To Kiss a King (Kings of California #11)(43)
Author: Maureen Child

“It was a necklace?”

“I brought it with me.” He dipped one hand into his pocket and pulled out a flat, dark green jeweler’s box.

Alex took it, opened the lid and sighed with pleasure.

“It’s a seagull,” he told her unnecessarily. “I had it made to remind you of the ocean. Of all the time we spent at the beach.”

Tears stung her eyes as she lifted the beautifully crafted piece free of the box. She turned and lifted her hair so that he could put it around her neck and when it was lying against the base of her throat, she touched it and whispered, “I love it, Garrett, though I don’t need a reminder. I’ll never forget a moment of my time with you.”

She had everything she had ever dreamed of, right there in her arms. Garrett King was looking at her with more love than she could have imagined possible. She felt the truth of it in his touch. Saw it plainly in his beautiful eyes that were no longer shadowed with old pain. Her heart felt full and yet…

“I’m still a princess, Garrett,” she warned. “That won’t change, ever. There will still be the chance of danger surrounding me and my family. It will still drive you crazy.”

“Yeah,” he said solemnly. “I know. But I’ll be here to make sure you’re safe. All of you.” A small smile crooked one corner of his mouth. “King Security can be the palace’s personal protection detail.

“Marry me, Alex. Together, you and I can do anything.”

“I know we can,” she said and went up on her toes to kiss him. “So yes, Garrett, I’ll marry you.”

He grinned and blew out a relieved breath. “Took you long enough.”

Shaking her head, she said, “I can’t believe you told my father I was pregnant.”

“It was the only thing I could come up with on short notice.”

She smiled up at him. “You used to be a much better liar, Mr. King.”

“It’s all in the past, Princess. No more lies. Not between us.”

“Agreed,” she said, a grin she felt might never go away curving her mouth.

“So,” he asked as he leaned in to kiss her, “how do you feel about Disneyland for a honeymoon?”

“I think that sounds perfect.”

Then he kissed her, and the world righted itself again. Alex reveled in the sensation of everything being just as it should be. She gave herself up to the wonder and the joy and wasn’t even aware when her brothers and father burst into the hall to see why things had gotten so suddenly quiet.

And she didn’t see when her mother ushered her men back into the study to allow her daughter time to enjoy the magic of a lifetime.