said it so calmly, so matter-of-factly, that the meaning of his words took several seconds to sink in. Then she was sure that she must have heard him wrong, or he was playing some cruel joke. That any second he was going to laugh and say, “Gotcha!”
“I know it’s fast,” he said instead. “I mean, we barely know each other. But, for the baby’s sake, I really think it’s the logical next move.”
My God, he was serious. He wanted to marry her. How was that even possible when only a few days ago it supposedly hadn’t been an option?
“But … you want to be prime minister.”
“Yes, but that isn’t what’s best for the baby. I’m going to be a father. From now on, I have to put his or her best interests first.”
She had a sudden, unsettling thought. “My family isn’t making you do this, are they? Did they threaten you?”
“This has nothing to do with your family.” He took her hand and held it between his two. “This is what I want, Annie. What I think is best for everyone. We have to at least try, for the baby’s sake.”
She was thrilled to the center of her being … and drowning in a churning sea of guilt. If she had just acted responsibly, if she hadn’t lied about being protected, they wouldn’t be in this situation. He wouldn’t be forced to give up everything that he had worked so hard for.
What if it was a decision he regretted someday and he grew to resent her and the baby? But what if he didn’t? What if they fell in love and lived a long and happy life together?
She folded her other hand over his two. “Sam, are you sure about this? Because once we’re married, that’s it. A divorce can only be granted with the consent of the king.”
“Let’s try this another way,” he said, then he dropped down on one knee in front of her and produced a diamond ring from his pants pocket.
She could hardly believe that this was really happening. It was a real, honest-to-goodness proposal.
He took her hand, looked deep in her eyes. “Will you marry me, Annie?”
There was only one answer she could give him. “Of course I’ll marry you, Sam.”
Grinning, he slid the ring on her finger. It was fashioned from white gold with a round cut diamond deeply set and surrounded by smaller stones. Despite its shine it was clearly an antique, not to mention exquisitely beautiful.
“Oh, Sam, it’s amazing.”
“It was my great-grandmother’s,” he said.
“We must have the same size finger,” she said, turning her hand to watch it sparkle. “It’s a perfect fit.”
“I had it sized.”
“But how did you know what size to make it?”
“Princess Louisa.”
“You asked my sister?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. I just can’t believe she didn’t say anything. She’s horrible at keeping secrets.”
“I guess she wanted our moment to be special.”
“It is.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him and he hugged her back just as hard. It felt so good to hold him, to be close to him. It felt like … coming home. And she realized, she was truly happy. The happiest she had been in a long, long time. Maybe ever.
It was astonishing how, out of such a complicated situation, something so fantastic could arise. Ideally, he would have slipped sentiments of love somewhere between the rationale, but she was sure that would come later. Not that she believed it would be all smooth sailing. She knew that marriages took work and this one would be no exception. But they seemed to be off to a fairly good start under the circumstances.
“I know he’s not well, but if at all possible, I’d like to be there when you tell the king and queen,” Sam said. “I’d like to do this by the book and have the chance to ask for your hand.”
His words made her practically burst with joy, because he would be giving her father something he had always looked forward to. “We’ll go to them tomorrow,” she said, already excited at the prospect, because she knew that her parents would be thrilled for her. Even if Sam was a politician. And they would be so excited about the baby.
“Needless to say, we should have the wedding soon,” he said. “I was thinking next week.”
That was really soon, but he was right. The sooner the better. It would have to be a small ceremony, if for no other reason than her father’s health. It was the reason Louisa had kept her own wedding small and intimate, despite having always dreamed of a huge, traditional affair.
Not one to like being in the spotlight, Anne would be quite content with small and simple. That didn’t mean there weren’t a million things to do to prepare.
Her mind was suddenly flooded with all the plans they had to make and the short amount of time they had to make them. Where would they have the ceremony and who would they invite? And would the king be well enough to walk her down the aisle? And what about a honeymoon? Where would they—
That thought brought her mind to a screeching halt.
What about the honeymoon? And even more important, the wedding night?
Suddenly she was ultra-aware of Sam’s arms around her, his body pressed against hers. The heat of his palms on her back and the spicy scent of his aftershave.
Suddenly her heart was beating so hard and fast she was sure Sam must have felt it through her clothes and skin. And all she could think about was getting him naked again. Touching him and kissing him all over. He must have been able to read her mind, because his breath hitched and his arms tightened around her.
“So, I guess this means that we don’t have to keep our relationship platonic any longer,” she said.
“Funny,” he said. “But I was just thinking the exact same thing.”
Thank God. Because frankly, a marriage without sex would be bloody awful.
She turned her face into the crook of his neck and kissed the side of his throat, could feel the heavy thump-thump of his pulse against her lips, and knew that he was just as aroused as she was. “We could make love right now if we wanted to.”
“We could,” he agreed, groaning when she nipped him with her teeth. She felt as though she wanted to eat him alive. Swallow him whole. She lifted her head, and the second she did he captured her lips with his own, but instead of the slick, ravenous kiss she was expecting, hoping for even, his lips rubbed softly, almost sweetly over hers. He kissed her chin and her throat, working his way down.
“Take me into your bedroom,” she urged, sliding her hands up to tangle in the curls at his nape, feeling so hot she could burst into flames. “Right now.”
“God knows I want you,” he said, brushing his lips
