Page 80 of Royal Agenda

Ryker took her hand and said the words that pledged his heart to hers forever.

When it was Grace’s turn, she felt the brush of her ancestors on the breeze and knew they were as happy for her as everyone on the ship.

Before the sun disappeared, she became Mrs. Ryker Rockefeller. Ryker kissed her slowly and happily until his buddies started whistling. Grace laughed. Her tears had been turned to joy, and she was whole with both her logical side and her heart side in complete agreement.

Everyone lined up to congratulate the couple. Cocoa had brought a display of tarts, wedding cookies, and cake. They talked and laughed well into the night. The guests eventually loaded onto Don’s boat, and he shuttled them back to shore.

Grace and Ryker settled in on the deck with a blanket. A fire roared in the gas fireplace before them. The SEALs had to stay aboard, but they’d taken up sentry positions as inconspicuously as possible. Grace didn’t mind them there—she liked his friends, and she adored them for being so loyal to Ryker.

Grace fed Ryker a piece of the wedding cake. “What is so funny, la mia sirena?”

“Grandma always said I’d never find a husband while hunting dead people.”

Ryker nudged her nose with his. “You married a dead man.”

She brushed her fingers across his temple and then down the back of his head. “I guess I did.”

“At the moment, things are not easy for me. They will be complicated for us.”

“I know. But I’d rather have a life with you that’s complicated than be alone and have it easy.”

He kissed her cheek and then her neck. “Ti amo,” I love you, he whispered, then continued in Italian for only her ears, “You are now a princess, but you will always be my queen.”

His deep voice and accent made her belly swirl and her headlight. She placed her hands on both sides of his face and kissed him deeply, then whispered back in his native tongue, “I don’t want to hear another word in English until we are off this boat.”

He chuckled against her neck. “Prometto.”

Grace leaned into his kiss, knowing he would keep his promises to her. All of them. In this, she found safety and a place to settle her wandering spirit. Her wanderlust was gone and the only place she wanted to be was in Ryker’s arms. Instead of feeling confined or trapped, her soul expanded as if it could breathe for the first time.

She’d enjoy being close to her family, a job with roots that made her soar with happiness and her heart match in Diamond Cove.

Epilogue

Nancy glanced down at her light blue sundress and smiled. It wasn’t the boho fashion that Grace loved, but it was loose and pretty, and she felt like herself–not the old Nancy who ran business meetings in her sleep, but the new Nancy she’d discovered in Diamond Cove.

Even the new Nancy had work to do. Samantha was running late, but they could start without her and Nancy would catch her up once she arrived.

She called the Secret Seven meeting to order. “Well done, everyone. Well done. Grace and Ryker are settling in and are so very much in love. It does my heart a lot of good.” She tapped her chest, just over the organ that had malfunctioned and forced her into retirement. In an odd way, she was grateful for the circumstances that seemed so horrible at the time but had brought about so much good.

Polly beamed.

Walt ducked his head in modesty.

Don puffed out his chest.

Winnie patted her hair.

Rosa fanned her face and batted her eyelashes.

And Harry . . . stared at the table.

It was his turn to set up one of his grandchildren, and he fidgeted in his seat.

“With so many matches–and another wedding on our board–I think we are ready for whatever Harry has for us today. Take it away, Harry.”

“Ahem.” Harry cleared his throat and closed his eyes for just a moment behind his wire-rimmed glasses. He took a deep breath and stood, a little wobbly on his feet. He reached for the edge of the table and steadied himself.

“Are you okay, Harry?” Nancy’s studied him, concern building. His eyes were unfocused. She put out a hand as if to help him.

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