“Art, you couldn’t have known. The bloke at the escape room was sneaky.”
“That may be true, but the point is, I was distracted. This is exactly why the no-relationship rule is there. To protect you from situations exactly like this. What if?—”
I take my hand and place it over his lips. “No. We’re not playing the what-if game. There are too many unknown factors at play here. If you really want to take a part of the blame, we’ll split it down the middle.”
He blinks slowly. “I don’t know.”
“Art, please. For me.”
He studies me for several long moments, then sighs deeply. “As you wish.”
“Thank you.” I pick up his hand and run my fingers over each and every one of the rough calluses on it. It feels so good to be able to be so near to him again. My body is growing increasingly warm the longer I stand here. “Now enough of the blame game.” I bury my head in his chest. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Me too, Ali. Me too.” I listen to him breathe deeply. “Not seeing you has been the hardest two weeks of my life. It’s taken everything inme not to take one of these horses and charge the gates of the palace, demanding to see you.”
I lift my chin and meet his eyes. The flecks of gold are glowing. “Why didn’t you? I’ve been waiting for so long to hear from you! Why didn’t you email me?”
“Idid.” He releases me and glances away. “When I didn’t receive any response from you, I figured there had to be a valid reason you’d dropped me, and so I’ve been waiting.”
“I haven’t had proper access to my account.” I groan. “My old smartphone was stolen, and the security office was worried everything connected to the old phone and number could be compromised. Everybody in my family has had to get new mobile numbers because of me.” I take a moment to bring him up to speed on my failed attempt to see him after he was pulled from my detail.
“I can’t believe you risked your safety like that! What were you thinking?” He crosses his arms.
“I wasn’t. I just needed to see you. At the time, it seemed like a brilliant idea. I know now how foolish it was.” I’ve had ample time to relive everything over and over again in my head. My life isn’t a Hallmark or Disney movie. I have an understanding of the realness of the threats that are out there now.
“I want to stay angry with you, but I can’t.” He sighs. “I’ll only admit this to you, but I happen to find this royal rebel streak to be incredibly attractive. I can’t imagine another woman who would throw caution to the wind like you did to go after me.”
I grin. “For now, I think my days of being a royal rebel are over, unless you’re by my side.”
“I respect that.” Art flexes his muscles. The dapple horse neighs in agreement, causing us to laugh.
“I can’t believe you’ve been reassigned to the mounted police force. I would’ve come searching for you sooner if I’d have known.”
His cheeks color. “It doesn’t compare to seeing you on a daily basis, but for the time being, this is the next best thing. I’d forgotten how much I miss working with horses like Quixote.” He bends over to retrieve the rake and balances it against the door. “Being here again has gotten me thinking about the future lately.”
“Uh-huh.” I tense.
“What are your thoughts if I decided not to return to your security team, and instead, asked to stay attached to the mounted unit?”
My mouth opens and closes. I’d miss seeing him, but if that’s what he wants after putting up with this media circus, I respect his choice. “Would it make you happy?”
“Yeah, it would. Do you know why?”
I shake my head.
“First, it would mean that the investigation would be called off. Second, and more importantly, if you’ll still have me, it would mean that I’d get to be with you. There’s nothing in the rules and regulations stopping a mounted officer from dating a princess.”
“It’s not even a question. Of course I want you.” My heart flutters. “You would do that for me?”
“Not just for you. For us.” He cups my cheeks. “Ali, you’ve become such an important person to me. I can’t imagine you not being a part of the picture. I don’t just like you. I love you. I need you to be in my life.”
My heart suddenly swells so much that it feels like it no longer fits inside my chest. Art doesn’t merely like me. He loves me! He’s said that magic L word that I’ve been too terrified to say or even think to myself. Until now.
“I can’t imagine a future without you either. I’ll support whatever you decide you want to do. That’s what people do when they’re in love. I love you too, Art.”
He closes the distance between us and spins me around in a circle. I’ve never seen him smile so wide. “I never thought I’d hear you say those words.”
We kiss. Suddenly, I’m a hummingbird that’s discovered one of the world’s largest flowers. No, scratch that. A flower that contains a never-ending supply of nectar! I’ll never have to travel frantically from flower to flower again to ensure I have enough to eat. Everything I need is right in front of me. I couldn’t be any happier.
