Page 44 of His Runaway Princess

She shook her head. “Hot chocolate. Do you want some?”

“It sounds good.” He reached over her head for another mug. “Princess Genevieve likes the instant stuff sometimes, too. If we weren’t on the go somewhere, she always insists we have some as well.”

“I don’t know her very well, but I like her.” Amalia put the single serve pod into the machine, set her mug underneath it, and pressed the button. She turned around and leaned back with her hands braced against the counter. “You know, if things go the way I suspect they will, you’ll have to start calling her Genevieve or even Gen. Same with Benjamin. If Ginny steps down, I’ll be his counterpart someday.”

Ryker shook his head. “That is highly unlikely. I might be able to stay with sir or ma’am, but first names? Nicknames? Probably not.” He grinned. “Give it a couple of decades and maybe we can revisit the conversation.”

She held his gaze as the machine started to gurgle. “Do you plan to be here in a couple of decades?”

As he leaned back against the counter where he stood, Ryker turned that over in his mind. “I...” He blew out a breath. “I don’t know. It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I found out I’d even see you again, outside of some official function where I was part of the protection team. The idea of making a life with you isn’t something I’d considered until the flight here.”

“But it’s not something you’re ready to run from?” She continued to look him straight in the eyes.

The color of her shirt made her eyes appear even more green than usual. He didn’t wither under her gaze, but reached out and took her hand. “No. I’m not ready to run. I don’t know about making a lifetime commitment in less than a full day since we found out we might have inadvertently made one already, but I want to explore whatever is going on between us.”

“Whatever made you kiss me in Ravenzario?”

Ryker didn’t know how to answer that. Did she regret it? Had he misconstrued her consent?

“I kissed you back, you know,” she went on. “I’d been wondering what it would be like for days by then.”

That lifted the new worry off Ryker’s shoulders as he nodded slowly. “Knowing what I know now, I can admit there’s been chemistry between us since I first sat next to you on that ferry. There wouldn’t be any point in admitting it if our lives hadn’t taken such a drastic turn today.”

Amalia moved to stand in front of him, her free hand coming to rest on his cheek. “Do you think it could have been a fluke?”

He wasn’t sure he followed her train of thought. “The kiss?”

She nodded and stepped a little closer. “Yes. The kiss.”

Ryker searched her face, trying to make sure he read her expression correctly. The stilettos she wore made her much closer to his height, though he still had several inches on her. He could see her face, her eyes, much closer than normal. He wanted to kiss her again, but only if she truly wanted the same thing. It couldn’t be because she feared they’d been trapped into a relationship and she needed to see if she could tolerate his kiss.

Before he could make up his mind, she shifted forward.

And kissed him.

15

When daylight lasted all night, wishing for a sunset was the most Amalia could do.

With her mug of hot chocolate in hand, she went out onto the balcony, leaning against the balustrade with the weight on her forearms. Ryker stood next to her, close enough for their upper arms to be in contact. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Mum will no longer be Grandfather’s heir.” She stared at the horizon.

“No, she won’t. Your sister will be, I suppose.”

Amalia lifted her head to shake it. “I don’t think so. I don’t know for certain, but some of the things she said when we spent time together this weekend and the look on her face when Grandfather said it...” She sighed. “I’m fairly certain she won’t.”

“You won’t ask her?” He lifted his mug to his mouth to take a sip.

She gave another shake of her head. “If she comes to me, I’ll gladly talk to her about it and do my best to give her impartial advice, but I don’t think she will. We’ve had a good weekend, but we don’t have a close relationship.”

“So you think there’s a strong possibility that you’ll be the next queen?” Ryker’s voice sounded gentle, concerned about her.

“I think so.” Amalia stared at one of the mini marshmallows bobbing in her chocolate. The gravity of the decision her sister had to make wasn’t lost on Amalia. “There’s no way to know for certain until Ginny tells us her decision, but...”

“Right.”

She took a sip. “Does that change your thinking?”

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