“Great,” he says brusquely, taking his seat behind the desk. “Let me just print out the paperwork, and we’ll be on our way.”
That’s it? I thought he’d be happier that I’m willing to live and work on Villroy. With him. Did he miss the part that I’m here not just to help at the casino but to be with him?
Apparently, yes. He just stepped out of the room to the printer in his assistant’s office.
I think I didn’t do this right. I need to really open up, admit I’m so in love with him I’m willing to commit to a real long-term relationship, even though it scares the hell out of me that he’ll leave. Or more likely I’ll have to be the one to leave since we’re on his island home. Should I just blurt it out? I love you, or maybe, Adrian, we had a pact. My knee bounces. Is that too forward? Will he think I’m proposing? For the second time? Ugh!
I’m about to drop my head on the desk in complete despair over my inexperience with relationships and all the heavy emotional talk that goes with them, when he returns.
He hands me the papers, instructing me to read them over, sign when I’m ready, and reminding me to bring my official ID for their records. It’s all very professional.
I’m moving thousands of miles away to be with the man I’ve finally decided to let into my heart, and he’s acting like Mr. Professional Boss.
I lift my gaze from the papers. He’s back behind his desk, staring at his computer. “Is this going to be awkward to have you as my boss? People will know I’m sleeping with the boss.”
One corner of his mouth lifts in a small smile. “You and I will be at an equal level, co-managers; therefore, I won’t technically be your boss. And I’m more than capable of being a professional at work.”
I’m irritated but rise to the challenge. “So am I.”
“Great.”
“It is great.”
“After you sign the papers, we’ll get right to work.”
And we actually do.
I’m so confused. I thought this meant something more than work. My heart is outside my chest—exposed and vulnerable—and it’s too late to lock it up tight. It’s reaching for him.
~ ~ ~
By the time we drive back to the palace, I’ve given up my silly romantic fantasy of Adrian being overcome with joy. He needed me as co-manager, he wants me in his bed, and I have way overplayed my hand. Lowering expectations now.
When we get to his suite, he turns to me. “Have a seat. I have something I want to show you.” He gestures to a cushy leather reclining chair in the living room.
“Happy to. I love this chair.” I sit down and recline it all the way back, so it’s practically like a bed.
“I’ll get you a matching one,” he says as he pulls a framed Escher print off the wall.
I jackknife back to a sitting position. “Now that’s a great hiding place for a safe.”
“Shh, don’t tell,” he says while he does the combination.
“Is that your stash of cash?” I ask.
“It’s all of my valuables.” He pockets something and palms something.
I’m on the edge of my seat. What secret is he about to reveal?
He crosses to my chair and produces two cards with a flourish from the palm of his hand. I let out a breath. It’s the pair of fives from his dragon card set—a heart and a diamond.
“You really did keep them,” I whisper.
His eyes are direct. “We had a pact.”
“Did you always believe we’d reunite at twenty-five?”
“I hoped.”
I leap up and throw my arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “I did too. I always secretly hoped, but I was too chicken to admit it.”
He tips my chin up. “One thing you have never been is chicken.”
My eyes sting. “I was. I avoided you and Silvia and Villroy, scared that it would be too difficult to face the memories. If you hadn’t shown up on my doorstep—”
“It was inevitable. I’m your hero. The hero always swoops in when called upon.”
“But I didn’t call you.”
“When we both turned twenty-five, that’s what we said, and we’re still twenty-five.” He hands me the cards. “These are yours.”
I clutch them tightly, staring at them. “Mine are still in the safe at home.” I lift my gaze to his. “I kept them in a fireproof safe, just like my heart, locked up tight, and you burned right through it. Only you could’ve gotten through.”
He smiles. “And you had it in an oven too.”
We laugh.
“I wish I had my cards here to put them together.” I set his pair on the end table.
“That’s okay. We’ll get them when we get your stuff.”
“So we’re really doing this? Living and working together?”
He kisses me. “Among other things, I hope. Do you remember what else we said the day of our pact?”
I nod once. “Matching pairs, hearts and diamonds, twos and fives just like at a wedding. Two hearts, two diamonds. And you said guys don’t wear diamonds.”
He goes down on one knee. “That’s right, love. I said I’d give you two diamonds.” He holds up a diamond engagement ring with two large round diamonds set at an angle from each other, surrounded by smaller diamonds, on a platinum band.
“I think I’m hyperventilating.”
He grins. “You can’t be hyperventilating if you’re still speaking.”
“When did you get this?”
“When I was in New York. I knew it was inevitable, and I knew exactly what I wanted for you.”
My knees go weak, and I slowly sit down again.
“Sara Travers, will you honor the pact we made so long ago and be my wife?”
“Yes!” Tears stream down my face, happy tears, as he slides the ring on my finger.
He rises to his feet and pulls me into his arms. “I love you. I always have and I always will.”
“I love you too. I so regret not getting in touch sooner. We wasted so much time.”
“No regrets. You and I happened exactly when we were meant to. You had to finish raising Chloe, and now she’s off on her own, doing fantastic.”
“You’re right. Chloe needed me, but I should’ve kept in touch.” I squeeze him tight.
He strokes my hair. “No more looking back. We’re here together now.” He lifts my hand, showing off my engagement ring. “And I’ve got you forever.”
I kiss him. “Yes! Happily so. I hope you don’t mind if Chloe stays here on her school breaks.”
He holds my jaw, his thumb stroking the sensitive spot just under my ear. “Of course not. She’s family. I expected her to stay with us. She’s welcome anytime for as long as she likes. I’ll cover her tuition. I don’t want you to worry about that.”
I’m so touched by his inclusion of my sister I can’t speak for a moment. Finally, I manage to say in a hoarse voice, “Thank you so much for understanding about her, but you don’t have to cover her tuition. She’s my responsibility.”
“She’s family,” he repeats. “I take care of my family, and I’m going to make you partner in the casino with me. It’s you, me, Emma, and Jackson, each with a say on the running of the casino, each receiving a portion of the profits.”
My jaw drops. “Did you buy out a portion of their share to include me?” That must’ve cost a lot.
“I would have, but they said it wasn’t necessary. They understand now how much work it is for us, and I’ve told them how much you bring to the table. They’re happy to remain in the background, occasionally performing, but otherwise silent investors.”
I blink. “It’s too much.”
His voice is warm honey, and I melt, my knees going weak. “It’s my wedding gift to you, love.”
I cannot believe this. Me, part owner of a casino? It’s beyond my wildest dreams. Of course it is, because it’s from Adrian Rourke, the man who surpasses all my wildest dreams.
“Do you accept?” he asks.
“Yes! Of course I a
ccept! Thank you!” I hug him tight and then pull back to look up at him. “I’ll pay Chloe’s tuition from my casino earnings. This is just beyond…Adrian.” My voice cracks. “I want to give you an amazing wedding gift too. I’ll have to think of something really great.”
“You already did by agreeing to marry me and live here with me. It’s everything I’ve always wanted.”
“There must be something. What do you want in your wildest dreams?”
He strokes my hair back, his eyes intent on mine. “Cards on the table?”
“Absolutely.”
“I want a family with you, when you’re ready.”
I nod, my vision swimming with tears. “I want that too, but that’s a gift for both of us. What else do you want?”
He gives me a sexy smile and inclines his head toward the bedroom. “I have some ideas.”
“Anything.”
He growls in my ear in the deep voice that gives me hot shivers, “Not only are you a dream come true, you’re about to make every fantasy come true.”
Epilogue
Three months later…
Adrian
It’s official! Sara and I are married. We’re on our way to the ballroom for our wedding reception after taking a million pictures right after the ceremony. It’s a few days after Christmas. We didn’t want to wait long to marry after waiting so many years to connect again. We also wanted it at a time when we knew a lot of our family would have some time off to return to Villroy for the holidays.
She’s been a huge help to me at the casino right from the start, just as I knew she’d be. After a couple of months, we hired someone to open and do some routine checks before she and I work the late shift together, me mostly in my office, Sara mostly on the floor. We switch it up sometimes, but that’s how it works best. We’re both night owls. She’s better at managing people, and I’m better at numbers and big-picture strategy. It was probably the easiest and best decision I ever made. I mean, besides marrying her.
As we approach the ballroom, I’m anticipating a huge cheer and applause like at the palace chapel right after we said “I do” followed by a lot of social time. I need her just to myself for a moment longer. I pull her around the corner to a quiet hallway.
“Where are we going?” she asks.
“Here,” I say before wrapping my arms around her and pressing my lips to hers.
She throws her arms around my neck and kisses me passionately. The fire ignites between us, and I’m suddenly dying for more. I pin her against the wall, pressing my body against hers. Yesss. I kiss a trail to her jaw, up to her ear, where I growl in the way that makes her hot and needy, “Upstairs.”
She gazes into my eyes. “I have a wedding gift for you.”
“You already framed the cards from our pact, and you honored our pact. That’s the best gift you could give me.” The framed cards are hanging on the wall just above our bed as a constant reminder that our love was meant to be. Our younger selves knew.
I kiss her again, demanding more. She melts against me in the way I love.
Several moments later, she tears her mouth away, breathing hard. “Ade, listen. I want to give you this before we go in, okay?”
“And I want you. You look so sexy in this dress. It’s been torture not to touch.” Her gown is sleeveless—bare shoulders, her cleavage tempting me.
“Remember when we got carried away at work?”
I jerk my gaze up from her cleavage. “I love when we get carried away.”
“Adrian, my husband, my hero, you can now officially add one more title to that list.”
“Boss man, I know.”
She laughs. “And prince, shark, and alpha. You do have a lot of titles.” She beams. “I hope you’ll like this one most of all—father.”
“Father,” I echo.
“Yes. I’m pregnant. You’re going to be a dad. Do you like your wedding gift?”
I stare at her in shock. “You’re pregnant.” It’s not like we didn’t use condoms, except for that one time. “Is this from when I bent you over my desk?”
“Shhh, yes! Remember we got carried away?”
It finally clicks into place. I’m going to have a family with Sara, my wife, the love of my life. I grab her and hug her, spinning her around.
She laughs. “I take it you like your wedding gift.”
“I love it! I love you!” I bend down and kiss her stomach. “And I love you, little baby.”
She cups my cheek. “Everything is so perfect right now. I wish I could freeze time.”
“Me too.” I kiss her again tenderly. “I’m so happy.”
We smile at each other for a long moment, sharing in the perfect bliss of starting on this amazing journey to marriage and family together. Suddenly I realize it’s unusually quiet in the palace.
I cock my head, listening. So strange. We’re not far from the ballroom, so why don’t I hear our family and friends? “We should probably get to the reception. I bet they’re waiting for us to start.”
“Okay, but let’s keep the baby news to ourselves. It’s early yet. I just found out a few days ago.”
“It’s going to be so hard to keep it secret.”
“You can tell one person, just one.”
“You’re only saying that so you can tell Chloe.”
“That’s right, and don’t choose a blabbermouth to tell.”
“I’ll tell my mother. She loves being a grandmother, and she’ll treat you like a gem the entire time.”
“Deal,” she says.
I open the ballroom doors and gesture for her to go ahead of me. It’s still deathly quiet. I step inside to find something I never thought I’d see—
My Brooklyn cousins, all six of them standing on one side of the ballroom staring at my family on the other side. Six guys in their twenties and thirties and, I have to say, seeing them in black tuxes like my brothers, the family resemblance is strong. Tall, wide shoulders, dark brown hair, angular cheekbones, and square jaws. My uncle and aunt don’t seem to be with them. I guess it’s up to the next generation to make peace again.
“Omigod, they actually showed up,” Sara whispers.
We invited them, after clearing it with my family, but they hadn’t RSVP’d to the invitation. I didn’t notice them at the ceremony. Silvia beams at me. I’m sure she had something to do with this reunion.
The butler announces, “Prince Adrian Rourke and Princess Sara Rourke.”
The spell is broken, and everyone applauds.
Sara laughs. “I forgot I would be a princess. Kiss me so I know I’m not dreaming.”
I kiss her and nip her lower lip. She leans into me. “You’re not dreaming.”
She takes my hand, and we join our family, now even larger with my Rourke cousins and our baby on the way.
I bet on us, and I won the jackpot.
~ ~ ~
Sign up for my newsletter and get a free book! https://www.kyliegilmore.com/newsletter
Don’t miss the next book in the series Rogue Prince! Meet the Brooklyn cousins, the rough-around-the-edges Rourke men with no intention of settling down. Dylan’s story is up next, where he’s about to collide with his long-time frenemy and one-time lover.
Preorder Rogue Prince now!
Rogue Prince
Dylan
I am the crown prince of Villroy, but instead of taking the king’s throne like I should have, my father got us all exiled. I’d complain, but he had good reason. Now our once royal family lives in Brooklyn, and I’m about to inherit a new kingdom: my uncle’s construction business. It’s an opportunity to build my real estate empire and make something of myself. All I need is an experienced person to help take it to the next level. And then the girl who grew up next door to me—all woman now—shows up with just the business experience I need.
Too bad Ariana Bianchi hates me. I used to think it was undeserved—fall-out from our families’ long-time feud—but there was this one time…
Ariana
&
nbsp; I’m newly divorced and crashing at my parents’ house until I can get my life on track for my ultimate goal of having a baby with the help of a sperm bank. It’s the reason for my divorce—he didn’t want kids—and at thirty-one the clock is ticking. So when the gorgeous pig of a man, Dylan Rourke, shows up at my parents’ house to ask me to work as a consultant for his company, I see an opportunity. He wants something from me? Yeah, well, I want something in return, too.
Only Dylan makes this way more complicated than it needs to be.
Excerpt
Dylan
I head down the stairs and stride down the sidewalk toward Prospect Park. Later, I'll sit my uncle and my dad down to wring every bit of information I can get out of them. Now I need to get my head on straight.
I get to the park and start at a jog down the trail. The sun's starting to set, and the park is clearing out. I speed up. Before I know it I'm running full speed along the loop. It's a little over three miles and I make it around once before a cramp in my side has me bending over.
“Someone's getting old,” a feminine voice teases.
I straighten, holding my side. Well, if it isn't my mortal enemy—Ariana Bianchi. Just the person I want to witness my manly breakdown. She's in a bright pink hoodie with black yoga pants that cling to her shapely legs. I search my beleaguered brain for a comeback. “Aren't you too old to wear a pigtail?” I gesture to her hair up in a high pigtail.
“It's called a ponytail and fuck you.”
I stare at her mouth, surprised at her language. My memory of her is of a quiet girl who lived in tutus, always twirling around or, later, always with her nose in a book. Her lips are the same pink as her hoodie and the lower lip is fuller. Sexy.
I jerk my head up. “They teach you to curse at your fancy college?”
“The Rourkes taught me to curse. That's all I used to hear next door—F this, F that.”
“F that.” I laugh, surprising myself.
Her brown eyes dance with amusement. “That's right. F that.”
We crack up. I think I'm losing it.
She pulls her ankle up behind her, stretching. “I saw you running like a pack of wolves was chasing you. What's got your pants on fire?”
Royal Shark (The Rourkes, Book 6) Page 16