Maggie was working harder than she ever had, even through the holiday season. The restaurant was full every night, and she was even considering opening for lunch part of the week. Her parents had served lunch when they ran the restaurant, but it was something Maggie had stopped while she got dinner service where she wanted it. And now, the restaurant was so popular that Maggie thought it was time.

When she looked over the evening’s bookings each night, she recognized names from people she’d met at the Mardi Gras party, but BienVille was also being mentioned in the society pages, and it wasn’t unusual to find a member or two of the paparazzi in front of the restaurant now.

Maggie was also spending more time out in the dining room chatting with guests. It was fun, but also a bit exhausting. She was definitely looking forward to her vacation.

She had been talking with Raffaele, mostly by text, and he’d sent her the contact information for the royal chef. Maggie had been nervous the first time she emailed, but Chef Luis had been kind and welcoming in his words.

Prince Raffaele praised your cooking greatly. I’m looking forward to your time in our kitchen and hope I can talk you into swapping a few recipes.

He sent her a list of ingredients the palace kitchens generally kept on hand, and asked if there was anything Maggie wanted him to order before her arrival. Maggie sent back her ideas for the menu, and Chef Luis wrote back:

I think this is a wonderful menu. I’m sure the Prince will have a few ideas, but what you have here is an excellent start.

Maggie was relieved. She didn’t question her ability to cook a first-class dinner for so many people, but given that it was a different culture, she wanted to be sure her menu was solid.

Thank you, chef. As soon as I have a finalized menu, I’ll send you a list of things I need.

She sent Raffaele her draft menu, and he responded with his ideas. Maggie enjoyed batting ideas around with him. She’d half expected their conversations to be more of the chef and client tone, but instead she felt like they were on their way to becoming friends.

It was easy to talk with Raffaele. They talked food, but he also asked about her day and how work was going. Sometimes, when they were sending bantering texts back and forth, Maggie completely forgot that he was a prince.

And then she’d look at her menu plan again, and realize she was about to fly halfway around the world to cook dinner for 300 people in a palace.

In addition to planning the menu, Maggie was busy putting things in order so she could leave town for a week. She and Joshua talked over the menu plans for the week along with ordering and deliveries and who to call if any of the kitchen equipment broke.

“I’m definitely ordering us a new oven when I get back,” Maggie groused when their notoriously recalcitrant oven was heating well below the temperature it was set at.

Joshua grinned. “Well, with all our new bookings, we should be able to afford it.”

“Assuming our rent doesn’t go up when I have to renegotiate our lease in a few months,” Maggie said with a sigh. “And I think we’re going to need to talk to our produce guy to see if we can up our order again.”

“You want me to do that while you’re out? We’ll see how the next week or so goes and I can revise our order based on that.”

Maggie gave him a pointed look. “You just want to talk with him because he’s cute.”

Joshua shrugged. “Who says work can’t be pleasant?”

Maggie snorted. “Yes, thank you, talk to our produce guy while I’m gone.” She double checked her list. “And see if you can get some more of those spicy gherkins from McKinley’s Farm—let’s keep using them on the cheese board.”

“Yes, chef,” Joshua replied, leaving Maggie to finish going over her notes.

She was trying to leave more of the daily cooking to her sous chef so she could focus on leaving the restaurant for a week, but in reality, she knew it was something she needed to do anyway. There was no way she was ever going to have a life if she couldn’t step away from the restaurant from time to time.

Meeting Raffaele had reminded her that she really needed to have a life of her own. She needed to do things like go on dates and vacations and maybe just sit around and read a book every once in a while.

But, she thought, that day is not going to be today.

The next week dragged. Maggie was so busy that it really should have flown by, but instead it seemed that each minute lasted for hours. She wanted to speed up the clock and just be there already, so she could see the Prince again.

That was it, really. She was looking forward to her vacation—the first real one she’d had since she took over the restaurant three years ago—but more than that, she wanted to spend time with Raffaele. With every text they exchanged, Maggie felt like she was getting to know him, and she wanted to see what that felt like in person.

A couple of days before she left, Anna found Maggie standing in the kitchen after everyone had gone home for the night.

“Maggie, what are you still doing here?”

“Just making sure I haven’t forgotten anything. I’m going over the final list with Joshua tomorrow, and I don’t want to miss anything.”

“They’ve got it, baby girl. I promise, things will be just fine while you’re gone.”

“I know, really, I do.” Maggie wrinkled her nose. “I’ve just never taken this much time away from the restaurant.”

“It’s about time you took a vacation. You work too hard.”

Maggie looked at her wryly. “Have you been talking to my mother?”

“It’s possible we’ve conversed.”

Maggie rolled her eyes.

“You know what the business is like, Anna. If we have one bad week, it could throw everything off. I’ve got a responsibility to all these people, to make sure we don’t fail.”

Anna wrapped her arm around Maggie’s petite frame.

“And that is why these people work for you. They know how hard you work so that they will all have jobs. You are just as much family to them as you are to your parents.”

Maggie nodded. She knew that.

“Keep an eye on Elise, will you?” she asked Anna.

“You worried about her?”

Maggie shook her head. “I think she’s ready to take on the pastry chef spot. With Julia leaving in a few weeks, we need someone new there, and I’d rather promote from within. See how she does while I’m gone, okay?”

“Of course, chef.” Anna hugged her one more time and then let go. “Now, are you all packed?”

Maggie threw up her hands. “I have no idea what to wear on vacation when I’m staying in a royal palace!”

“I’ll take that as a no. Why don’t you go shopping tomorrow and get a few new things?”

Maggie tilted her head. “That’s probably a good idea. I don’t want to show up in jeans and a T-shirt when I meet Raffaele’s parents.”

Anna studied Maggie and realization dawned on her face. “You’re smitten!” she said joyfully. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Maggie protested, “I’m not smitten, I’m…”

“Oh, honey, you are definitely smitten. And given what I saw of Prince Charming, I’d say for good reason. That man could make a nun blush.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Okay, he’s definitely good looking. And funny. And good company.”

Anna nodded along as Maggie listed off Raffaele’s virtues.

“And he likes you,” she added.

Maggie shrugged. “We get along well.”

Anna raised her eyebrows and Maggie got a little defensive.

“Nothing’s going to happen, Anna. He appreciates good food, and we clicked. But he’s a prince. It will be a fun week, that’s all.”

Anna patted her knee and smiled knowingly. “You keep telling yourself that, baby girl.”