Maggie rested her head on Raffaele’s chest as he played with strands of her hair, curling the ends around his fingers. She was blissfully sleepy, but she didn’t want to lose a moment of time with him. She could sleep on the flight.

“I can’t believe you have to leave tomorrow,” Raffaele murmured.

“You could come back with me, you know.”

“I was planning on flying back with you.” He playfully tapped her arm. “So you don’t get nervous.”

She chuckled lightly. “I meant you could stay. If you wanted to.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Raffaele asked, his tone turning serious.

Maggie lifted her head enough to look at him

“I know you’ve got a lot going on here, and I don’t want to keep you from what you need to do. But no, I wouldn’t mind if you stayed.”

She laid her head back down and snuggling back into his side.

“I’d like to talk about how we make this relationship work,” she added.

Raffaele wrapped his arm over her. “We could talk now.”

Maggie laughed quietly. “I think we’ll do better if we talk while we’re clothed and neither of us is getting ready to fly somewhere.”

Raffaele looked down at her and tried to sound offended.

“You don’t think we can have a serious discussion in bed?”

Maggie looked up at him and grinned mischievously.

“I think I could get you to agree to anything right now.”

“I’ll have you know, I have a stronger will than that.”

Maggie slid up so that she could kiss him, trailing her fingers over his back, and after a minute Raffaele breathlessly said, “Yes, all right. I’ll agree to anything you want.”

Maggie’s shoulders shook with laughter as she tucked herself against Raffaele’s side again. He settled her there, fingers lightly brushing her arm.

“Can we talk about things on the plane?” he asked.

“Yes, definitely.”

“I mean, I had planned to make the whole flight champagne and chocolates…” Raffaele began.

Maggie poked him in the side and he caught her hand, bringing it to his mouth for a soft kiss.

“I don’t know that I can stay right now. I’m definitely flying back with you, and I’d like to stay longer, but I think my father and my uncle would prefer I stay closer to home for a bit.”

Maggie nodded, loving the feel of his skin beneath her cheek.

“And you need to figure out what’s going on—when and where you’re going for your service, right?”

“Right. And once I know more, it will be easier to make plans. But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about us. And even if I can’t stay in New Orleans this time, I don’t want to wait too long to see you again.”

Maggie could tell he was thinking, so she gave him a moment of space to work through his thoughts. She listened to his heart beat and waited until he was ready to talk.

“What are you doing two weeks from now?” he asked.

Maggie huffed a laugh. “Likely, cooking for ten to twelve hours a day.”

“Would you have time for me to visit then?”

She nodded. “I’ll make time. How long can you stay?”

“I’ll know more in a week or so, I think. And even if I needed to leave for training sooner than I hoped, I should have a least a few weeks to wrap things up before I go away.” He stroked her hair. “Which would include a visit to you, absolutely.”

Maggie smiled. “You’ll love spring in New Orleans. It’s when we get the perfect weather before the heat and humidity kick in for real.”

Raffaele asked, “I know Mardi Gras is your favorite holiday. Is spring your favorite time of year?”

Maggie shook her head.

“Between Thanksgiving and New Year is.”

She raised her head to look at him again, and propped herself up on one arm.

“It gets dark early, but everything is decorated and there are candles in every window. We have carolers and warm drinks and cookies, and it’s just a happy time of year. Plus,” she laughed a little at herself, “that time of year is all about the food.”

Raffaele smiled at her enthusiasm and she grinned back.

“You have to see New Orleans then,” she said. “The whole city is decorated. A few of the neighborhoods go all out, but City Park is the best. The park is full of all these ancient oak trees, and they’re covered in thousands of festive lights. They set up this historic wooden carousel and there are horse-drawn carriage rides, too. It’s magical.”

She waved her hand in the air, tracing circles where everything was placed around the park.

“And they have all these food stands with roasted nuts and hot cider and gingerbread. It’s my favorite place to go during the Christmas season.”

“Do you go with your family?” Raffaele asked.

“Sometimes, or with friends. The restaurant staff goes at least once as a group, too, usually. The park isn’t too far from BienVille, so it’s a nice break for us.”

Raffaele said, “It sounds like fun.”

Maggie thought he sounded a little wistful. She wasn’t sure if was too early in their relationship to be making plans for months down the road, but it felt right to ask him.

“Would you like to spend Christmas together?”

When he didn’t answer immediately, she filled the silence by quickly saying, “No pressure. I’m sure you have family obligations, and it may be too soon to plan for a big holiday, but you’d be…”

It’s hard to talk when a handsome prince is kissing you, Maggie thought.

When Raffaele pulled back, Maggie left her hand on his chest and gave him a wry look.

“Was that a ‘yes’ or a ‘stop talking’?” she asked.

Raffaele chuckled. “It was a ‘you’re an amazing woman and I’d love to spend Christmas with you.’”

Maggie kissed him back. “It’s a date.” She snuggled up against him again and sighed. “Raffaele?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“I’m really glad you asked me to that party.”

She could tell he smiled, even though her eyes were drifting shut.

“Me, too.” He stroked her hair and she fell asleep nestled in his arms, feeling blissfully content.

* * *

The following morning was a bit of a blur. Maggie woke to Raffaele’s soft kiss on her forehead.

“There’s coffee in the other room,” he said, and she realized that he was already dressed.

She got ready and had some coffee, then she stopped by the kitchen to say goodbye to everyone there. Raffaele had received a note from his father asking him to stop by his office, so Maggie finished packing and met him in the grand entryway once they were finished. She could tell Raffaele was troubled after talking with his father, but he just shook his head when she gave him a questioning look.

Raffaele’s mother was waiting for them in front of the doors. “I hope you’ll come visit us again, my dear,” Elena said, giving Maggie a warm hug.

Maggie hugged her back. “I’d like that.”

Raffaele carried her suitcase out to the car while her bags containing kitchen items were loaded, and then the only thing left to do was for Maggie to get in the car herself.

Before she got in, Raffaele caught her hand. “Maggie…”

She knew right away. “You can’t fly back with me, can you?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “My uncle has asked me to meet with him today.”

“Ah. Not a request you can say no to.”

Raffaele laughed humorlessly. “Not exactly.”

Maggie laid a hand on his chest.

“Raffaele, it’s fine.” He covered her hand and she tried to smile for him. “I promise. I’ll be okay on the flight back. No nerves this time.”

He tried to smile back at her. “I thought you might want me for more than my calming influence.”

Maggie did smile for real at that. “Always.”

He sighed and kissed her cheek. “Then let’s get you to your plane, chef.”

Raffaele had a driver take them to the airport, so that he could sit in the back with Maggie. On the ride there, Maggie didn’t want to stop touching the man next to her, and from his behavior, it was clear he felt the same. He kept his arm wrapped around her the entire way to the airport, dropping kisses on her head and face and fingers.

“I hate that I can’t at least fly back with you,” Raffaele told her again.

“I know,” Maggie leaned her head against his chest. “I understand, though.”

Raffaele sighed. “My uncle doesn’t ask to meet with me very often. I’m sure it’s about…” He waved a hand.

Raffaele sounded so downhearted, and Maggie wanted to cheer him up before she left. She patted his chest and nodded wisely.

“Of course, it is. Why wouldn’t he want to thank you in person for bringing such a delightful American chef to Spiaggi, especially after she cooked a meal fit for royalty?”

Raffaele looked down at her in surprise. She looked back at him, eyes wide and innocent. She even blinked her eyes a few times for the doe-eyed effect.

A slow smile spread over his face. “I’m being a bit gloomy, aren’t I?”

“Just a little bit.” Maggie shrugged. “It’s kind of cute, though.”

Raffaele’s smile got bigger. “Is that so?”

“Oh, you know us Americans. Always falling for the handsome, brooding man with an accent.”

Raffaele laughed and pulled her closer. “So, you’ve fallen for me, have you?”

Maggie wrapped her hand around his. “Yes, I suppose I have.”

“Two weeks,” Raffaele said, sounding more like himself.

“Two weeks,” Maggie repeated. “It’s not that long.”

Raffaele kissed the crown of her head. “A day is too long, but we’ll get through it.”

At the airport, the same private jet waited for Maggie. Raffaele walked her to the plane and started to escort her up the stairs, but Maggie stopped him.

“Don’t, please. If you get on the plane, I won’t want to you leave.”

Raffaele nodded and pulled her to him. “I’m not sure I can leave you here.”

“You can. Go be a responsible prince. I’ll see you in two weeks.” She pulled back and put a hand on his cheek. “Or, you know, if you get the chance to visit earlier…”

“I will,” he finished in agreement. “Call me when you get home?”

Maggie nodded. “Promise.”

Raffaele smoothed back Maggie’s hair and then ran his thumb across her cheekbone. He lowered his mouth to hers, taking his time in kissing her goodbye. Maggie wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back, savoring the feel of his lips against hers, trying to memorize the sensation.

Finally, he let her go, resting his forehead against hers, both of them knowing that the only thing left for her to do was get on the plane. Maggie took his hand, holding on until the last second as she stepped back. She walked up the stairs, and at the top, turned back to look at him.

Raffaele lifted a hand and Maggie responded with her own wave. She ducked inside the doorway, the steward greeting her with a smile. Maggie took a seat where she could see out, wishing Raffaele were there to buckle her in and distract her. She could see him watching the plane as the pilot finished preparing for takeoff.

As the jet started to taxi, she leaned her head against the window. She waved one more time, and then dropped her hand as she lost sight of the man she loved.

It hit Maggie so hard, she had to catch her breath. She was completely head over heels in love with Raffaele. What she’d said in the car about falling for him she’d meant, but she’d been trying to tease him out of his mood.

She did mean it, though—in a deeper way than she’d thought when she’d first said it. Maggie knew Raffaele was the man she’d been looking for, the man she’d always wanted to fall in love with.

Maggie closed her eyes as the jet rose into the sky, already counting the days until she saw him again.