Page 12 of Falling for the Queen Mother

"Anthony married Madeleine just a couple of months after Queen Caroline passed." His arms tightened around her. "It was only because he had to, but the two of them are deeply in love, and everyone knows it. He loved his first wife, but that didn't mean he didn't have a second chance. Why are you any different?"

"For starters, I don't need to marry to protect my children like he needed to do in order to protect Catherine. She was very young when she ascended the throne. That isn't an issue here."

She rested her arms on top of his and leaned back into his quiet strength.

"What makes you different? Why don't you get a second chance to be loved?"

He kissed the side of her head, and to save her life, Alaina couldn't come up with one reason why.

5

Of all the things Nathaniel thought might happen when he arrived in Southern Santiero, waking up with the Queen Mother in his arms wasn't one of them.

Fully clothed on the balcony with a blanket over them, but still not even in the realm of what he would have guessed would be possible.

Not even close.

But the way her head lay on his chest as he reclined in the lounge chair, made him feel something he hadn't felt in a very long time.

At home.

At peace even.

His arm had gone completely numb, but it didn't matter.

The sun had started to peek over the horizon several minutes earlier. That was likely what had woken him up. It would probably wake Alaina before long as well.

In the distance, a helicopter circled then went out to sea a bit before coming closer then heading back over the island.

The world was waking up.

Time for them to as well.

He needed to take a quick shower and get dressed before the breakfast he'd ordered the night before arrived in about half an hour.

"Alaina." He kept his voice low and couldn't stop himself from pressing a kiss to her hair. "It's time to wake up, love."

What had possessed him to use the term of endearment?

He'd never used it with his wife. Other terms, pet names, but never love.

"Hmm?" She began to stir, her head lifting as she yawned. "Did I fall asleep?"

"We both did." He tightened his arm around her. "It's still early, but we do need to get moving. It's almost time to get the day started."

With that she bolted upright. "Morning? I've been here all night?!"

"We fell asleep."

They'd been talking when the breeze kicked up, blowing in off the water and making her a bit chilly. He'd brought the blanket out but still wasn't sure how they ended up underneath it on the chair together.

But she took the blanket with her as she stood. Not intentionally, but it fell to the ground at her feet. "I've got to get back to my quarters. I need to take a shower, eat breakfast, get ready for the day. So do you. We're supposed to be in the archives in less than an hour. If anyone finds out that I spent the night here..."

She'd walked back into the palace and looked around frantically until she found her shoes.

"The only thing that might be worse was anyone finding out you'd spent the night in my quarters."

On one level, he understood her concerns, but they were also adults. Just like she'd told her son the night before. Adults doing things adults do, fully consenting, but not doing anything they'd need to be ashamed of in front of their children.