Owen asked. "It's been ages."

"I'm great. How are you? How's law school?"

"Classes are boring, the girls are uptight, and it's a dry campus, so you tell me."

"You should have joined the Garrison with me."

Owen looked at Cady and winked at her, "I guess I should have. Is this the amazing, beautiful, girl you met while on assignment?"

Cady stood, "I hope so. I'd hate to think you found Captain Klari beautiful."

Tristan grinned at her and took her hand, "Cady this is Owen McIntyre, my best friend since the second grade. Owen, this is Cady Whitaker, the amazing, beautiful girl I met while on assignment."

Owen bowed at the waist, "It is always a pleasure to meet a pretty lady. It's just too bad you met this loser first. But then you still have time to dump him and run away with me."

She glanced at Tristan and appeared to give it some thought, "It's nice to know I have a backup if he ever does anything to make me want to dump him."

Owen let out a loud bark of laughter that earned him a few dirty looks, "Just give him a few more weeks. I'll give you my number where you can reach me at any time."

"All right, enough of that, McIntyre," Tristan warned. "You always try to steal my women, well this will be the one time you don't."

The tinkling of a bell was heard and all chatter died down.

"Dinner is now being served in the dining room," a maid announced.

Tristan and Owen each offered her an arm and after a moment's consideration, Cady slipped her arms through both of theirs, walking into the dining room between the two boys.

The table in the center of the dark paneled dining room was set to sit over twenty people. The younger children were sent to a smaller table in the kitchen. The china was a creamy white with gold edges, the silverware was antique and polished to a shine, the crystal was hefty and also lined with gold. Candelabras held six candles, burning softly, half way down each end of the table. Small cards were at each place setting and they all moved around looking for their seats.

Cady sat beside Tristan, with Owen on the other side of him. Across the table sat Erik and Sky while Tristan's mother and father sat at either end. Conversation was low and reserved as everyone settled around the table. Cady looked around, trying to remember the names of all the aunts, uncles, and friends Mrs. Alexander had introduced her to.

"Hello there."

Cady turned to the seat beside her and watched as Alexis elegantly slid into the chair. "Oh, hello."

"I'm Alexis Wellington," she said, smiling sweetly and offering Cady her hand.

"Cady Whitaker. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Katie. That's such a cute name, what's it short for? Katherine? Kathleen?"

"No, actually it's short for Cadence."

"Cadence. That is certainly an…exotic name. Oh, Cady Whitaker," Alexis looked her up and down. "Oh, of course, you're Tristan's new girlfriend."

"Yes, I am," Cady decided to play along. "And how do you know Tristan, are you another cousin?"

Alexis laughed, "Oh no, Tristan and I are…old friends."

Josie stood at her end of the table and gently tapped the edge of her glass with a spoon. When everybody quieted down, she spoke. "Thank you all for coming tonight. As you know, we are all here to welcome Tristan, our only son, home for an extended vacation. But also to welcome his friends, Her Royal Highness Princess Cadence Whitaker of Arus, His Royal Highness Prince Erik of Pollux, and his fiancée, Schuyler Collier of the Royal Arusian military."

Cady's head snapped up and she met Sky's eyes across the table. Her friend looked just as shocked and they both turned to Erik who shrugged, looking just as confused as the two of them.

A light smattering of applause sounded around the table.

"When did Erik propose?" Tristan whispered in Cady's ear.

"I don't think he did," she whispered back.

"So you're a princess?" Alexis asked as the salad was served.

"Yes, I am."

"That must be terribly exciting."

Cady shrugged, "I'm really no different from anyone else. What do you do, Alexis?"

"I work for a fashion designer."

"Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun. What do you do?"

"Well, I am just starting out in the business, but I work in the firm, doing odd jobs, working my way up through the industry."

"Do you design clothes?"

"I dabble in it," Alexis admitted. "What exactly do you do? As a Princess, I mean."

"Right now I am taking courses at the University in interplanetary justice and diplomacy. I have certain responsibilities to see to, meetings and whatnot. If our planet is ever attacked, it's my responsibility to make sure all of our people get to safety. I also help out with my brothers and sisters, trying to keep them in line."

"So," Owen leaned over and whispered to Tristan. "Does it worry you that Alexis and Cady seem to be getting along so well?"

"No, I trust Cady, I have nothing to hide from her," he replied.

"Does she know about your past with Alexis?"

"She knows I've dated before."

"Your mother is quite impressed with the fact that your girlfriend is a Princess."

Tristan poked at the lettuce on his plate and sent his friend a sideways glance, "It's all she's talked about since I got involved with Cady. It gives her some amazing bragging rights."

"How is Cady handling it?"

"As graciously as always."

Owen studied his friend a moment before whispering, "She really is the one, isn't she?"

Tristan didn't hesitate as he met his friend's eyes and replied, "Yes, she is."


"Congratulations on your engagement," Cady said as she and Erik and Sky made their way upstairs several hours later.

"Yeah, what was that about?" Sky asked.

Erik shrugged, "No idea."

"Where's Tristan?" Sky asked.

"He said he needed to talk to his mother." Cady glanced around before motioning them closer. "Did he ever talk to you guys about Alexis?"

"Yeah, what's the story with her?" Sky looked at Erik.

He shook his head, "Don't ask me, I just met her tonight."

"She, uh, she seems nice," Cady said hesitantly. "She offered to take me shopping."

Sky raised her eyebrows, "Shopping?"

"Okay, here's the thing. Tristan's cousins said that they were engaged, but she broke up with him when she found out he was going to train to be a pilot. We spoke during dinner and she works in the fashion industry and she offered to take me shopping, help me pick out some Terran fashions to take home. So I thought…"

"Cady," Sky interrupted. "Don't do this."

"But I can find out more about him. I want to know her, what he saw in her, what happened between them. She can give me the inside look at Tristan that no one else can."

Sky looked at her friend, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"Cady, I have to agree with Sky. Don't do this. It will blow up in your face." Erik warned.

"I know what I'm doing."

"No, you don't."

"Come on, Cady, don't do this." Sky pleaded. "You came here to meet Tristan's family and have fun. Just forget about Alexis."

"You guys need to trust me, I know what I'm doing," she grinned at them. "But now I am going to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Whatever this Freedom Trail thing is. Good night."

"Good night," Sky said, watching her friend disappear into her room. "This isn't good, Erik."

"No, it's not. But she has this plan formulated and you know she will go through with it. All you can do is what you do every time she does something stupid like this and be there for her when she realizes it was a mistake and wants to cry and eat ice cream."

Sky sighed and allowed Erik to pull her into a hug. "Brownies."

"What?"

She tilted her head back and looked at him, "She cries and eats brownies, not ice cream."

"Oh that's right," he kissed her forehead. "You're the ice cream eater."


Cady carefully packed her jewelry away and sat at the vanity, brushing her hair out when the knock she had been expecting finally came. "Who is it?"

"It's me," Tristan responded lowly.

She crossed to the door, and opened it. He stood on the other side, his tie off and hanging out of his jacket pocket, the top button of his shirt undone. He looked cute. "Hi."

"Hi," he smiled softly at his Princess. She stood before him, barefoot, and wearing a long, light blue nightgown. Her hair hung in a mass of loose waves and curls down her back and over her left shoulder. It took tremendous willpower to stop from forcing her back into the room and having his way with her.

"How are you doing?" She asked, at a loss of what else to say.

"I'm fine," he reached out and touched her hair. "How're you?"

"Good. Ready for bed."

"Then I won't keep you."

"You can keep me."

Tristan smiled, "I may just take you up on that."

Cady took his hand and pulled him into the room, "I wish you would."

He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled, "Is this another one of your 'tease' lessons."

"No, I don't feel like teasing," she whispered, stepping into his embrace.

"Thank you for putting up with everything tonight."

Cady tilted her head back, "What do you mean?"

"I had asked my mother to hold off on a party until we could get settled in. I'm sorry you were rushed into this tonight and paraded in front of all my mother's friends and family."

"It's all right, Tristan, this is nothing new to me."

"I know, I just…"

"Just what, honey?"

He lowered his forehead to rest against hers, "I just don't want you to feel like you're on display, I don't want her to make you feel that way."

"I'm the oldest child of the Queen of Arus, I am next in line for the throne, and I look almost exactly like my mother. I have been on display since I was born."

"You know that's not why I brought you here, right?"

"I know, Tristan. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just…you amaze me, Cady. I love you, very, very much."

She slid her arms round his neck and hugged him tightly, "I love you too, Tristan. And I meant it when I said that I won't let your family chase me away, so calm down, have fun."

"We'll have fun," he promised. "I was thinking we could meet Owen and some more of my friends tomorrow for dinner."

"Oh good, I like Owen and I can't wait to meet more of your friends. Will Alexis be there?"

If Tristan was surprised by her question, he hid it well, "I don't think so."

"She seems nice."

He gently stroked her back, "I really don't want to talk about Alexis."

"Oh? What did you want to talk about?" She asked, tilting her head as he brushed his lips down her throat.

His mouth found it's way up to her ear, "How beautiful you are."

"Are you trying to take advantage of me?"

"Is it working?"

Cady pushed the jacket off his shoulders and helped him wrestle his arms out of the sleeves. "Yeah, I think it is."

Tristan slid his hands up her body and framed her face, kissing her gently. Cady surrendered herself, falling against him, clutching his shirt with one hand and weaving the fingers of her other hand into his thick, ebony hair as the kiss deepened. He very slowly pulled back, watching the content, relaxed expression on her face.

"Cady?"

"Hm?"

"When did Erik propose to Sky?"

"What?" She shook her head slightly as though she was trying to clear the fog from her mind.

"My mother announced their engagement."

"Oh, she was wrong. We don't know where she came up with that."

"Hm. Well, I'll talk to her."

"Don't worry about it," Cady whispered, nuzzling his throat. "They didn't seem too upset."

He unwound her arms from his neck and smiled at her, "We have a busy day planned tomorrow, get some rest."

"Tristan…"

He kissed her cheek, "Good night, beautiful."

"What just…"

Tristan winked at her as he opened the door, "What goes around comes around, honey."

Cady stood with her hands on her hips, "Not funny, Tristan."

He blew her a kiss and shut the door behind him.

"Oh, he's going to pay for that one," she muttered.