Page 139 of Loyally, Luke
Her gaze held his, some secret message within those blue depths. “Well, let’sstartwith today.”
He froze, waiting for her to expound on that little hint, but all she did was take her seat with the other guests and leave him standing in the aisle dumbfounded, like one of the church statues at the four corners of the room.
If theLord of the Ringstheme hadn’t started playing from the string quartet in the corner, Luke would have joined Ellie in the pew to get the rest of the story, but that particular song was his cue to make it back to the foyer for the bridal party’s entrance.
All throughout the ceremony, his gaze kept straying back to Ellie’s, and each time, he found her looking right back.
Even when Brodie and Izzy spoke their vows.
And just before the prayer.
And once during the reading of the love chapter in Corinthians.
And definitely as he escorted Brodie’s sister back down the aisle during the recessional.
But it wasn’t until the transition from the wedding to the receptionthat he had a chance to locate Ellie and pull her into one of the small alcoves in the back of the church for some privacy.
“Blast it all, Princess. Your eyes kept saying something the whole service that your lips didn’t clarify back there, so I’m not waiting another minute to get resolution.”
Without hesitation, she wrapped her fingers around the lapel of his suit and rocked up on tiptoe to press her lips to his. His body stilled for half a second before he pulled her into his arms and finished what she so sweetly started.
He wouldn’t have referred to his side of the kissing as sweet.
Powerful? Hungry? Grateful?
Definitely the latter. And maybe a little of the middle. Because she tasted so good.
“How was that for a little more clarification?” she asked, stepping back, her cheeks as pink as her dress and her breath a little shaky.
“Ellie, though I appreciate the nonverbal answer, I’m a man. I need direct and clear, because you’re sending off messages I’d like to be able to answer in the affirmative, but—”
“How would you feel if I flew back with you to the U.S. on Wednesday?” She kept her hands on his jacket, her gaze searching his, her lips close and smiling.
He tilted his head, studying her as if one of them had gone crazy. “What did you say?”
“My parents have offered me a proposal.” Her eyes fairly glowed with words she hadn’t said yet, and his entire body tensed in anticipation. “In light of my affection for you, but also my desire to serve Skymar as a working royal, they have offered a compromise. A way to hopefully meet halfway.”
“Meet halfway?” Luke’s brain didn’t compute. “We’re not merfolk, Ellie.”
“Merfolk?” A laugh burst from her. “No, we’re not. Weare,however, two people who I believe make a better pair together than apart, and my parents see that too. Especially after the press conference and the ball.”
The halfway part still tangled in his thoughts.
“Since most of the duties and meetings that require my physical presence happen between January and June every year, I’ve been given the opportunity to join you in the U.S. from June to December. I can work as a liaison between Skymar and the U.S., which is something Father has been hoping to enact for a while now.”
He blinked. What was she saying?
“I can’t work a paying job due to royal restrictions, but I thought my interior design skills could benefit your business.” She kept searching his face and saying words, but they couldn’t be real. “Assuming our relationship continues to move forward in the way I hope.”
“Wait a minute.” He didn’t even believe the words getting ready to come out of his mouth. “You’d move to the U.S. for half a year to be withme?”
“If you want me to, I will.” A sliver of uncertainty flickered across her face.
“Want you to?”
“And if you were willing to return with me to Skymar for the rest of the year, Father has hopes that you would be willing to take on some responsibilities that I believe he has discussed with you already.”
Luke looked away, the pieces of it all starting to click together. Help with building and orphans and forestry... and be with Ellie, but also learn the royal world?
