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And he understood, for the first time, how easy it could be to get carried away.

Instead, Josiah purposefully loosened his hold on her and slowed it down.

And then it was over. Intense and full of emotion and all too short.

But told him what he’d suspected for some time.

They definitely had chemistry.

Once she’d returned her head to his chest, he tightened his hold again.

“That was...” Bekah blew out a breath. “I’m not sure what that was.”

Josiah chuckled. “I know what you mean.” And then he sobered. “I wish I could tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you, Beks, but I don’t think I can. Not yet. It hasn’t been long enough. I don’t know you well enough. What I do know is that I want to get to know you better. I want to spend so much more time with you. Go on dates. Pick out new furniture. Whatever. Just be together. But not here unless we need to be. Back in the States. In a lot of ways, it’s more home than the palace has been in a long time.”

“That sounds perfect.” She moved away enough to look into his eyes. “I wish I could say I’ve fallen in love, too, but I can’t. I can say that I think I’m well on my way. I’m just not there yet.”

Bekah stretched up and gave him a light, lingering kiss. “I’m just glad I have a second chance with someone I can truly trust.”

With another chuckle, Josiah rested his head against hers.

It might be Bekah’s second chance - something he’d learn to be okay with - but he found himself mostly grateful that, no matter how far down the line he might be, the prince had a chance at love.

EPILOGUE

Bekah wasn’t sure she really wanted to sit in the sweltering heat during early September in Southwest Missouri, not while pregnant.

Or any other time really.

She wasn’t a fan of hot.

Or cold, come to think of it.

But family friends had a kid who was the head drum major for the Serenity Landing Patriot Pride Marching Band this year.

And they needed a Vogel representative there to cheer her on.

So she and Josiah were headed to the football game but were mostly there for the band.

First, though, they were going to have dinner.

If they could ever decide where.

“Where do you want to go?” Josiah walked into the living room wearing a pair of cargo shorts and t-shirt with the band logo.

Bekah was wishing she had a tank top she could wear. That might make it a little more tolerable. Where was her big sun hat? That should help, too. “I don’t even care, honestly. Somewhere with air conditioning.”

The summer had been unreasonably hot and muggy, even for Southwest Missouri. She remembered summers where it was cool enough in July that swim meets had been almost intolerably cold. This summer was the opposite.

When had she started sounding so old?

Josiah gave her a sympathetic smile. “Want to order in and watch the live stream on Patriot Sports?”

She shook her head. “No. I want to go. I love watching the band play. Ginny was always really good. I just wish it wasn’t eight thousand degrees.”

“I get that.” He tilted his head to one side. “What about the diner? They have air conditioning, and you can get breakfast.”

When had he gotten to know her well enough to know that she’d eat breakfast any time of day?