It’s been over a month since Henry and I got engaged and I still have to pinch myself to believe any of this is happening. Staring at my ring helps too. My enormous diamond that would pay for my entire education and then some. I’m still working at the café, even though Henry keeps trying to convince me I don’t need to. He wants me to concentrate on school but it just doesn’t feel right to me to take money from him. I know once we’re married, he’ll be the one paying the bills, but I’m not his wife yet and I’m not going to sponge off of him in the meantime, although I have stayed at his apartment every night since we got engaged.

I yawn and glance at the clock. It’s almost closing time and Henry, Johan, and Gabriel are the only ones left again tonight. Monday nights are usually slow and this one is no exception, so tonight I was in charge of putting up the Christmas decorations. It’ll be Thanksgiving next week and Rebecca wanted the place to look festive. Decorating was really fun actually. I put on some classic Christmas tunes and the guys helped me put up the fake tree and hang all the ornaments.

Wiping down the tables, I hum along to Tony Bennett, happier than I think I’ve ever been. Henry closes his textbook and slides out of his usual booth, then walks over to me. Taking the cloth from my hand, he drops it on the table, pulls me into his arms and starts dancing. I laugh, pressing my head into his chest as he sways to the music and sings along to Winter Wonderland. He nuzzles my neck while we dance and pretty soon I’ve forgotten I’m at work at all.

He slides his cheek along mine, then lets his mouth hover just over mine. “Let me help you clean up so we can get out of here.”

“Deal.”

Breaking apart, he finishes wiping the tables down, while I flip the sign on the door to ‘closed’ and start cashing out. Ten minutes later, we’re bundled up and on our way, holding hands as we start for the bank. A soft snow begins to fall and it all feels so magical to me, I could burst with happiness.

“Addison, I have something I need to ask you.”

His tone has me a bit worried but I try to stay calm. “Okay, but just so you know, the answer is most likely yes.”

“Good, because this is important.” He stops walking and I do the same. Turning to me, he says, “I want you to come home with me for Christmas.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. I want my parents to meet you.”

I swallow my fear and try for a confident smile, even though inside I’m freaking out at the thought of trying to fit in at the palace. “Of course.”

“You look worried,” he says, narrowing his eyes a bit.

“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I mean, what if they don’t approve of me?”

“I really couldn’t give a rat’s arse if they don’t. I’m marrying you, not them,” he pulls me in for a kiss. “Besides, I know they’ll grow to love you.”

“They’ll love that their son, the heir to the throne, is marrying an American waitress who grew up dirt poor?”

“They’ll love that I found someone strong and smart and who cares about other people the way they do. They’ll love that you’re a hard-worker and that you’ve whipped their lazy, loafing around, no-good son into shape finally.”

I smile even though I have a sense of dread. “I hope so.”

***

One Month Later

So this is really happening. I am sitting on a private jet, staring out the window as we fly over a small island that my fiancé will rule one day. As it comes into view, I suck in a deep breath at how beautiful it all looks. There’s a fresh blanket of snow and the houses and shops are like something out of a fairy tale. There are no skyscrapers, only two- to four-story buildings that I can only describe as quaint. Beyond the small city, mountains stand tall, lined with evergreen trees.

“There’s our house,” Henry says, pointing to an enormous palace set on the top of a huge hill. He smiles excitedly, then points to a nearby mountain. “Oh, and we can go skiing while you’re here. Have you been skiing before?”

I shake my head, feeling very nervous. Last week, Henry broke it to me that we’ll be attending his cousin’s wedding, which to be honest, has me freaking out. It was one thing when I thought I’d be spending a quiet Christmas with his parents but this is a whole other thing entirely. I’m going to be introduced to every royal and otherwise rich and important person in the kingdom. And I just know they’ll take one look at me and know I’m trailer trash.

Henry kisses my cheek. “Well, I’ll teach you to ski. You’ll be wonderful at it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve seen you wind your way through a busy café with a tray of hot drinks without spilling a drop. You have excellent balance,” he says, rubbing his thumb on my chin. “Relax. You’re going to be brilliant.”

“I wish I had your confidence.”

“Tell you what. Borrow some of mine until you have more of your own.”

The plane touches down and slows to a stop on the runway. I run my hands over my hair, hoping it looks acceptable in the chignon I put it in a little while ago. I glance at my ring and realize suddenly that wearing this when I meet his parents is a very bad idea. I slide it off and hold it up to Henry. “You keep this for now. Just until your parents have time to get used to the idea of us together.”

He opens his mouth to speak but changes his mind and takes the ring. “You’re so smart. Of course, that’s the right approach.” Sighing, he puts it into his inside jacket pocket. “I hate like hell to have to hide the truth from anyone though. If I had my way, I’d shout it from the roof tops.”

“Soon enough,” I say, with a smile. “But for now, it’ll be our little secret.”

Popping a mint in my mouth, I tell myself to calm down while I wait for the door to open, but my heart is beating so wildly, it feels like it’s going to pop out of my chest. When the door finally opens, the sound of bagpipes comes from outside.

“Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you there’ll be a royal greeting for us.” He stands, pulls on his wool jacket, and holds his hand out to help me up. “You’ve got this, Addison. I promise.”

He helps me put on my black vicuna wool coat that he bought me for the trip, then grips my hand firmly and leads me to the top of the steps, stopping to wave and smile at the crowd. I plaster a smile to my face and give a little wave, hoping I look sophisticated in this new outfit. We make our way down the steps without me tripping over my own feet, so I have to call that a victory. But then, I come face to face with his parents and my heart drops to my knees.

His mother is beautiful, she looks far too young to have a grown son. She’s dressed in a long fur coat and a matching hat, and her eyes are icy when she glances at me.

Henry gives her a kiss on each cheek and says, “Mother, lovely to see you. This is Addison Cooke.”

Her mouth drops open for a second, then she clams it shut, looking furious as she nods at me. I curtsy awkwardly but don’t say anything because Johan told me only to speak to the king and queen if they address me first. Since she hasn’t said anything, I hold my tongue.

The king and Henry then shake hands, as though they’re business acquaintances instead of father and son. The King says, “Henry, glad you could make it home.” He looks at me and nods. “Ms. Cooke, welcome to Tanovia.”

But I feel anything but welcome…

***

“You all right?” Henry asks as soon as we have a moment alone. It’s late evening now and he has sneaked into the guest bedroom where I’ve been told I’ll be sleeping. We haven’t had a chance to talk since we got off the plane. We were taken to the palace where a large group of Henry’s relatives and some family friends were waiting to greet Henry. I found myself standing alone against the curtains for the better part of the afternoon while well-dressed people whisper and stare at me from across the large living room. At dinner, I’m seated about twenty people down and across from Henry at the enormous table. He was seated next to a young woman who very clearly wants to be the future queen. He kept looking at me with a very apologetic expression as she fawned all over him and glared at me.

He crosses the room quickly and pulls me in for a long hug. “I’m so sorry. I had hoped my family would be more welcoming, but they’ve been just awful to you.”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” I tear up and fold myself into his chest, not wanting him to see my face. I need to be brave.

“We can go if you want. First thing in the morning. We’ll just fly home and spend Christmas alone in my apartment, watching movies and making love.” He pulls back and lifts his hands to my face, then kisses my tears from my cheeks. “Let’s just go. I can’t bear to see you this upset.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head and clearing my throat. “I’m not going to tuck my tail between my legs and run off. They don’t have to like me but they will eventually have to accept that I’m going to be your wife. And if we’re going to be married, I need to hold my ground and stand tall because that’s what you need.”

He smiles down at me. “God, you’re amazing, you know that?”

“Yes, I do, actually,” I say with a hint of a smile. Then I give him a hard look and say, “But, if I’m going to do that, I need you by my side through it all, Henry. I felt really alone tonight.”

“I’m sorry. I will insist that you are seated next to me from now on.” He gives me a long kiss, showing me how much he means what he says. Soon, kissing turns into so much more and I find myself undressed in front of him in the middle of the enormous bedroom. The light coming from the fire in the massive stone fireplace brings a warm glow to the room as he kneels before me in only his pants. He kisses my tummy and runs his fingers gently in between my thighs, finding me wet for him already. Parting my legs with his hand, he kisses his way to my pussy, then runs his tongue along the inside of my folds. I moan quietly, running my hands through his hair while he pleasures me. Thrusting his tongue inside, he has me writhing and my hips bucking. His tongue feathers along my lips, drawing out an orgasm from deep inside. I look down and watch as he presses two fingers to me and pushes his way inside. My muscles clench around his hand, and when he adds his tongue, I explode around him, moaning out his name. My hips buck and sway, begging for more, as he sucks and licks and strokes me with his fingers.

When it's over, he pulls me down onto the floor with him, on the enormous bear skin rug in front of the fire. I lay on my back and watch him undress.