by Cindy Gerard
Epilogue
It was the media event of the century. Not since Prince Rainier and Princess Grace’s public and spectacular wedding four decades ago, had the world witnessed such a fairy-tale extravaganza. And not since Princess Diana had the world fallen so deeply in love with the princess who had risked all to ensure security for her people.
It was a glorious spring day—so ordered by royal decree. Hundreds of thousands of tourists had flooded the tiny principality hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple, to in some small way be a part of such a historic event.
Flag-flying yachts littered the picturesque harbor of the Mediterranean seaport capital, flowers floated in festive celebration on the water, fireworks erupted like jewels at midnight. The princess bride, adorned in acres of trailing satin and antique lace, walked down a silk-paved aisle toward her handsome and newly knighted American upstart, sharing her love, sharing their day with the world watching on.
“You’re looking very beautiful—and very smug,” Greg observed three weeks later as he twirled Anna around the ballroom of the Texas Cattleman’s Club.
Not an hour ago, they had renewed their vows, Texas style, in the grand salon of the Club, with Greg’s family and their friends looking on. In actuality, it seemed to Anna that half of West Texas had shown up for a lavish reception for the newlyweds, who had recently returned to Royal and an extended honeymoon at Casa Royale.
“I’m feeling very smug,” she said, as he twirled her past a vivacious Harriet, who was currently charming the starch from Royce’s very staid and reserved smile.
“Because you pulled it off? Because you’ve managed, almost single-handedly, to snatch Obersbourg from the jaws of a financial crisis? Because now that we’re married, William is the legitimate male heir to the throne, which ends the final threat of loss of sovereignty?” The heir in question grinned at his mother from across the room as he and Tito dove into two huge pieces of snowy-white wedding cake.
“You’ve been reading too many magazine articles.” Her bright eyes danced from her son to her husband. “It makes me sound very mercenary.”
“Mercenary? No. Intelligent, savvy—sexy,” he added on a low growl as he pressed his lips to her ear. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”
“Was it destiny, do you think?” she asked, caressing his nape, pulling back to look deeply into his eyes. “That we found each other, that we made our beautiful son together, that nothing and no one was able to keep us apart?”
“Destiny. Fate. Kismet. Whatever it was, it was meant to be.”
They stopped, as one, eyes only for each other as he drew her into a sweet, sealing kiss. “I love you, Anna.”
“And I love you. For so many reasons. But most of all, for making me believe again—in fairy tales. In happily ever after.”
Hank Langley, Forrest Cunningham, Sterling Churchill, and Blake observed the happy couple from their roosts at the edge of the dance floor.
“Kind of makes your heart go pitty-pat, seeing all that wedded bliss,” Hank observed with a grin.
Beside him, Forrest hooked a thumb into the pocket of his tuxedo trousers. “You realize, he’s the last of the Alpha team to bite the dust.”
Sterling chuckled. “Well, they always say there’s strength in numbers.”
“Who knew,” Blake said thoughtfully, “that when we launched the mission last summer, we’d all end up married within nine months.”
“It was a rush, wasn’t it?” Forrest segued, darting a glance from one man to the next. “The danger. The excitement of stealing a princess out from under the royal guard?”
Sterling drained his glass of champagne. “Yeah. Makes you wonder, with our composite skills and connections, what else we’d be capable of pulling off if the need arose.”
“Well, I know one thing,” Hank put in, returning the smile Callie sent him from across the room. “The Club’s membership is littered with forceful, wealthy and daring men. Count them in and count me out of any further activities.”
“My covert mission days are over, too,” Blake said with conviction. “I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that Greg’s are, too. That’s one contented man if ever I’ve seen one.”
In companionable silence, the four men watched the bride and groom sway, as one, to the rhythm of the wedding waltz. Of the same mind, their gazes sought and found their own wives, as they quite happily acknowledged that they had all the excitement they would ever need in their ladies’ loving arms.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-5856-3
LONE STAR PRINCE
Copyright © 1999 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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