Page 108 of Royal Reluctance

“Not now,” Bo says against my lips. I laugh as I try to pull away. Bo chuckles and finally releases me.

“Let’s go,” I tell him. “We’ve got all the time in the world for this.”

“Now we do.” Bo slips off my glove and takes my hand. “And I’m buying you a better pair of gloves.”

“I can buy my own gloves.” Bo holds the door and I slip under his arm, eyes widening when I see the wall of Ericksons at the bar.

The wall of family.

Kalle and Edie behind the bar, with Edie looking at me expectantly. Gunnar and Stella on the other side, with Stella’s sister Sophie along with Silas and Fenella. Mabel is a few feet away.

And—Princess Lyra.

Lyra has the biggest smile on her face as she makes a beeline to Bo, practically pushing me aside to throw her arms around her bigbrother. “Did you know I was here?” she demands. “Is that why you called a meet?”

“This has nothing to do with you,” Bo tells her with a laugh. “But I’m really glad to see you.”

“Because you’ve been an idiot for too long.” Still with her arms around Bo’s neck, Lyra looks down at me. She’s not as tall as her brothers but she has a few inches on me. “Both of you.”

Three days ago, I would have dropped my gaze and walked away with my tail between my legs. Now, I stand tall, staring at the bright blue eyes and refusing to let her intimidate me. “Not anymore,” I say.

“Good,” Lyra says shortly. She unwraps from Bo, gives Spencer a cursory glance, and Abigail a much longer one. “What’s going on then?”

“I’ll tell you together.” Bo grabs my hand and pulls me over to the group.

“Took you long enough to get here,” Gunnar grumbles with a grin. “Spence said it was an emergency. But you look pretty happy for an emergency.”

Bo looks down at me and his mouth curves up in the biggest smile. He lifts my left hand. “We’re staying married.”

“And we’re having a big party to celebrate,” I add before the cheers make it impossible to hear anything.

40

Bo

The next day, Imeet with Kate in what will become my office.

“Where do you want to do this?” she asks. “And alone or with Hettie?”

Hettie, who is moving slowly this morning. Kalle pulled out the Screech after we finished all six bottles of champagne, the entire supply he had in the bar. Hettie admitted over her weak tea that it’s been a long time since she’s drank the stuff.

Not long enough, if you ask me.

“She’ll be along in a few minutes,” I say. “She’s bringing Tema.”

“You really want to introduce her now?”

“I’m not hiding anything, but I’m going to make sure to ask for them to give us privacy.”

Them. The press.

Kate met us at the bar last night. It felt like half the town was there, all celebrating my marriage to Hettie, our daughter, and a second chance at true love.

Because that’s exactly what this is. A second chance to get it right.

I still need to work on a lot, and I will because I’ve already gotten my reward. Hettie is staying. Hettie is staying with me in Laandia. And I’m going to be a father to Tema.

I already know I’m going to need help with that one.

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