a bizarre game of peekaboo。 He stared at Blair for a moment longer and then yelled； ？Next！？
Blair dropped down off the stool and walked gracefully out of the restaurant to where Lord
Marcus was waiting for her near the elevator doors。 He gathered her in his strong； capable； royal
arms。 ？You were stunning；？ he reassured her。 ？I was watching from the door。？
Blair leaned her cheek against his chest； still in character。 ？I do love it here；？ she sighed
dreamily。
The elevator doors rolled open and Serena and Nate stepped out。
？Good luck！？ Blair called out generously。 She took another drag on her cigarette holder and
offered Nate a serene smile。 He smiled weakly back at her； looking a little red around the eyes；
like he？d been crying； or； more likely； was extremely stoned。 But from where Blair stood； with her
body pressed against her hunky British lord； that was really none of her concern。
Then Lord Marcus kissed the back of Blair？s head； sending a little thrill down her spine。 The
door to the ladies？ lounge was right in front of them。 She took his hand and tugged him toward it。
Nothing better than a little make…out session before breakfast。
He？s e undone
Nate was outside the hotel with the trunk show security guard； smoking a hand…rolled
pot…mixed…with…tobacco cigarette。 The sun beat down on Fifth Avenue and Sixty…first Street； and
with the masses of European tourists and clouds of bus exhaust； it felt more like late August than
the last week in May。
？Beautiful day；？ the security guard； whose gold plastic name tag read DARWIN； remarked。 He
was huge and bald and probably moonlighted as a nightclub bouncer。 He squeezed his eyes shut to