Page 63 of Royal Bosshole

“Oh, thanks.” I turned toward the steps, and I heard them announce me.

“Go on,” he said, teasing, and with a breath, I stepped up onto the stage to face the hundreds upon hundreds.

The song made me breathless, but it was an indescribable feeling singing in front of that many people and having them like it. When I was finished, and the crowd applauded, I spotted James’s father in the front row in a wheelchair. He was clapping, smiling, and he had tears in his eyes. He nodded at me, and I waved.

I thanked everyone, wished him a happy birthday, and I turned to go. But James came on the stage with me.

“James, what are you—”

He got down on one knee, and I gasped. “Lily Jones, or should I say, Princess Lillian, I know that maybe this is fast.”

Someone brought the microphone closer to him, and I blushed.

Oh my God, Oh my God.

“But I love you terribly. I don’t want anyone else but you. But I do want you to answer this for you and not for anyone else. Not for me or Lenovia.” He took a breath and pulled out a small wooden box and opened it. “Will you marry me?”

I stared at him for a few seconds. He was so unbelievably brave. I could see in his face how nervous he was about my answer. This man had been so angry and forceful when I’d first met him. He was grumpy and unhappy, caring about the stains on his suit and how people should watch where they were going. He cared about a business empire and a pumpkin-spice latte recipe. But right then, I could see the love in his eyes. He now cared about me. A whole lot.

“I,” I started, the sound of my voice strange on the microphone. “Yes, James. I will marry you.” My face broke into a wide smile, and he stood, putting the most gorgeous diamond ring on my finger before he brought me close and kissed me.

The crowd went mad, cheering and screaming. James laughed, and he picked me up, kissing me again.

“You’re sure, Lily?” he said. “But I still want you to have everything you want. The music, the travel, seeing your friends.”

“I’m sure, James. I love you, and we’ll work it out. Just like you said.”

He grinned, and then he took my hand, walking me off the stage and to the waiting limo while the crowd continued to scream.

“There is just one thing,” he said, as he opened the door for me. “One thing I want to know before we get married.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, now that I’m going to be your husband, will you share the secret of your pumpkin-spice latte recipe?”

He waited with a smile as we sat next to each other in the limo.

Grinning, I shook my head. “Now, we don’t know each other well enough for that, Prince James.”

“You’re going to pay for that, Princess Lillian.”

I leaned in close, the hand with my engagement ring reaching up to stroke his face. “Ooh, in the best way possible, I hope.”

At that, he laughed.

EPILOGUE

LILY

One yearlater

“Are you nervous?”James asked me as we sat in the side room of the church.

His hand moved to my knee, and he squeezed it.

“Of course I’m nervous.” I looked up at the ceiling at the gold filagree of the design, swirling and making shapes. “Aren’t you?”

I looked at him, and he smiled. My heart did a little flip. It had been a year since we’d been together, a year since we’d been married, and yet the man could still make me melt like butter with one of his smiles. Those eyes too, like gemstones, always made me want to kiss him.

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