The plane touched down in Avce with barely a bump of wheels to tarmac. Amy looked out the window at the country she’d written articles about. It was a sunny day in comparison to cold London and she couldn’t wait to get out of the recycled air and outside. The hot-blooded male who sat beside her reading a hardcover book on thermodynamics, thin-rimmed black glasses perched on the edge of his nose, made her pulse quicken.

No one had ever tried to seduce her. Her old boyfriends were Peter Pan types who were way too narcissistic to even pretend she was more important than themselves, and her parents never approved of them because they weren’t titled enough for their tastes. To defy them, Amy used to enjoy nice-looking men at her side but they’d never caused her own thermodynamic blood temperature to rise.

This time, Lucio was hers and her sister wasn't going to show off her legs to steal him away.

She reached out and brushed her hand against his arm. He took off his glasses, pocketed them and asked, "Yes?"

The way he stared at her with warm concern brought a swoosh of butterflies. She shook off the silly feeling and asked, "Are we getting off the plane or should we just sit here? I don’t mind, whatever you want to do. It’s your country."

He closed his book, his brow heavy. "I was thinking. It might be best to go to the North Castle and settle into the home we'll live in before we head to my parents. If we go to the palace, we'll be married by the end of the week, if we make it that long."

"My parents are where?" She discreetly inhaled his almond scent.

"With my parents who will plan the whole ceremony in a Church some ancestors of mine built."

Yes, if she didn't face Mom and Dad for a few days then no one could report to Evie on exactly what she was doing. She nodded. "The one that Mary herself, in, like 100 AD, made it snow in? The exact spot she wanted the church built?" She sat back and let her body relax. "I did some research and that's quite a fairy tale." She looked forward to seeing it in person.

He lowered his shoulders. "My brother Marco and his new wife, Renee, are working on upping our tourist industry and enticing visitors to our small kingdom."

Outside, the day wasn't getting any prettier and she was still on the plane. Lucio was probably used to living in paradise. She stood, her knee bumping his, and he did the same. Amy considered that she might as well be useful to him if she was going to pull off being a princess. "Your gambling laws and casinos are not capitalized on fully. You realize that you could be the next Monaco?"

"All business, with you." He strode down the aisle.

It's not like they had anything else in common. She fixed her dress and followed him, her gaze glued to his broad back. "I can't read physics and pretend to understand that. So I'll talk about politics and economics and things I know."

He placed his hand on the small of her back while they exited the plane via silver stairs. "Have I told you that I'm trained in various forms of combat?"

Fighting? Her knees felt weak and she rolled in her high heels, but luckily she caught his arm. She met his handsome brown eyes. "Why tell me now?"

He winked. "You keep harping on my interest in physics, but I have more than one."

Lucio's entire physique sang out "not a nerd." He'd changed. She could feel heat rising in her chest, but she made it to the tarmac without tripping. "Well, then I can confess I enjoy learning new blends of white wine and having a glass after work."

They walked a red carpet toward a waiting white limo. Once again Lucio placed his strong hand on the small of her back and she felt guided, safe. "There is plenty of wine at the palace, but there’s also a local vineyard near the North Castle. I'll take you."

"Sounds amazing." She imagined walking in a green farmland next to Lucio, lost in the grape clusters.

The driver opened the rear passenger door for them and she slid inside, Lucio right behind her. "It's settled, then. We'll head to the North Castle for a few days."

"Yes. Let's do that." She loved the idea of spending time with just Lucio. Perhaps she'd not feel this burning sensation in her stomach at the idea she was stealing him from her sister. "My parents and I don't always get along the best."

"I completely understand." The chauffer started the car and signaled right. Lucio tapped the lowered window between them and said, "The North Castle, please."

The driver turned back toward him. "Your parents are expecting you, Your Highness."

"We're still heading to the North Castle." Lucio sat with assurance against the seat. "I can always drive the lady myself if you must return to the palace."

"No need, sir. I'll get you there." The driver went left and soon the private airport was at their back.

This was her chance to refocus the conversation. She sat next to him and smoothed the pearls on her necklace. "What do you understand?"

Her hem slid higher and he saw her legs. He stared at her movement and she was keenly aware of every inch of flesh this might show while her entire body felt flushed, but she didn’t tug it down. He’d always been a leg man as far as she knew.

He closed the partition and waited until it was completely secure. "I love my family, but I don't want them controlling everything I do and say. When I was fifteen, I wasn’t making smart decisions about women and perhaps your sister was a bad idea for me long term, but I should have been able to see that for myself without my own parents’ interference. The lesson I learned that day was to never seek their good opinion in the first place when we moved to Avce."

Her heart squeezed in her chest as she folded her hands in her lap, needing to ask, but fearing the answer. "What made you think that my sister is not a good idea now?"

He lowered his face and she swore she saw a slight blush. "When I flew to Scotland to clear the air with her, I understood she'd throw her wedding off with her fiancé and come with me if I asked."

Amy's face tightened. He was right. Her sister probably would have. "So? Evie always said she loved you. Why did her willingness to go with you turn you off?"

And poor Michael, she thought, though she’d never say that out loud.

"I'm an adult." He adjusted his seat. "And I had the distinct feeling it wasn't me but my title. Prince, to her princess."

Amy’s mouth dried and she tugged her hem to her knees. Her parents had always said that was the reason they had daughters in the first place. Her "yes" came from that same lesson her sister’s had. "That's it? You came and offered the job to me because my sister made you feel as if she wanted the title?"

He shrugged. "I also had the sense she'd make a horrible wife—for me. When I met you again, I realized that the computer was right and you're perfect to be my princess. So here we are."

"It's hard to think of myself as a princess, Lucio." She twirled one of her pearls and stared out the window at the passing pine trees. "I spend most of my days researching some small detail that might matter in a remote part of the world for a report I’ve been paid to write."

He placed his hand on her knee. "Researching is not the same as seeing or experiencing." She turned toward him as the car drove up a hill, through the countryside. "I want you to feel Avce in your blood."

Lucio made feeling his country sound like it included him. His fingers traced the bare skin above her knee and thrills raced up her leg. She nodded, "I can’t wait to learn all about it."

He leaned closer and whispered, "Now there is the girl I remember from the library." He sat straighter, kept his hand on her thigh, and lowered the partition. "Please stop at Piotr' restaurant."

"I want to see your country that you clearly love. I've only ever written reports." She let her mind wander. If what he said about her sister was true, then she shouldn't fear Evie’s interference. Still, it would be nice to spend a few days alone with Lucio to really see if they fit.

The limo turned on a smaller road that followed a gray river. "You'll enjoy this place. It's on the water, before we ascend the mountain."

From her window, Avce seemed one of the prettiest places on the planet. She stared at Lucio’s chiseled jaw and felt a flutter while she wondered how he'd kiss. Her body was already warm, but she kept the conversation light. "The view sounds lovely. We can discuss how I can help Avce correct a few political landmines—and I’ve got a few ideas to boost the economy."

The car pulled into a parking lot that overlooked a bluff. "You're more of an expert than me. We'll discuss what committees you'll lead as princess, but I'd like to propose a No Business rule for the rest of the day. I'd like to get to know you—the woman."

The engine cut off. Her heart beat faster. Lunch without discussing topics she understood? This felt like a date. She nodded her agreement and the door opened.

Now she had to remember how to act on a date. She hadn't had one of those in a long time that went well. It should help that she’d already agreed to marry him, but the zip in her pulse told her otherwise.

Lucio's arm went around her waist as he pulled her from the back to stand hand in hand with him beneath the sun. With luck, this was truly their beginning.