Page 44 of Tempted By the Princess

“My sister will be thrilled. My parents will get used to it. What about your family?”

“They’re all dying to meet you,” she said. “I’ve told Lizzie all about you and when my mother heard I was seeing someone she was quite insistent that I bring you to dinner sometime.”

“Do they know I’m a princess?”

“No. Well, Lizzie does, but not my parents. I’m not sure how they’d take it. I didn’t want them to be weird about it. They’re just average people.”

“Fair enough. Being a princess is not my whole identity. I like being a regular person.”

“Believe me, nothing about you is a regular person,” Carrie teased, her eyes flashing with amusement. “But I love you anyway.”

“I do too.”

We snuggled together until Carrie’s stomach growled.

“How do you feel about eating leftovers in bed?” I asked.

“Is there a TV in here?”

I reached into the drawer of the bedside table and pulled out a remote, pressing the button that opened the cabinet across from the bed, revealing the TV inside.

“Did you want to watch something?”

“I think it’s time you got introduced to the X-Files so you can see what all the excitement is about Gillian Anderson.”

“I don’t know how I feel about you lusting after a famous actress,” I teased. “Should I be jealous?”

“Don’t worry, from now on I only plan to lust after my princess.”

Epilogue – Carrie

Six months later, Saint Marenne Palace

“Are you sure this looks okay?”

I stared at myself in the full-length mirror, smoothing the non-existent wrinkles in the silk pantsuit I was wearing. It was black and a little shiny, with a white chemise visible through the open buttons of the jacket.

“You look good enough to eat,” Genny assured me.

She was dressed in a dark red dress with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt that lifted when she swirled in a circle and – best of all – had pockets.

The royal tailor had made both of our outfits based on measurements we’d emailed, and I had to admit that she’d done a great job. I’d never had anything that fit me so well, perfectly fitted to the shape of my body.

It was my first visit to Saint Marenne, and I didn’t hate it so far. The island was stunningly beautiful, just like a postcard. And the palace… well, it was unbelievable.

I thought I’d feel out of place here, but the royal family had gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, especially Queen Evangeline. Genny’s sister and I had bonded almost immediately, both of us sharing the same dry sense of humor as well as a love for giving Princess Genevieve a hard time.

My family was disappointed that Genny and I were spending Christmas here, but this was going to be our reality now. We’d need to split up holidays between our families with them living so far apart. We’d arranged to come back to Seattle on December thirtieth so we could celebrate with my family on New Year’s Eve instead.

It was a good compromise, especially given that we’d spent Thanksgiving with my parents. They didn’t quite realize that Thanksgiving wasn’t a holiday in Genny’s country, so we let them think they’d won that holiday fair and square.

A quick knock sounded on the door, then Angie swept in, looking more glamorous than I’d ever seen her in a moss green dress that hugged every curve, three inch heels, and a sparkling crown on her head.

“Are you gals ready for the ‘holiday’ dinner?” she asked, making air quotes with her fingers.

I’d learned that the family celebrated with local dignitaries and extended family at a lavish banquet on Christmas Eve, followed by a night of dancing. But on Christmas Day it was just the royal family. All the castle staff were given the day off and the former queen and her daughters cooked a feast of their own for an intimate family dinner. That sounded like the best part of the holiday, although I had to admit I was curious about how this fancy dinner would go. I only hoped I wouldn’t use the wrong fork or something and embarrass my girlfriend. I also hoped that Genny’s mother was a better cook than her daughter was.

My eyes went to my suitcase in the corner where I’d hidden an engagement ring. I was planning to propose to Genny tomorrow morning when we were alone. Hopefully, she wouldn’t say no – that would make for an awkward holiday. But based on how great things had been going since we moved in together, I was pretty sure she’d say yes. I’d never been so happy.