"I know," I whisper. "I have to tell him. Tomorrow, I'llask him to go somewhere private. I'll tell him everything. I’ll tell who I am, why I hid it, all of it. And I’ll tell him how I feel about him as well." I press my lips together, the thought of losing Max like a physical pain in my ribs.
Nona reaches over to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Your grandfather used to say that love worth having is love that survives the truth. If this prince of yours truly cares for you, he'll find a way to forgive you."
"What if he doesn't?” I ask, my voice cracking.
She presses a kiss on my forehead. "Then he was never worthy of my beautiful, clever granddaughter's heart."
Chapter 26
Max
I’m in my office the following morning, catching up on communications. I checked in with Rocco first thing and was glad to hear that the kids had moved inside and camped on the living room floor before they headed home yesterday afternoon.
Now that the trains are running again, a recovered Pippa Chen is the sole occupier of the royal train, whizzingback south.
There’s a knock at my door, and I look up, calling out, “Come in.”
And then in walks the woman of my dreams, and my heart leaps at the sight of her. Fabiana Fontaine. My Fabiana.
Unlike her usual look, she’s got her hair loose around her shoulders, her glasses nowhere to be seen, and she’s wearing a white button-up shirt and a pair of jeans that hug her curves in a way that sends me wild.
I pick her up and spin her around, ecstatic to have her back in my arms. I press an urgent kiss to her soft lips, breathing in her scent. “I missed you. It’s been less than a day, and I missed you.”
“I like hearing that,” she says, her lips pulled into a smile.
“How’s your grandmother?”
“She’s doing great.”
“You must be relieved.”
“It’s certainly a weight off my mind.”
“Good.” I kiss her once more. “I get to kiss you whenever I like, don’t I?”
She giggles, and it’s the most wonderful sound. “Do it again.”
So, I do just that, kissing her lipstick right off her face. “I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Fabiana Fontaine, will you do me the honor of attending the Autumn Ball with me as my guest?”
“The Autumn Ball?” she asks, her eyes as big as two full moons on a clear night. “But then everyone will know about us.”
“Is that so terrible?”
She gazes at me, and I can’t imagine a more perfectmoment with this beautiful woman in my arms. “It’s not terrible at all. It’s just?—”
“I get it. It’s your job. I’ve thought about that. The ball isn’t for a couple of weeks, during which time you will have finished your series on me.”
“That’s true.”
“Then we can come out as a couple and people can’t say anything terrible about us.”
“They still will.”
“Let them.”
