Page 92 of Royal Crush

“It appears so,” I smirked. “How am I doing?

He nodded. “Not bad.”

“I’ll have to work on that,” I said.

“You don’t have to work on a thing,” Oliver said, pulling me closer for a kiss. “You are perfect to me.”

I tried not to blush as we finished our meal. Then Oliver suggested a walk under the stars. The night was enchanting, and we strolled hand in hand under the moonlight.

“Hey, how are the Tuscany Twins and Aunt Honey doing at Atomic Adventures?” I inquired, genuinely interested. “Any updates from them?”

“I talked to Aunt Honey earlier today,” Oliver said. “They’re having a blast and extended their stay another day. Enzo’s apparently obsessed with that log ride and keeps dragging her back on it.”

A chuckle escaped me. “Those two are a riot—the age difference doesn’t seem to matter at all. Some things are just meant to be.”

Oliver nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. “Aunt Honey thought the same about us, by the way. She asked how we’re doing.”

Curious, I prodded, “And what did you tell her?”

“I told her we’re doing great,” he confessed, sincerity in his voice. “And that I can’t get you out of my head when we’re apart. She thought that was a good sign.”

“Because it is,” I admitted, feeling a warmth between us with each honest word. “I feel the same way.”

“Speaking of us . . .” Oliver pulled me to a stop. “I have a question for you, if you don’t mind.”

“Okay . . .” I turned to him, having no idea what he was going to ask. “Go for it.”

He looked at me with a hint of seriousness, appearing to be searching for the right words. “Under the right circumstances, if the wedding were canceled, and if you had a job you truly loved, would you ever . . .”

Okay, don’t leave me hanging, Oliver.

I tilted my head to the side. “Would I ever what?”

“Would you ever consider living here in Verdana?” he asked.

I hesitated for a moment, surprised by the question, but also delighted that he’d brought it up. The truth was, I had thought about it.

On more than a few occasions . . .

As hard as I tried, I could not stop the smile from forming on my face.

I nodded. “I believe I would.”

Oliver’s face lit up with joy. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He drew me closer, until our lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss. We pulled apart when he both heard approaching echoes of laughter.

In a rush, Oliver seized my hand and whisked me behind a dense row of bushes.

“Who do you think it is?” I whispered.

“Call me crazy, but it sounds like Mother,” he replied in a hushed tone.

Panic crept in. “Oh, no . . .”

The voices of Queen Annabelle and Sebastian grew nearer, obviously sharing the same idea of a moonlit stroll. Had they spent the entire day together? My mind raced as their voices approached.

“You are quite rambunctious for your age,” Queen Annabelle said. “Do you really think I enjoy your mouth on me like that?”

Excuse me? Did I hear that correctly?

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