Page 29 of Royally Matched

When she reached his side, Max extended his hand to her, which she took.

“You look amazing tonight,” he stated with awe.

“Thank you. Itrather surprised me when I found all of this waiting for me in the room.” Then glancing at him, she smiled, “but seeing how handsome you look in that tuxedo again, I have to say, I’m rather glad you did all of this.”

“It should tell you how special you are to me,” he said with a smirk as he guided her from the hotel lobby into the waiting limo. “I don’t go around wearing one of these things for just anyone.”

They made their way into the elegant restaurant that was on the top floor of the multi-level building. As the waiter seated them by the windowin a private room, Lily looked out at the glittering lights of the city.

“The view is breathtaking,” Lily said in awe. “I knew this hotel had a wonderful restaurant, but I never had a chance to try it out.”

“Well, now you get to,” Max said with a grin. “I’m glad I picked the right place.”

The server came and took their orders. Once he was gone, Lily turned her attention to Max. “I want to thank you again for today. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. Today was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me. You’ve been so supportive and encouraging to me, that was the least I could do.”

The waiter arrived with their appetizers—a salad for Lily and crab cakes for Max. They ate them while conversing about the day. Next, their main course came. Both of them ordered the steak and lobster, which was exquisite. The final course was dessert in which they shared the restaurant’s famous custard tart.

As they stood from the table, Lily said, “This has been a wonderful night.”

“It’s not over yet,” Max corrected. “I still have one more surprise before we retire to our separate rooms for the evening.

“What’s that?” Lily asked with excitement. “I can’t believe there’s more.”

Max led Lily up to the top of the hotel where there was a roof deck with a view of the whole city.

“I’m surprised there isn’t anyone else up here right now,” Lily noted as she looked around.

“I reserved the whole place for us this evening.” He pulled her over to the edge of the building and pointed out over the mountains. “Wait for it,” he whispered, before pulling her close to his side.

Suddenly, fireworks burst into the air, lighting up the night sky. The pops of color were brilliant. Lily felt like she was a kid again, celebrating Triola’s independence, but this time, she was standing next to the man she was falling in love with all over again.

After a few moments of watching the fireworks, Max turned to Lily and bent down on one knee. He pulled out a ring box, opened it, and held it out to her. “I know we already have an agreement, but I want this to be more than just a relationship on paper. I love you, Lady Liliana Lockhart, and I want to be your husband in every way possible. Will you marry me?”

Lily nodded, tears in her eyes, as she gave him her hand. He slipped the emerald and diamond engagement ring on her finger. “I’m glad it fits. It was my grandmother’s ring.”

She looked down at it with appreciation. “It’s gorgeous. I love it.” Then her eyes flickered up to meet his as she added, “And I love you.”

“You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say that,” Max said, as he pulled her into his arms. He placed a kiss upon her lips before spinning her around, the fireworks still glowing around them.

Max placed her back on the ground, as he said, “I know, given our history and how we ended up together again wasn’t the best of circumstances. It’s why I pulled out all the stops to make tonight extra special.”

“I can see that. It’s not every day a prince takes a knee for you,” Lily said with a smile. “I should keep that locked away in my vault of secret memories.”

“You can tell the entire world for all I care. I would go down on one knee for you a million times to keep you happy.”

“It will never come to that. Just being with you is all I need,” Lily said as she placed her hands on his chest, knowing she was exactly where she should be with the man she loved.

Lily’s phone dinged in her purse, disrupting the perfect moment. She pulled out her phone and looked at the screen. It was a Google alert that Max was in the news, but what was more interesting was the fact she was in the news as well. She clicked the button that took her to a link where a video only moments before had been posted.

“What is that?” Max asked.

“I think it’s a video about us,” Lily said, clicking the button to play it.

“This just in, the Crown Prince of Triola, Maxwell Gerard Beaumont, was in Karamay, China, today,” a gray-haired man in a suit stated. “What most would assume was a standard goodwill trip, was anything but, when pictures surfaced that the prince was accompanied by Lady Liliana Lockhart. The two have been rumored to be seen socializing together several times over the past couple of months, but nothing surfaced to substantiate that it was more than royal duties. At least, until today, when it was confirmed they flew in together on his private jet. How did we confirm this? There is the old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is an exclusive photo of the two of them kissing just as they disembarked from his plane.”

Lily gasped as she saw a picture of them kissing earlier in the day pop up. It remained on the screen while the news reporter continued to speak in the background.

---