His hands tightened on hers, as if he had to hold fast against negative thinking.
“I believe it will,” he said. “But if it doesn’t, I won’t shirk my responsibility. But as you may know, the king can marry a citizen. And it’s an interesting fact that a foreigner can apply for citizenship after three years.”
Her chest constricted, her skin suddenly going warm. “Is that so?”
“There’s one more thing.”
She swallowed. “I’m not sure I can take more.” It was the truth. She was ridiculously overwhelmed.
“I’ll risk it,” he said, then lowered himself to one knee as she gasped, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest.
“It turns out there is no prohibition on the king being engaged to a non-citizen. And so my darling Skye, would you do me the greatest honor and agree to marry me?”
“I—”
“It’s a public life,” he interrupted. “There will be speeches. State dinners. Radio addresses. But you will never be alone, and I promise the people will love you.”
She didn’t realize she was crying until she tasted the tears. Then all she could do was nod. “Stop trying to convince me or scare me, Leo. The answer is yes.” She fell to her knees in front of him, then lost herself in his embrace.
Epilogue
Almost three years later
Princess Skye, Countess of Stahl, stood beside her husband, the former King of Avelle-am-see and its current Minister of Science. They were waiting to go inside the cathedral to take their place for Gisele’s coronation.
Gisele had been ruling the small country for the last seven months since Leo had abdicated the throne the day after the constitutional amendment had been ratified. Her ascension had been a quiet affair. Today’s official coronation was all about the pomp and circumstance.
“Do you regret not being Queen?” he teased.
Leo had ruled for almost two years, the time it had taken to get the amendment ratified. He and Skye had been married seventy-two hours after he’d abdicated the throne. He’d been a popular ruler, and Skye had been shocked by her own popularity as well, both in this small country and back at home. She’d avoided public speaking as much as possible, but when she did speak, she’d had nothing but support. And when Leo had announced that he would abdicate so that his older sister could rule and so that he could marry the woman he loved, the people had cheered for him, Gisele, and Skye herself.
The foundation she’d started to help children with speech impairments was now active internationally, and Leo had made significant headway in expanding the physics department at the country’s prestigious university.
Best of all, Skye was now two months pregnant, and Gisele was already planning how they would announce the impending birth of a little prince or princess to the world. A child who, if Gisele chose not to marry, might one day sit on the throne.
Now, Skye sighed happily. “What’s to regret?” she asked as she leaned into Leo’s embrace. “After all … I got to live the … fairy tale. And,” she added, “there really is … a happily ever after.”
THE END
I hope you enjoyed the story! You can read Griffin and Bev’s story in Light My Fire. And don’t miss Hannah and Matthew in In Too Deep!
About the Man of the Month series
Who’s Your Man of the Month?
When a group of fiercely determined friends realize their beloved hang-out is in danger of closing, they take matters into their own hands to bring back customers lost to a competing bar. Fighting fire with a heat of their own, they double down with the broad shoulders, six-pack abs, and bare chests of dozens of hot, local guys who they cajole, prod, and coerce into auditioning for a Man of the Month calendar.
But it’s not just the fate of the bar that’s at stake. Because as things heat up, each of the men meets his match in this sexy, flirty, and compelling binge-read romance series from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner.
"With each novel featuring a favorite romance trope—beauty and the beast, billionaire bad boys, friends to lovers, second chance romance, secret baby, and more—[the Man of the Month] series hits the heart and soul of romance." New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips
Each book in the series is a STANDALONE novel with NO cliffhanger and a guaranteed HEA!
But even so, you won’t want to miss any in the series. Because then you can answer the question…
Who’s Your Man of the Month?
Down On Me
Hold On Tight
Need You Now
Start Me Up
Get It On
In Your Eyes
Turn Me On
Shake It Up
All Night Long
In Too Deep
Light My Fire
Walk The Line
BONUS BOOKS:
Royal Cocktail
Bar Bites: A Man of the Month Cookbook
Visit manofthemonthbooks.com to learn more!
Here’s a handy list of the books in the series with each story’s primary trope!
Down On Me
meet Reece
(friends to lovers)
Hold On Tight
meet Spencer
(second chance romance)
Need You Now
meet Cameron
(best friend’s sister)
Start Me Up
meet Nolan
(opposites attract)
Get It On
meet Tyree
(second chance romance)
In Your Eyes
meet Parker
(billionaire romance)
Turn Me On
meet Derek
(one-night stand)
Shake It Up
meet Landon
(woman in jeopardy/interracial)
All Night Long
meet Easton
(good guy meets bad girl)
In Too Deep
meet Matthew
(opposites attract/fake engagement)
Light My Fire
meet Griffin
(beauty and the beast)
Walk The Line
meet Brent
(single dad/interracial)
Royal Cocktail (bonus book)
Meet Leo
(reluctant royal)
*Bar Bites: A Man of the Month Cookbook
(by J. Kenner & Suzanne M. Johnson)
Lovely Little Liar: Chapters 1-2
I’ve always loved hero-driven rom coms, especially when the guy is an alpha-hole with a bit of a marshmallow thrown in! I had such fun writing this story; I hope you enjoy the peek!
1
I don’t believe in relationships, but I do believe in fucking.
Why, you ask? Hell, I could write a book. The Guy’s Guide to Financial, Emotional, and Business Success. But honestly, why bother with a book when the thesis boils down to just four words: Don’t Date. Just Fuck.