“You’re from the café,” Nina says as she walks into the room. She looks fresh and well-rested this morning, as if the events of yesterday afternoon didn’t happen. But I know she was up half the night with nightmares.
“I am,” Aspen says with a smile, and then she gets a good look at Nina, then me, and Christian sitting in a chair by the window. Her jaw drops. “No wonder you have good security. I just walked into Hollywood.”
“You didn’t know?” Nina asks as she helps Aspen unload her bags.
“No. There was some gossip in Drips yesterday afternoon because the search and rescue guys came in for coffee. They said it was you, and I knew you married a prince, but I honestly didn’t connect the dots. I’ve been so busy with this new business, I barely remember my own name.
“But I’ve been through the search and rescue thing before, and it’s so dang exhausting. I just thought it would be nice to not have to worry about breakfast.”
“Thank you,” Jenna says with a smile. “And, please, tell us more about buying Drips. We were afraid the new owner would change everything.”
I take a huckleberry scone and bite into it, enjoying the conversation.
“I’m not changing anything,” Aspen assures the girls. “I’ve worked there as a barista for about a year now, and I love it. The staff is great, the customers are fun. I might add some food items for lunch, but that’s all.”
“What made you decide to buy it?” Nina asks.
“It’s time I fit in somewhere,” Aspen murmurs and then pastes a smile on her pretty face. I glance up to find Callum watching her thoughtfully as he sips his coffee.
I know that look.
Callum thinks she’s hot.
“It made sense,” Aspen continues. “Anyway, I don’t want to take up any more of your time. I hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you so much,” Nina says with a smile and a wave as Liam walks Aspen to the front door. “I’m so glad someone nice bought it.”
“Me, too,” Jenna agrees, reaching for a second scone.
“What did I miss?” Ellie asks as she walks into the room.
“Food,” Callum says before rushing off to catch up with Aspen.
Ellie raises an eyebrow. “Was there a girl?”
“A pretty one,” Nina affirms. “Aspen Calhoun.”
“Irish,” Ellie says as she reaches for a scone. “Did she have red hair?”
“As a matter of fact, she does,” Jenna says.
“Callum’s always had a thing for redheads,” Ellie says. “Isn’t that right, Sebastian?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Ellie rolls her eyes. “Yes, you do.”
“I know that I have a thing for this blonde right here.” I kiss the top of Nina’s head. She cranes her neck back so she can smile up at me.
“That’s a good answer.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
One Year Later
Nina
“INTRODUCING, HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, the Duke of Somerset, Prince Sebastian. And Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Somerset, Princess Nina.”
Sebastian and I enter the room to a round of applause. We’re dressed to the nines, as fancy as it gets, for this state dinner. Just a year ago, I would have been completely sick to my stomach with nerves.
But after a full year of being married to Sebastian, I can honestly say that I look forward to getting all dressed up in pretty gowns with gloves up to my elbows and dripping in jewelry. I mean, doesn’t every little girl dream of dates like this one? I have a handsome prince on my arm, and I’m in a room with some of the most powerful men and women in the world.
But the very best part is the reason everyone is assembled here this evening. My charity, Her, is finally up and running. We’re working tirelessly to help women in all of the commonwealth countries to escape abuse.
No woman should ever be harmed, especially from someone they love.
I’ve worked my ass off to get it off the ground, and we’re finally here.
Not only do the king and queen support it, they insisted on this amazing state dinner to celebrate, inviting nobility from all over Europe to attend, and to donate to the cause.
Sebastian and I sit at the table, directly across from each other. I’m sandwiched between the Queen of Denmark and the Prime Minister of France.
Nick stands discreetly behind me in case an assassin storms the castle and decides to threaten my life.
Honestly? It makes me feel better to know he’s there. Since the horrible scene on the lake last fall, I’ve followed the security detail’s instructions to the letter, and there hasn’t been another incident since that one.
I still feel guilty about it.
Sebastian smiles at me from across the table as the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife talks his ear off.
It’s funny, really. He’s a handsome and charming man. Women like to talk with him.
But only I get to go home with him later.
Maybe I’ll take his pants off with my teeth. It seems like an ambitious endeavor, but it would surprise him, and I’m all for that.
Liam is with us on this trip to London. Charles had a family emergency, so Liam’s with Sebastian, and I think my husband prefers it that way. Not that he doesn’t love Charles, but the man is nearing retirement age.
Liam’s eyes dart to my right and narrow. I follow his gaze and smile when I see he’s looking at Ellie. She’s flirting with the young gentleman sitting next to her, and I can see that Liam doesn’t like it one bit.
The evening is uneventful and full of small talk. When Sebastian and I finally make our way to our apartment, I’m nervous and excited all at the same time.
“That was amazing,” he says as he loosens his tie. “I’ve never been more proud of you than I was during your incredible speech. You had some of the world’s most powerful people in tears today.”
“I’m passionate about this cause, and I want it to do well.”
“It’s going to be a smashing success. You’re changing lives, Nina.”
I smile at my husband’s praise. He’s been my biggest supporter.
“It was lovely that your parents insisted on tonight’s event. I think we’ll have some impressive donations roll in from it. Not to mention, your father was charming this evening.”
“He’s partial to you.” He leans in and kisses me in that way he does that always makes my world tilt on its axis.
“I have something I want to talk to you about,” I begin and bite my lip. I haven’t even stepped out of my shoes yet, I’m so nervous.
“Okay.” He frowns. “Are you all right?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.” I swallow hard and pray he won’t be mad. Or weirded out. “We just haven’t talked about this before.”
“Just spit it out.”
“I was thinking of having my IUD removed so we could maybe have a baby.”
I watch as a myriad of emotions make their way across his handsome face. Confusion, disbelief, and then pure joy.
“Yes, I’m absolutely on board with that.”
“Oh, thank goodness. I thought maybe you didn’t want kids.”
“I want children. Of course, I do. I just didn’t want to bring it up because I thought it was something you didn’t want.”
“I never did,” I admit and finally kick the heels off my feet. “Until you. And now I can’t imagine not having children with you. You’ll be a wonderful father.”
His kiss is long and slow. Incredibly romantic.
Is it possible to get pregnant from just a kiss? Because if so, I’m pretty sure I’m having triplets.
“Let’s get started right now,” he says.
“I still have to go to the doctor and have the stupid thing removed,” I remind him with a laugh.
“We can practice, can’t we?” He tugs me toward the bedroom, but there’s a knock at the door. “Bloody interruptions.”
“They want the jewelry back,” I remind him as I open the door. The man in charge of the
crown jewels collects the tiara, necklace, and earrings, and then he’s gone. “It always makes me nervous, wearing several million dollars in jewelry on my body.”
“It suits you,” he says simply. Just as he retakes my hand, there’s another knock on the door. “Now, I’m going to kill someone.”
But when he opens the door, it’s Liam. “The plane will be ready at six in the morning, sir.”
“Excellent.”
He shuts the door and turns back to me.
“If anyone else knocks, we’re ignoring it.”
“Where are we going tomorrow?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Tell me.”
He laughs and tosses me onto the bed. “You really need to get better at surprises, darling.”
“Just give me a hint.”
“No. I still wear the pants in this family.”
I cock a brow and lean over to tug his pants free with my teeth. Once I get them down his legs and toss them aside, I smile triumphantly.
“You’re not wearing pants now.”
“Well, that was fun.”
“I have more fun things up my sleeve.”
“Oh, darling, I’m counting on it.”
Epilogue
Ellie
PRINCESS ELEANOR ROSE Elizabeth Wakefield.
Princess.
All anyone ever sees is the princess, not the woman behind the title.
There’s a lot about being a part of the royal family that I love. Of course, I love my actual family, but I also enjoy the comforts and privileges that come with the title. I won’t deny it.
But there’s also quite a lot that’s expected of me that feels stifling.
Saying “not a chance in bloody hell” to the proposal by one Beauregard Hattenham was exactly the opposite of what my parents expected.
He’s handsome.
And he’s an earl, so he has an appropriate bloodline.
He’s got an education from an Ivy League institution.
His family’s wealthy.
On paper, he looks perfect for the youngest daughter of a king.
In person? He’s an arsehole. I’d rather marry Alistair, the most boring and slobbery man on Earth.
None of the men my parents seem hell-bent on parading in front of me are marriage-worthy. Why are Mum and Father suddenly so obsessed over whether or not I find a suitable husband? I’m only twenty-five, for God’s sake. It’s not like I’m an old maid.
So, I left. I didn’t tell anyone except my security team and the pilot of the plane. I didn’t even call ahead to ask if I could barge in on Sebastian and Nina in Montana.
I just decided to show up.
At two in the morning.
No big deal.
The journey in the car from the airport to the house takes less than fifteen minutes. We walk up to the front door, and before I can knock, it opens.
I expect to see my brother.
Instead, it’s Liam, frowning down at me.
I didn’t expect to see him, but here he is in all of his scowling, disapproving, more handsome than sin glory.
“Hello, princess.”
About Kristen Proby
Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.
During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.
Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published more than thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.
Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their adorable pug and two cats.
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Other Books by Kristen Proby
Coming Soon
Shadows: A Bayou Magic Novel
The Big Sky Series
Charming Hannah
Kissing Jenna
Waiting for Willa
Check out the full series here.
Kristen Proby’s Crossover Collection – A Big Sky Novel
Soaring with Fallon
Wicked Force: A Wicked Horse Vegas/Big Sky Novella by Sawyer Bennett
All Stars Fall: A Seaside Pictures/Big Sky Novella by Rachel Van Dyken
Hold On: A Play On/Big Sky Novella by Samantha Young
Worth Fighting For: A Warrior Fight Club/Big Sky Novella by Laura Kaye
Crazy Imperfect Love: A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella by K.L. Grayson
Nothing Without You: A Forever Yours/Big Sky Novella by Monica Murphy
Check out the full series here.
The Fusion Series
Listen To Me
Close To You
Blush For Me
The Beauty of Us
Savor You
Check out the full series here.
The Boudreaux Series
Easy Love
Easy Charm
Easy Melody
Easy Kisses
Easy Magic
Easy Fortune
Easy Nights
Check out the full series here.
The With Me In Seattle Series
Come Away With Me
Under the Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me
Breathe With Me
Forever With Me
Stay With Me
Indulge With Me
Love With Me
Dance With Me
Check out the full series here.
The Love Under the Big Sky Series
Loving Cara
Seducing Lauren
Falling For Jillian
Saving Grace
Check out the full series here.
From 1001 Dark Nights
Easy With You
Easy For Keeps
No Reservations
Tempting Brooke
Wonder With Me - Coming Soon!
The Romancing Manhattan Series
All the Way
All it Takes
Check out the full series here.
Enchanting Sebastian Page 19