Page 59 of Royal Bosshole

“I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you up on that stage. In a green dress.”

My voice lowered to a husky level, and our eyes met. I knew she was thinking about that first time in my office.

“Why are you here, James?” she asked again, and even if she was trying to look stoic, I could tell she was upset.

“I had to come, Lily. I had to see you.” I bit my lip, trying to remember all the words I’d carefully constructed on the plane.

“But why—”

“I’m in love with you,” I said quickly, and once the words were out in the air, I smiled and breathed out, relieved. I almost laughed. “I’m in love with you, Lily,” I said again.

“You love me,” she said slowly, her cheeks flushed red, and she swallowed.

“Like crazy,” I replied in an agonized voice. “These past two months have been hell for me. I’ve missed you so much, and I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, but—”

“But why did you say loveless marriage?” She was frowning now.

Peter was right. I knew that would come to bite me in the ass. I rubbed a hand over my face, and I worked my jaw.

“Sorry about that. What I really meant was loveless for you.” I could hear her gasp. “I knew that I loved you then, but I didn’t want to scare you away. It was a big thing hearing about the princess thing and the marriage thing, and I didn’t want to pressure you. You had to make your own decision.”

She didn’t say anything, so I just kept talking.

“I wanted you from the first moment I saw you in the coffee shop.”

“When you yelled at me?” she asked sharply.

“Yeah, then. You were so strong, so argumentative and opinionated, and—”

“Is this meant to be good?” she asked, and I thought I saw the corner of her mouth turn up.

“Yes! Lily, I’m crazy about you. I want to fight with you. I want to have sex with you. I want to be around you. I want everything.” I looked down. “And I know I don’t deserve it after everything that happened. I hired you to get your recipe and your business, but it all faded away from the first time I touched you. I’m really hoping you’ll give me another chance.” I looked up, breathing hard. “Will you?”

After what felt like hours, she furrowed her brow and asked, “But what about Lenovia?”

* * *

LILY

Now I was really unsure if I was dreaming or not. I’d just had an incredible time singing my favorite song, and now James was there, in front of me, spewing words of love.

He loved me. He had loved me this entire time.

The side of myself who loved him wanted to jump into his lap, to press him against the seat and kiss him and tear at his clothes. To tell him that I loved him too.

But the other side of myself, the one who was so hurt by what had happened wanted to stay safe. I had to protect myself and make sure that I never felt that way again. To make sure that he was being genuine. That he wasn’t going to leave me again or make me feel as though what I was feeling was ridiculous. And so, I remained calm, and he looked slightly surprised at my question.

“It is going to be annexed. I’ve been in conversations about it for the past two months. It’s a slow process, but that’s the plan.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, and he shrugged.

“In reality, it is just a country with borderlines. That’s all. Not worth giving up one’s freedom for.”

He scratched at the back of his neck, and I put my hands on the table. “Why is it that this law was put in place?”

“I don’t know, really. But something to do about tradition and keeping the line. It’s silly, really, when you think about it.” He smiled, and I felt that smile all the way down to my core.

He looked good. Too good. He did look tired, but he was still just as handsome and put together as ever. His suit was perfectly tailored, his hair perfectly coiffed, the beard cut just so. Those emerald eyes looking at me as if I held the secret to everything. My heart was practically in my throat, and my stomach was teeming with butterflies.

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