Because who doesn’t love an award-winning, 5 STAR
modern-day adult fairy tale?
Sculptor Petey Cavanaugh has no idea the handsome businessman she’s falling for is actually Europe’s most eligible prince.
Petey is Nik’s first-ever taste of ordinary. And everything he ever wanted. If he doesn’t blow it.
Here’s a teaser from CHASING ORDINARY.
“We’re going for a fancy early dinner, but we have to wear ski clothes?” Petey asked. “Are we going skiing?”
CHASING ORDINARY, Pandora Spocks
“No, we aren’t going skiing, and I’m not telling you any more than that,” Nik replied, eyes twinkling with mischief.
They’d spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon relaxing in the tower sitting room of Nik’s apartment. Jorgen had popped in briefly to catch Nik up on some business or other. Petey enjoyed reading near the window, occasionally watching the snow sparkle in the brilliant sunlight.
Now, both dressed for the slopes, they headed to the main entry hall and out the front door. Ada held open the back door of a black Mercedes. “Good evening, sir, ma’am,” she greeted them.
“Hello, Ada,” Petey responded. “Do you know where we’re going?”
The agent suppressed a smile. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And you’re not going to tell me.”
“No, ma’am.”
Petey sighed dramatically, then giggled as she stepped into the car and scooted over to allow Nik to get in. Once in the car, she pulled down the fur-trimmed hood of her hot pink ski parka. She liked the effect of the coat paired with the blinding-white stretch ski pants.
Nik looked sexy in all black, but then, Nik looked sexy in anything. Or nothing, come to that. She smiled to herself, and he watched her curiously, but said nothing.
Lars drove them out to the main highway and headed in the opposite direction than the one they’d come from the capital. So we aren’t going to a fancy restaurant in the city. Well, duh. Ski clothes. We must be going to a resort. We’ll just kind of blend in.
After about fifteen minutes, Lars turned off the highway, driving another ten minutes before they ended up at a small air field. Petey glanced at Nik, who smiled enigmatically.
A smiling man met them as they got out of the car. “Welcome, Your Highness. We’re honored to have you with us today.”
Nik nodded politely. “Thank you. May I present Ms. Petey Cavanaugh?”
Petey thought of the beautiful engagement ring, currently hidden beneath white leather gloves. Their engagement would be officially announced at the gala on New Year’s Eve, so now it was still very hush-hush.
The man reached to shake her hand. “Ms. Cavanaugh, enchanted. We’re pleased to have you dining with us this evening.”
Dining? Petey glanced around, seeing only a handful of small private planes and a red helicopter.
“If you’ll step this way, we’ll be ready to go.” The man led them to the helicopter, which struck Petey as not unlike the one they’d flown in that night in Manhattan.
Petey climbed aboard, sliding over to allow Nik to climb in beside her. She buckled her seatbelt and picked up a set of headphones. “A helicopter?” She arched an eyebrow.
“It’s a very exclusive restaurant,” Nik quipped, putting on his own headphones.
The engine roared to life and the rotors began spinning. They lifted off the ground, and soon, Lars, Ada, and the car looked like toys far below. Excited, Petey reached for Nik’s hand as they rose. The ground below was covered in a layer of snow, making the farms and forests look like a winter wonderland.
“That’s Ansgar,” Nik pointed out as they flew over the castle. Petey could just make out her workshop and the barn with the brand new stable behind it. She leaned over to give Nik a kiss. He smiled with pleasure.
After they flew over the estate, they banked left and headed toward the mountains. The rolling farmland faded away as jagged granite mountains rose before them. In the space between two peaks, Petey saw a vast open space covered in what looked to be deep snow. Something clearly manmade marred the pristine snowfield, but Petey couldn’t tell what it was.
The helicopter circled around and landed at the edge of the snowfield. Petey could now see that the rectangular anomaly was a dining table carved out of the snow. Flanking it on either side were benches, also carved out of the snow. While the table was set for a formal dinner, the benches were covered with red blankets, and each seat was defined by a thick white fur.
The pilot opened the helicopter door and let Nik out. Nik, in turn, reached out for Petey’s hand, helping her climb down.
He smiled down at her. “See why we needed ski clothes?”
She nodded, eyes shining. “This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Good. Let’s have dinner, shall we?”
They chatted quietly over fresh seafood and champagne. The only other people were the pilot and the two servers, who remained discreetly at a distance unless they were needed. Warm enough with a blanket pulled over her lap, Petey gazed out across the valley to the snow-capped peaks in the distance.
When she looked back, Nik was smiling at her. “Do you like it?”
She couldn’t stop the grin. “I love it. You know it isn’t necessary, though. All this,” she rolled her eyes, “fancy stuff.”
He smiled at her tenderly. “I know. That’s why I wanted to do it.”
Together, they toasted the sunset as the receding light painted the sky purple, rose, and orange.
Pandora Spocks 