Page 45 of His Runaway Princess

“About what?” He turned and leaned his hip against the balustrade.

“Us.”

“Ah. That. The thing we’ve mostly been avoiding all day.”

“Exactly.”

He reached out and brushed a piece of her hair back off her face then let his hand drop until it rested on the back of her hip. “What do I think about being prince consort someday? Does that affect my thinking on what to do about our relationship?”

Amalia nodded.

Ryker sighed. He brushed his thumb against her side as he turned back to face the water. “It’s definitely something to consider. Does it matter to you?”

“Some.” How to tell him they had to stay married and have a big church wedding? “But if we are in a legal marriage, and it seems we are, then we’d have to get annulled or divorced.”

“Right. Makes sense.”

“But if I’ve been married and am not anymore for any reason except being widowed, there’s a very real chance I could be forced out as my grandfather’s heir.”

She’d been told that for years. Never in a threatening way. More in a “this is part of the history and government and how things work in your country” kind of way.

Ryker took time to think before he commented. Far too much time in Amalia’s opinion.

“That changes things some,” he finally admitted.

To force him into something he didn’t want, or make him aware of the consequences if he went his own way?

“I would have been inclined to try dating, or at least spending time together, before making an official decision. There’s no way to know for certain right now how that would have gone, but I think it would have taken something very big to change my first instinct.”

Her heart thudded in her chest. “Your first instinct?”

Once again, he turned to look at her. “That I enjoyed spending time with you, and barring a significant conflict, we should try to make it work.”

Amalia searched his eyes. She couldn’t quite define their color. Did they change based on what he wore? Or his mood? They definitely had some green and brown, but it seemed like more than that.

Most of all, she noticed kindness and compassion.

“You want to be married? You’re willing to take on everything my life involves now and likely will in the future?” Hope began to bloom inside.

Ryker turned and set his mug on the table before taking hers and doing the same. Before she realized it, she found herself in his arms. Her hands rested on his shoulders as she stared up into those eyes.

Did they look gold?

“There’s no problem with chemistry between us. The kiss in Ravenzario and again a few minutes ago proved that.”

Was he going to kiss her again? The last one had been interrupted all too soon by the sound of the hot chocolate percolating.

“Yes, it did.”

Before she could find out his intentions, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

With a groan, Ryker took a step back and pulled it out. “I’m sorry. Only something quite important would break through my do not disturb settings.”

Amalia nodded, noting he hadn’t used her name since she told him to drop the formality. While he talked quietly, she went toward the other end of the balcony. Other doors led onto it, including one from her bedroom.

And from her sister’s nursery.

Would she ever tell anyone about it? Would she and Ryker someday quietly disassemble it for their own child?

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