Nick hated flying overnight. He never slept on planes; every sound, every person distracted him. He wanted to turn off his brain, but ever since his last mission ended, it seemed the only time he was calm was when Lila was with him.
For the last ten days his insides had been in knots. Convinced he had screwed things up so badly between them he’d never fix it, Nick barely slept. The job at the White House sounded perfect, in theory. But when it was all broken down during his meetings, it was just another military liaison position, which translated into a basement office, lots of paperwork, and long, long hours.
Thanks, but no thanks.
“You look like you have a lot on your mind, young man.” The comment came from an older gentleman seated next to him. The man had slept most of the flight between New York and Rotterdam.
Nick nodded. “You could say that.”
“Being reposted to Europe?”
The question took him by surprise. Reposted? “Uh, no sir. Going to a wedding. Why do you ask?”
The elderly man laughed. “You have marine written all over you, son.”
That was probably true, especially since he’d cut his hair. But he wondered what else the gentleman saw. “Very observant.” Nick extended his hand in greeting. “Nick DeMarco. Nice to meet you.”
“Calvin White, retired Air Force.” the man responded with a wide smile and a hardy handshake. “So where are you headed?”
“Marinbourg. My sister is getting married.”
The man thought for a bit, and then put it together. “Well, I’ll be. Your sister is the pretty little teacher who lassoed the King, is that right?”
“Yep. It is. Anton and I served together in Afghanistan. The two of them met through me.”
“Oh boy!” Calvin laughed. “That must have been an interesting conversation when they told you they were getting married.”
“Yeah, you could say that. But they’re good for each other. I’m happy for them.” He was happy for them, and Nick didn’t think four months ago he’d ever say that. “I get it now.”
The fasten seatbelt sign came on, indicating their final descent.
“I don’t understand,” Calvin said.
Of course he didn’t, Nick barely understood it himself. “I get what it means to have someone who means everything to you. I get what it means to want to give that person everything. I didn’t always.”
Calvin nodded in agreement. “My wife. She passed two years ago. She helped me ‘get it’.
Nick couldn’t believe he’d just spilled his guts like that. Jesus. “Sorry. I’m tired.”
“And missing someone, obviously.” Nick started to object, but Calvin raised his hand. “No apology necessary.”
“I don’t usually share like that.” He didn’t. Nick was a rock. Nothing fazed him. Usually.
“Nothing to worry about. Occupational hazard for me. I was an Air Force chaplain. Episcopal priest. I’ve heard it all. If you want to talk, I’m a good listener.”
“Nah, I’m good, thanks.”
Calvin shrugged. Then he waited. And waited. Nick found the words bubbling in his chest, like a geyser waiting to erupt. He was a marine, for God’s sake. He didn’t get emotional. But there was Calvin. Waiting. Priests. How did they do that? It was a good approach, because finally, the dam broke.
“She’s pregnant. And I offered to marry her. It was genuine, I mean, I wanted to do the right thing. But she…she said she didn’t want to settle for a loveless marriage.”
“Hmm,” Calvin said. “Would it be loveless?”
That was the revelation Nick had had last week. It wouldn’t be. He loved her with every fiber of his being. Without Lila, his life would never be what it should be. “No, it wouldn’t. I love her so much it hurts.”
“Yeah, I kind of figured that.” Calvin patted his shoulder. “Take it from me, and this isn’t a priest talking, this is a man; it’s time for you to beg.”
“Beg? You mean like down on my knees. A proposal.”
“Oh, hell no. You have to do better than that.” The priest smiled. “There are many ways to execute the grand gesture, and you don’t have to give up your balls in the process.”
“I didn’t listen—to her, or to my heart.”
“And that’s why you’re going to beg.”
Nick felt the telltale signs of descent as the pressure in his ears backed up. He swallowed several times to clear his head, but he didn’t know if the heavy feeling was from the pressure change or with the stress of knowing he’d let Lila down. He had to fix this.
Tony had been keeping him posted, but there wasn’t a lot to tell. Lila kept to herself when she wasn’t with Josie, spending her time reading or watching TV. Tony said she was really starting to show, and Nick hated that he was missing it.
“So what do you think?” Calvin asked. “Is your lady in Marinbourg?”
“She’s been there for over a week. It’s been driving me crazy.”
Driving him crazy missing her.
“Women will do that to you,” the chaplain said. “But the right woman is going to make you a better man. Let me ask you something.”
“Okay,” Nick said skeptically.
“Is she out of your league?”
Nick looked out the window just as the plane touched down. “She’s completely out of my league. I guess I should be surprised that she hasn’t kicked me to the curb before now.”
“Sounds to me like there’s hope.” As the plane taxied, Calvin leaned forward and pulled his bag from under the seat in front of them. He reached in, and pulled out a card when they reached the gate. “Call me if you need me. I’ll be in Holland for a week. I’m visiting my daughter who’s posted to The Hague. But in the meantime, you go get your girl.”
“Yes, sir.” Nick tucked the card in his jacket pocket, and he extended his hand to Calvin. “Thanks. Thanks for the advice.”
“My pleasure. Let me know how it goes.”
Calvin stood, and gave Nick a final smile before deplaning. What were the odds? Of course, Calvin was right. He’d been approaching her the wrong way. While begging didn’t sound all too appealing, what did appeal to him was to really show her how he felt and possibly embarrass himself in the process. It could be an absolute nightmare. He could declare his love, and she could say no, claiming it was too little, too late.
Crap. He was defeating himself before he even got started. He was in over his head with his feelings…just facing them down felt like a victory, but he had nothing to show for it, not yet. He had just entered the jetway when his phone rang.
“Yeah,” he answered.
“Welcome to Holland,” Tony said. “Call me when you’re through customs, the driver will be right up front. Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Yep,” Nick said. “I’m going to blow her mind. She won’t be able to say no to me.”
“Damn, what’s the plan?”
Nick grinned to himself. “I’ll let you know when I see you.”
Hopefully, he had an idea by then.
Dutch Customs was extremely efficient, especially in Rotterdam, where they were used to military personnel flying in and out. When he exited the terminal, Nick saw the Jag with the royal seal of Marinbourg sitting at the curb. The chauffeur took his bag and opened the door, and Nick was shocked to find his sister sitting in the backseat.
“Surprise!” she squealed. She lunged at him, and Nick wrapped his little sister, the future queen, in his arms.
“Hey,” he said. “What are you doing here? The sun is barely up.”
“I stayed here overnight so I could drive back with you. I wanted some time to talk before the crowds descended. Mom and Dad arrive this afternoon.”
As much as Nick wished Josie hadn’t made the trip on his account, he was glad to have some time alone with his sister. It had been too long, and as her big brother, he had to make sure she was doing exactly what she wanted.
Holding her at arm’s length, Nick locked eyes with Josie. “You’re happy?”
“I’m very happy.” Her face, and the way her smile reached right into her eyes, told him that was true. “You know, I’ve loved Anton for what feels like forever, but seeing him in this role, leading his nation, is humbling. He’s kind and thoughtful, an intuitive leader and politician, but he’s all heart. He’s an amazing man. I’m very lucky.”
Hearing his sister talk about Tony like that made the upcoming wedding all the more real, and it changed the way he saw his sister. She wasn’t a kid or a gawky teen, she was a woman in love.
When Nick left home for college, Josie was still in grade school. Buck-toothed and awkward, she was smart as a whip and funny as hell. Yeah, she was a pain in the ass, too. But as she grew up, Nick was proud of not just the beauty she became, but mostly the woman who treated everyone she met like a friend. She was choosing life in a fishbowl, and all he could think was that Tony was a lucky sonofabitch to have a partner like Josie along for the ride.
“I’m glad,” he said. “All I care about is that you’re happy. And for the record, he’s the lucky one.”
Josie settled her head on his shoulder, and Nick took her hand.
“So what about you, big brother? Are you happy?”
He hesitated, but then gave it up. There was no point in lying. “I’m fucking miserable, JoJo. I miss Lila so much, and I don’t know if I’ll get her back.”
“She’s not going to keep you from the baby,” Josie’s reassurance was unnecessary.
“Oh, I know. She’d never do that. But I want her, Josie. I want us.”
“You love her?”
Nick dropped a kiss on his sister’s hair, just like he’d done a million times before. “I do.”
“Then we have to figure out how to fix things between the two of you.” That was JoJo. Ever the optimist.
“Groveling is not out of the question.”
“Sounds like a smart man,” Josie said. “Lila went to the country house with Anton’s sister yesterday. She won’t be back until just before dinner.”
“At which time she’ll start avoiding me.” The wedding was in a little less than a week, and Nick’s goal was to keep the peace. He wouldn’t push.
“Nah. She thinks you’re coming tomorrow.”
“Why would she think that?” Josie was up to something. Great.
Josie grinned. “I might have gotten the dates wrong. On purpose.”
“You did?”
“I have a plan,” Josie’s smile was as bright as the sun. “It’s going to be incredible. A fairy tale.”
“Will I have to grovel?” he asked.
The future queen belly laughed. “Maybe just a little.”
* * *
Lila smiled as she dropped her bags on the armchair in her bedroom and flopped on the bed. She and Princess Marie Therese, Anton’s sister, had just spent a dreamy two days at Granville Cottage in the Belgian countryside.
Cottage. It was an old stone mansion set outside the city of Bruges, with high ceilings, eight bedrooms, and several fireplaces. She and Marie took walks, relaxed in the gardens, and planned some surprises for the bride-to-be. There wouldn’t be a big bachelorette party, but they had some fun things planned for the time leading up to the big day.
The tap at the door startled her. Josie was supposed to be at an event with Anton, and Marie had gone to her apartment on the other side of the palace, so Lila wasn’t expecting anyone. “Come in?”
It was Silvia, the head of staff. “Excuse me, Mademoiselle. His Majesty and Mademoiselle DeMarco would like you to join them in the garden. They want to discuss some wedding plans.”
“Oh, okay. Wait. Now?” Lila looked outside—it was starting to get dark. From her window she could see the brightly lit face of the clock in Sterren’s city square; the lights switched on when the sun went down. Unlike the sparkling capital city, the palace garden had few lights.
“Yes, miss. Now.”
“All right.” Silvia left the room and Lila checked herself in the mirror. She ran a brush through her hair and dabbed on some lip gloss. Fortunately, she was wearing a simple navy blue linen dress and cardigan, so she didn’t have to change.
Josie and Anton were very easygoing, but the staff was a little uptight. Lila didn’t feel stifled in the palace, but there were aspects of protocol she was still adjusting to. One was that a person never had an audience with a member of the royal family looking like a slob.
The walk to the garden was short, and on her way out to the grounds, she saw Lucky, Josie’s rescued dog, asleep on an 18th century chair. He was curled up, his head settled on a beautiful silk pillow that Lila figured was also an antique.
The dog had the life.
She made her way through the large sunroom and exited the palace through a set of massive French doors. Every day she was there, Lila pinched herself. Mostly it was for Josie. This would be her home.
Wandering through the garden, she inhaled deeply. Everywhere she looked, fall flowers were blooming. Even in the fading light, beds filled with bright orange, yellow, and red flowers filled her vision. Pink and yellow roses were still blooming on the garden walls and trellises, decorating the air with their scent.
But something was definitely up. She was in the middle of the garden, where a large stone fountain dominated the space. The top edge of the fountain pool was designed to double as a bench, and Lila decided to sit when she saw a small box wrapped in neat white paper and tied with a white satin bow.
Still no Josie or Anton. Just a small gift.
Picking it up, Lila gave it a little shake. There was a bit of movement on the inside, gentle shifting that let her know whatever was in there filled the space. However, there was no explanation for the gift being there. No note. It might have been a gift from Josie and Anton, but there was no way she couldn’t know.
Without any warning, the entire garden lit up. Tiny lights had been strung in the trees, along walls, and through the rosebushes, illuminating every inch of the grounds with twinkling lights. Maybe this was what they wanted to show her.
But there was still no sign of Josie and Anton. Standing with the box safely in her grasp, Lila turned in a slow circle, marveling at the beauty the lights brought to the garden. It was like standing inside a fairy hill—magical and wondrous. She heard footsteps behind her and turned, expecting to see Josie.
Instead, her gaze fell on Nick.
Josie had told her he wasn’t getting in until tomorrow. So either his plans changed, or Josie hadn’t told her the truth. Lila was betting on the latter. He walked to her, slowly and purposefully, causing her breath to catch. He was dressed simply in jeans and a button-down shirt. If she sent him out on the street he’d blend right in. That was until whoever he encountered got a look at his strong face, or experienced his twinkling eyes. Then he’d stand out.
His hair was short, and he was freshly shaved, every inch the marine. Lila might have missed his roguish scruff, but the man coming toward her was devastatingly handsome.
With him so close, her heart went out of control. There was a rapid thumping in her chest; everything about being near him put Lila’s system on overload.
He finished her off when he kissed her.
It was a surprise, to be sure. Nick’s hands gently cupped her face, cradling it while he stroked his thumbs over her cheeks, and Lila was lost. His mouth moved in a gentle pressure forward and back, with a tiny bit of tongue running along the seam of her lips, asking her to forgive him.
“God,” he breathed into her mouth. “I missed you, Lila. I wouldn’t have been able to stay away one more day.”
Lila was about to break the kiss when something stirred inside her. Something was different. The kiss was a plea, a wish, and it was filled with desperation. He kissed her and kissed her again, awakening her heart, heating her blood, and wrapping her in a warmth only Nick could give her.
“I missed you. Please tell me you missed me, too?” His deep voice caressed her.
“Nick…”
“Please,” he said as he tilted her face toward his. A tear pricked the corner of his eye, and from his expression Lila could see everything had changed. Everything.
Nick was speaking from his heart and not his head.
“I’ve missed you since the minute I got on the plane,” she whispered. “Every second.”
“Thank God.”
Nick pulled her close, wrapping his strong arms around her. Resting her head on his chest, Lila could feel the steadiness in him, the strength. But along with that, was the sense that it was what she needed. What had been missing since she left Barefoot Bay.
Releasing her, he surprised her again when he dropped to his knees on the cobblestone path. Lila was still holding the box, and Nick gripped both her hands around it.
“Lila, I still believe that being with you, marrying you is the right thing to do. But not because I feel some kind of obligation. I’ve just come to realize that living without you would leave me empty.”
“Oh, Nick…”
“I know I might have lost you forever, that I might have screwed this up so badly it can’t be fixed, but I’m begging you to forgive me for being such an idiot.”
Before she could say anything, he plowed on. The man was on a roll.
“I love you, Lila. I love you with all my heart and soul. But along with that, I need you. I’m yours. My heart is yours, and I’m on my knees to tell you if you give us another chance, I won’t let you down.”
“You didn’t let me down.”
He nodded. “I did. I didn’t see what you were saying, that this had to be more than a rescue mission. I was too wrapped up in my own sense of duty that I didn’t listen to what you needed.”
The words filled her from toe to top; he said everything she wanted to hear, but more than that, she no longer felt he was trying to do what was right for her, but right for them. They were in this together.
“I love you, Nick. And there’s nothing to forgive. It took me a while to understand, but your sense of duty and loyalty make you who you are. Those qualities will make our family strong, and you’ll be a wonderful father.”
Nick pressed his lips to her belly and held her close. Lila’s fingers stroked his hair, holding him against her as he spoke in whispers to their unborn child.
Rising to face her, he held out the white box.
“Oh, I must have dropped it. I don’t know what’s in there.”
“It’s your engagement ring. You left it in Florida. Will you wear it again?”
Lila smiled and together they unwrapped the package. When the ring was safely back on her left hand, Lila felt right for the first time in months. “We still have some things to work out. Like about the move.”
“What move?” he asked.
“To Washington.”
“We’re not going to Washington. The job wasn’t for me. But I have another offer. You’d have to take two years off from school, but after that, we can figure out what comes next.”
“Where is the offer? I mean, two years is fine, but tell me.”
“I was offered a position with a NATO division.”
That meant they’d stay in Europe. “Seriously?”
“It’s only a couple of hours from here. Now, I know you don’t believe in running from your problems, but I think this could work for us. And you could see Josie whenever you wanted to. Whaddaya say?”
There was no question. This time, Nick was offering her an adventure, not an escape.
“I say YES!” Without missing a beat, Nick lifted her up and spun her around. The weightlessness, the spinning, made her lightheaded.
“You’re sure? I know how much you love Mimosa.”
“I do, and we’ll go back there, but right now we’re stepping into the rest of our lives.”
“I love you,” he said softly. “I promise I’ll never stop.”
“That’s good, because I’m going to love you forever, Nick DeMarco.”
Looking around the gorgeous palace grounds, there was only one thing left to do—go inside and tell his family. They were her family now, the foundation for everything they would build together.
Nick smiled wide and Lila’s heart did a little flip. It was everything she’d ever wanted.
“Are you ready?” Nick reached out.
Looking at his outstretched hand, then looking at him, Lila knew the answer.
“I am. Let’s go.”