Page 63 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

With a smile, she nodded. “I should like that.”

Together, hand in hand, they headed back through the dank cave, toward their future as husband and wife. In her other hand, she still clutched the coin.

“Do you think Jeffrey found us yet?” she asked as they walked.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he was waiting outside the cave when we exit,” he said, humor in his voice.

She didn’t doubt that either. As the pinprick of light expanded, she realized the sun must be dipping closer to the horizon. Which meant her birthday was nearly over. And that meant she had managed to get through the entire day without pricking her finger. The curse had not come true.

Her steps were a little lighter. Her mood a little happier.

“I’m sorry we didn’t find the treasure,” Phillip said. “I hope that doesn’t ruin your future plans.”

Her head snapped in his direction. “Whatever do you mean?”

Phillip gave her a knowing grin. “Youwereplanning something, weren’t you?”

Rosamund flushed to the roots of her hair and turned away, dislodging her hand from his. “I was not.”

“Ah, but you were.” There was a smugness in his words.

She increased her speed as she hurried toward the opening.

“Come on, now. You can tell me.”

His cajoling was starting to get on her nerves.

“All right, then. If you won’t tell me what you were planning to do with the treasure, then I’ll tell you my plans,” he said.

That caught her attention. She paused and turned to look at him, waiting.

“You had plans?” she asked.

“Certainly. I was going to take enough money to keep me comfortable while I hunted and drank ale.”

For a moment, she believed him. And then he gave her wicked grin. She punched him in the arm.

“You weren’t,” she snapped. Then she turned and hurried toward the exit once more.

“Rose, wait. I was only jesting.” His footsteps were close behind her.

“If youmustknow,” she said, a bit out of breath. “I was going to take the money and disappear to a new kingdom. I was going to become someone else. I was going to have a life of my own where decisions aren’t made for me. Where I can be my own person.”

He caught up to her as they exited the cave in the evening air. The sun was dipping close to the horizon now. Her heart thumped a wild beat as she peered at the sky. It was almost sunset. He paused next to her, likely thinking the same thing as he looked toward the west.

“It would be a terrible thing if you became someone else.” His words were quiet.

Rosamund turned to look at him and noticed the torch in his hand was now unlit. He tossed it aside and took her hand in his. It was something he seemed to be doing a lot and, by the way he looked at her, enjoyed it.

In her other, she still held the coin.

“Would it be too terribly awful to marry me?” he asked.

There was heart rending tenderness in those honey-colored eyes of his, causing a tingling to erupt in the pit of her stomach. The evening sunlight illuminated the gold strands in his dark hair. There was a tangible bond between them. Whether it was because they were pushed together by happenstance or magic, she did not know. And, frankly, she didn’t care anymore.

Finally, she shook her head. “No, it wouldn’t.”

He reached for her then, cupping her face in his hands and stepping closer. Her pulse beat at the base of her throat, as though her heart had moved from its usual place. Anticipation swelled through her as he leaned closer. Her eyes fluttered closed. Her lips parted, ready and willing and wanting.

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