By the time they reached the third floor, the heat was making her dizzy. On the fourth, she refused the offer of spaghetti and meatballs—wondering how anyone could bear to cook in all this heat—and accepted a glass of water. Dutifully she noted down how the pipes rattled and thumped. When they reached the fifth floor, she was wishing desperately for a cool shower, a chilled glass of chardonnay and the blissful comfort of her air-conditioned apartment.

Mikhail noted that her face was glowing from the heat. On the last flight of stairs, she’d been puffing a bit, which pleased him. It wouldn’t hurt the queen to see how her subjects lived. He wondered why she didn’t at least peel off her suit jacket or loosen a couple of those prim buttons on her blouse.

He wasn’t pleased with the thought that he would enjoy doing both of those things for her.

“I would think that some of these tenants would have window units.” Sweat slithered nastily down her back. “Air-conditioning.”

“The wiring won’t handle it,” he told her. “When people turn them on, it blows the fuses and we lose power. The hallways are the worst,” he went on conversationally. “Airless. And up here is worst of all. Heat rises.”

“So I’ve heard.”

She was white as a sheet, he noted, and swore. “Take off your jacket.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You’re stupid.” He tugged the linen off her shoulders and began to pull her arms free.

The combination of heat and his rough, purposeful fingers had spots dancing in front of her eyes. “Stop it.”

“Very stupid. This is not a boardroom.”

His touch wasn’t the least bit loverlike, but it was very disturbing. She batted at his hands the moment one of her arms was free. Ignoring her, Mikhail pushed her into his apartment.

“Mr. Stanislaski,” she said, out of breath but not out of dignity. “I will not be pawed.”

“I have doubts you’ve ever been pawed in your life, Your Highness. What man wants frostbite? Sit.”

“I have no desire to—”

He simply shoved her into a chair, then glanced over where Keely stood in the kitchen, gaping. “Get her some water,” he ordered.

Sydney caught her breath. A fan whirled beside the chair and cooled her skin. “You are the rudest, most ill-mannered, most insufferable man I’ve ever been forced to deal with.”

He took the glass from Keely and was tempted to toss the contents into Sydney’s beautiful face. Instead he shoved the glass into her hand. “Drink.”

“Jeez, Mik, have a heart,” Keely murmured. “She looks beat. You want a cold cloth?” Even as she offered, she couldn’t help but admire the ivory silk blouse with its tiny pearl buttons.

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“I’m Keely O’Brian, 502.”

“Her oven doesn’t work,” Mikhail said. “And she gets no hot water. The roof leaks.”