Page 49 of The Princess and the Pizza Man

The cab rounded the corner and headed up through Frostville Mansion’s front gate, and Will took his phone out.

Mel and Alexander are a match!the text read, and he grinned and tucked the phone away, knowing he could celebrate with her in person. After he kissed her senseless, of course.

He hadn’t realized how long the drive was from the front gate to the actual mansion. Plenty of times he checked the clock on the dash, bouncing in his seat with the urge to open the door and run the rest of the way. When the mansion appeared from out of the trees, he unclicked his seatbelt and grabbed his wallet, making for a quick exit.

The cab pulled through the roundabout, and he tossed the driver his money. “Could ya drop the bag just outside there?” He nodded to the front door. “Thank you, sir.”

“Hey, thankyou,” the driver said, his voice fading as Will flew from the car. He didn’t know how much money he ended up handing over, but apparently it included a large tip.

Unsure if he should just walk in or not, he decided to knock. “Winter?” he called, like she’d somehow miraculously be right at the front door and not in one of the billions of rooms.

The knob turned, and he stood back, rocking on the balls of his feet.

“Mr. Monroe,” Hansen said, his brows high. “What can I do for you?”

“I need to see Winter,” he rushed, then took a breath. “If… if she’s available of course.”

He frowned, the first expression other than the intimidating stare he’d seen from the man. “You just missed her, sir.” His hand motioned to the side of the mansion. The cabbie put Will’s bag down, and Will held up his finger, asking him silently to wait.

“You know where she went?” he asked. He’d give the cabbie whatever was in his wallet to have him follow her.

“Alabama.”

He jolted back. “What?”

Hansen nodded. “Sorry, sir. She just left.”

“When?”

“Moments ago. She’s probably still on the way ou—”

Will turned to the cab driver. “Can you follow her?”

“What’s she driving?”

They both looked to Hansen.

“Silver Dodge sedan.”

“Thank you.” Will pulled Hansen into his arms, surprising himself with the sudden burst of affection. “Thanks a ton.” Then he grabbed his bag and raced back to the cab, but before he got to the door, a reflection of silver caught his eye.

“Mr. Monroe!” Hansen called from the porch, pointing at the silver sedan heading down the drive. Will nodded and ran for all his life was worth.

“Winter!” he called out, his voice raspy and weak. He promised himself then and there that if he caught her, he would dedicate a month to the gym.

Okay, maybe a week.

“Frosty!”

The red brake lights were a sign from heaven, and the sedan pulled to a sudden stop. His feet quit moving, and he bent over to catch his breath. The passenger door opened, and a dainty leg with a ridiculous heel attached to it appeared.

“Will?” she said, an adorable shocked smile on her face. He stood up, chest heaving.

“Hey.”

Her laughter met his ears, cutting through the pounding of his heart. “Hey.”

“Heard… you… were… headed…” His voice was lost to his breathing, and so he just pointed to himself. Her heels clunked against the cobblestone, her ankles wobbling the slightest bit as she made her way slowly to him.

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