Kyra paused, realizing she needed to end the call. She didn’t want to be super long-winded.
“Anyway, we can talk more when you have time. Love you, sis. Bye.” She pressed end and put her phone away in her purse. For the rest of the drive, she closed her eyes and snuggled into Marcus, relishing the feel of his comforting arms.
They pulled onto the winding drive of the estate, and memories of their fairy-tale stay here washed over Kyra.
“Before we start to get too cozy out here, I want to talk to you about some ideas I have,” Marcus said as they got out of the car.
“Okay.”
He linked his fingers with hers and led her onto the property toward the garden.
“What would you think of staying on in Sovalon?”
Kyra raised her eyebrows. “Permanently?”
“Yes,” he said. “You and I make a great team. We could run the shelter together, and you could have a huge hand in working with our local nonprofits to bring about the development of governmental policies surrounding women and children’s aid in the region. My dad might be a tough sell, but I’ll bet we can get my brothers on our side. You could be a part of that—if you want it.”
Kyra was quiet for a moment. She let the idea bounce around in her thoughts. She hadn’t even considered it until this very moment.
“I know it would be a huge undertaking and you’re welcome to say no, but I think you’d be amazing in the position,” Marcus went on. He looked anxious, awaiting her response. “If you’re worried about your family, we could fly back to the Atlanta to visit as often as you want.”
She stared at him. He’d put a lot of thought into this idea. He looked so hopeful, seemed so committed to really making things work between them. And he appeared to be sincerely dedicated to the women’s shelter project. It wasn’t just a thing he was forced to do anymore.
But it was overwhelming to imagine uprooting her life in the US and moving here. Could she really just leave her old life behind and plant herself in a whole different country?
On the other hand, could she really see herself leaving Marcus behind? Not to mention, it was a dream opportunity. And with Maggie proclaiming to be able to take care of herself at home, Kyra was off the hook to do whatever she wanted with her life. And, she wanted this.
“What about the media?” she asked, suddenly plagued by the worry that there would be paparazzi following her for the rest of her days, snapping indiscreet photos and publishing trash about her for the world to see.
Marcus shrugged and pulled a face. “The reporters will always be there to some extent. I’m a royal, and people are obsessed with knowing everything about my family—where we sleep, what we eat… everything,” he admitted. His demeanor brightened then. “But we can be one of those private celebrity couples who keep a low profile.”
“Somehow I can’t imagine you keeping a low profile,” she said.
“Well, imagine it,” Marcus said. “I’m about to change the narrative about me that’s out there. No more Playboy Prince,” he said, rolling his eyes. “From now on I’m boring old dad prince. Once they see me changing diapers and singing ABCs all the time, they won’t be interested in following me anymore.”
Marcus winked at her, and Kyra had to laugh. “Boring old dad, huh?” She took his outstretched hand and allowed him to wrap her into his warm body.
“Well, maybe not too boring,” he said, a sly look on his face. He leaned in and sealed his lips over hers. Heat crawled up the backs of her arms, and goose bumps rose along her skin. Breathless, she pulled back and looked into his eyes.
“So, what do you think?” he asked, his voice husky.
“I think that sounds just about perfect,” she said and followed him into the house.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
“Look at her,” Marcus said proudly, cradling his newborn daughter. “She has her mom’s pretty lips.”
Kyra gave him a tired but happy look from the hospital bed. “I don’t think we can tell who she looks like just yet, Marcus.”
Clementine laughed at Kyra’s comment. She’d come for a visit with Edward and Marcus’s middle brother, Aldon. The three were as awestruck with baby Lea as her father was. “I think she has your cheekbones, Marcus,” Clem said. “But I have to agree with Kyra, it’s too early to tell.”
“I can tell,” he said and looked lovingly at Kyra. “She’s beautiful. Just like you.” He stroked the cheek of the sleeping bundle in his arms. He never believed that a person could feel so much love for anyone or anything, but staring down at his daughter, his heart felt like it might just burst with adoration. She was an absolute treasure.
“We should let Momma rest,” Clem said to Edward then turned her eyes to Kyra. “I’m sure you’re beat.”
Kyra shrugged.
“She’s alright,” Edward joked. “All she had to do was push a couple of times, right, Kyra?”
“Oh, yeah, it was a breeze,” Kyra said with a note of sarcasm in her voice.
“She was a trouper,” Marcus said. “I don’t know how women do it. I couldn’t survive childbirth.”
His brothers laughed in agreement and headed toward the door. Before Edward left, he pulled Marcus aside.
“Have you heard from Dad at all?” he asked.
Marcus shook his head. “Mom called,” he said. “She’s coming to visit later today, but Dad probably won’t come. Not yet, anyway.” Marcus tried to hide his disappointment, but he was sure his brother saw through his bravado.
“Give him time,” Edward said. “He’ll come around.”
“Thanks for being here,” Marcus said and bid goodbye to his brothers and Clementine. When he re-entered the hospital room, he was struck by Kyra’s beauty as she cradled their darling daughter and nursed her in the hospital bed. How could a woman possibly look so incredibly radiant just after giving birth?
When Lea finished suckling, he reached out his arms for her.
“I’ll take her,” he said. “You rest.” He rocked Lea gently in his arms. “My baby girl,” he cooed. He glanced over at Kyra to see her smiling at him.
“Close your eyes,” he told her, but she shook her head.
“Can’t sleep,” she said.
“Too excited to introduce your family to Lea?”
“Maybe that’s it.”
“When are they getting here?”
“They fly in tomorrow morning,” Kyra said.
“Then you really should try to rest now so you’re up for a visit when they get here.”
Kyra hadn’t been back home in almost two months, the end of her pregnancy keeping her grounded, not to mention all the work she’d been doing in her position as director of the crisis shelter. She and Marcus worked alongside each other, with him continuing to sit on a variety of boards in the social welfare sector. Part of his job was to represent the monarchy, and the other was to help secure funding for various projects. They each found their work busy but rewarding, but they had made sure to make time to get Kyra back to Atlanta often to visit with her family and make sure all was well with Maggie and Ava. Kyra had been doing everything she could to make sure her sister and niece were financially secure—paying for a day care to help out with Ava when Maggie was working and their mother wasn’t available to help out. Once the baby was ready to fly, he was sure she would continue to make frequent visits to the US.