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CHAPTER 1

In his worst nightmares, Prince Josiah Quatremaine couldn’t have imagined this.

His much-anticipated-vacation-to-Athmetis-turned-international-quagmire that only had one immediate solution.

Get married.

Bekah Vogel, one of the two friends who’d joined him on his long-awaited vacation, sat in one of the chairs. She stared at the floor, not moving as she likely tried to do the same thing he was.

Absorb what the Eyjanian consul in Athmetis was telling them.

“Let me get this straight.” Josiah continued to pace. “I can leave at any time, even if they want to tell us not to leave town, because I’m a Quatremaine. Bekah can’t, because she’s not a member of the royal family. But they haven’t accused of us of any wrong-doing...”

“Yet,” the consul interjected.

“Yet,” Josiah acquiesced. “But we know we didn’t do anything wrong. They know we didn’t do anything wrong. It’s a tragic accident but just that. An accident. That deer bolted out in front of us. The four-wheeler rolled when Steve tried to avoid hitting it. He wasn’t belted in properly. Neither one of us knew that, but even if we had, he was a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. And he was driving.Wehad nothing to do with it.”

“I know that. You know that. They know that. But there’s pressure coming from somewhere to have a scapegoat for a tourist dying on the island.” The consul leaned back in his chair. “Especially an American tourist. Especially when it might look like they’re letting someone off easy because of his connections.”

“So they’re likely going to tell us we can’t leave town pending the investigation, but I would be allowed because of who my father was and my brother is.”

“Yes. But you could only go to Eyjania. Nowhere else. At least, that would be the gentlemen’s agreement as it were.”

“But Bekah has to stay here?” He wanted to be quite clear.

“Yes.”

“Then I will stay with her.”

“Your brother wants you to leave,” the consul pressed. “He didn’t elaborate on why.”

“Just go.” Bekah’s voice sounded nearly lifeless. “I’ll be fine.”

Josiah dropped to a knee next to her chair. “That’s not going to happen. I’m not going to leave you here when you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Then if you want Ms. Vogel to leave with you, she must be a Quatremaine before the local authorities officially ask you not to leave town.” The consul sighed. “You can’t wait for them to do it. If you get married afterward then it’s too blatant that you’re trying to avoid them. Even though everyone will know what you’re doing anyway.”

Bekah continued to stare at the floor. “Get out of here, Joe. You have no reason to stay until they tell you to. Get out of here before they stop you.”

“Not without you.” He made his decision. “Marry me, and let’s get out of here.” Josiah had watched too many episodes ofDatelinewhere visitors to a foreign country ended up in jail for something they didn’t do. He didn’treallythink it would happen here, but could he besure?

And something about Bekah’s defeated demeanor bothered him. Something more was going on, but he didn’t know what it could be. He couldn’t leave her behind.

Neither one of them should stay.

“Fine. Whatever we have to do. I want to go home.” Her voice still sounded flat.

Josiah wished they had time to talk it all through. To figure out another plan.

But the consul was making a motion with his hand - a motion that meant they needed to hurry things up.

Did he need to remind Bekah she wouldn’t be able to gohome? They could go to Eyjania, but not back to the States.

It would be better than here. He would have her things shipped to his home country if they ended up staying more than the few days itshouldtake to sort this all out.

“Then let’s get this started.” The consul picked up a piece of paper. “Let’s do the paperwork while we do the ceremony.” He handed it and a pen to Josiah.

Full name...Josiah Edward Daniel Benjamin Quatremaine. Long but simple enough. He checked the never married box then signed on the bottom.