Page 81 of Royal Games (The Royals of Monterra)

“I will!” I yelled to him, and the town’s cheering got even louder.

The church had its roof, Nicole had Shane, and I had a date with my prince.

Chapter 24

Aunt Sylvia made plans to spend Christmas with Max, Amanda, and her son, Austin, and I was on Rafe’s jet, holding his hand and talking to him as we flew halfway across the world.

We were nearly to Monterra. He pointed out the mountain ranges near his home. It was sunny outside, but everything was covered in a blanket of white. He excused himself to use the restroom before we had to put on our seatbelts, and I got up to get my purse and send Aunt Sylvia a text to let her know that I was nearly there.

But when I pulled on the straps, my purse caught on Rafe’s bag, and it emptied the contents all over the floor. I bent down to put his things back. I glanced at his passport, smiling at the picture of him.

His wallet. I glanced up at the bathroom door. I couldn’t help it. I wondered what he had in it. Pictures? Was there one of me?

“I should put it back,” I whispered.

I didn’t.

He had black and platinum credit cards in his wallet. A bunch of cash in different national currencies. No pictures.

But there was something behind the cash. Something pink.

It was my letter. The one I had written him on the show. I pulled it out to make sure. He had folded it neatly, and he carried it around with him everywhere he went. The whole time he’d been in Iowa, he’d had it with him.

If there had been any doubt about his sincerity, this took it all away. He loved me. He really, really loved me.

My heart leapt in happy excitement. I heard the sink running, and I put the note back where I had found it, shoving his bag back into the overhead compartment just as he came out.

He was so amazing. So handsome, so smart, so kind and generous.

Why was I waiting? What was I waiting for? I loved him. Totally, completely loved him. I never stopped. Just like he’d never stopped loving me.

Resistance really was futile.

“Hi!” I beamed at him, breathless but elated.

“Hi,” he responded, giving me a strange look. “Everything okay?”

“Everything is fan-freaking-tastic.” I couldn’t help it. I giggled. I loved Rafe. I loved him.

But as I started to tell him, the flight attendant came out to tell us that we were beginning our descent and asked us to put on our seatbelts.

I could tell him later. We had four full days in Monterra before we had to head home.

The palace was in total chaos. When we entered the front hall, there were relatives and wedding guests everywhere, and members of the palace staff were trying to direct everyone to their rooms and get their luggage situation straightened out. Despite the people running around like an army of confused ants, the front hall was stunning. Like a winter wonderland. It had been impressive on my first visit, but now, decorated for the holidays and the wedding, it was just magical. There was greenery and red ribbons and gold accents everywhere I looked. Red and gold were the colors on his family’s crest, as well as the colors of the country’s flag, and with this royal wedding the royal family seemed determined to display those colors proudly.

“Follow me,” Rafe said. He took me up a staircase that had been blocked off because it led to his family’s personal suites.

“I had them put you in the guest room next to Lemon’s,” he said. It was the same room I had used when I first met his family during filming the show. When he opened the door to put down my luggage, his seven-year-old sister Serafina was lying on my bed.

“Genesis!” she said, bounding across the room to me. I picked her up and hugged her. She was the friendliest little girl I had ever met. I knew Lemon and Kat both adored her.

“What are you doing up here?” Rafe asked. “Shouldn’t you be downstairs helpingMammawith the guests?

“Prince Matteo is here.” She said it the same way someone else might say, “The Grim Reaper is here.”

“Who is Prince Matteo?” I mouthed the words to Rafe, but Serafina caught me.

“He isun cretino, uno sciocco, uno scemo, proprio un idiota!”

---