The Cinderella Princess (20 page)

A real life Prince Charming.

She forced herself to breathe. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to apologize.”

“Apology accepted.” Nothing he said would change things between them. “I have a plane to catch.”

“Try on the glass slipper.”

“You already found your Cinderella.”

“I did. You. Just took me a little while to realize it.”

His words shattered what fragile grasp of control she had.

“Please. Don’t.” Her voice sounded raw like the hurt she felt. “Leave me alone.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You lost me. A glass shoe isn’t going to make a difference. I won’t be your mistress.”

“Then be my wife.” He came closer. “I love you.”

Her mouth gaped. Blood roared through her veins.

No. This wasn’t possible. “Maria-Therese—”

“Understands. Turns out she has much in common with my brother, Leo. He’s a widower with two children. My father approves.”

“Where does that leave you?”

He half-laughed. “I pray with you.”

“You need to marry royalty.”

“I have relinquished my title.” He motioned to his costume. “Prince Charming is the only prince I will ever be.”

The gesture touched her heart. But he was also being romantically stupid. “What if I don’t want to be with you? You’ve given up your title for nothing.”

“Not for nothing.” Sunlight sent prisms reflecting off the glass shoe. “If you say no, I’ll whisk you away to a quiet, secluded place so we can go through that fall-in-love questionnaire you mentioned the first day we met.”

She couldn’t give in. Not even if her heart wanted her to surrender. Self-preservation was telling her to run. Fast. “We won’t get far in a carriage.”

“No, but we’d be traveling in style.”

“What about Dream Big Alvernia?”

“That’s under negotiation. Being the family’s scapegoat means I know where all the recent skeletons are buried. Not that I’d betray family secrets, but the King doesn’t know that. His ten million dollar engagement present would go a long way as far as hush money.”

“Hush money to his own son?”

“Relinquishing my title meant being disowned, though my mother isn’t going to let that happen without a fight, and the video you’ve made has insured country-wide support of the foundation.” Holding her hand, Luc kneeled on the sidewalk. “I’ve said the words once, but I’ll say them a million times more. I love you, Emily Rodgers. I love how driven you are. I love how hard you work. I love how you want only the best for others. I love how you kiss. I want to be with you, only you. Will you marry me?”

Logic told her to scream no. Neither had jobs. Luc would end up hating her for giving up his title.

But her heart countered each argument with a reminder of the good times they’d had together, his kind heart and his generosity to the children of Alvernia. Not to mention his hot kisses.

He loved her, and the feeling was mutual.

They might not have a storybook love complete with castles and tiaras, but they would have each other. That was enough.

She smiled at him. “Let’s see if the shoe fits…”

He removed her sandal and placed the glass slipper onto her foot. “A perfect fit.”

“You’ve found your Cinderella.”

Hope filled his eyes. “Does that mean…?”

“Yes.” Joy flowed through her. “I would love to marry you.”

He removed something from his pocket, then slid an emerald engagement ring onto her ring finger. “This ring was given to me by my grandmother, Queen Monique. She would have loved you.”

He stood and kissed Emily, a kiss full of kindness and compassion and love. Her heart sighed, then burst into song. This man was all she wanted. Together they could make a difference in the lives of the children in Alvernia. Maybe in America too.

She pulled back, looked around, realized they were standing in full view of whoever was on the street. “Oh, no. Your proposal is going to be all over the Internet.”

“Yes, but how I want it to be seen. Not shot by strangers and paparazzi. I had Nick run a diversion with the help of Leo and Maria-Therese.” Luc motioned across the street where Brad and the crew stood with their gear. The four men waved. “I asked them to film my proposal. Our kids might want to see it someday.”

Our kids.
Emily liked the sound of that, especially if they resembled Luc. But their other kids—the ones they helped through the foundation—might want to see this and attend the wedding.

“A good thing you wore pants, not tights. Otherwise you would have totally embarrassed the kids.”

“It’s not too late,” he said in a playful tone. “I could change.”

“Forget the tights.” She stared up at him with love. “I’d rather you kiss me again.”

“My pleasure.” He grinned. “Would you like a happily ever after with that kiss?”

“Of course, and with the kiss after that and the kiss after that one.”

He laughed. “You can have whatever you like.”

“Well, I’ve got you.” Smiling, she raised her foot to show off the glass slipper. “But since you’re offering, could I please have the other shoe?”

The End

The Honeymoon Prize

He needs a wife…

Single bodyguard Nick Calhoun has been given an ultimatum by his boss—find a wife or lose his cushy, high-paying job. Clients’ wives are hitting on him and putting Nick, and his boss, in hot water. But monogamy? He’s never been a white picket fence kind of guy, and he’s not about to embrace the happily married lifestyle now. He needs a wife who doesn’t care about his steamy, extra-curricular love life…and he knows just the woman to fit the bill.

She needs a home…

Adalaide Sinclair spent years caring for her ill grandmother. Upon Grammy’s death, she’s stunned to find herself evicted from the only home she’s ever known and labeled a thief by her inheritance-hungry family. Addie needs to find a place to live and a job—fast. So when her childhood friend, Nick, proposes a no-sex marriage of convenience, she puts her dreams of true love and happily-ever-after on hold. Finding Prince Charming can wait a little longer, right?

But will their friendship survive the honeymoon?

When Nick and Addie unexpectedly win a dream honeymoon, they decide to go their separate ways during the ten-day vacation. Too bad a camera crew is waiting for them at the tropical paradise. Acting like a head-over-heels bride and groom for reality TV wreaks havoc on their no-sex agreement…and blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Will Nick and Addie remain married in name only, or will a romantic honeymoon for show turn them into true newlyweds?

*

Get Now!

When dude ranch wrangler Charlotte Randall kisses Zack Harris in an act of empathy, she falls hat over spurs for the handsome military veteran turned cowboy, but he refuses to get involved. Putting distance between them seems the best way to get Zack out of her head and heart, but that means quitting her job and accepting a position in Colorado. When Zack learns Charlie’s thinking about leaving the ranch, he decides to find her a boyfriend so she’ll stay in Montana. Until he realizes the only cowboy he wants her kissing is him. Can he commit to love and convince Charlie not to leave? Or has she made up her mind to put the past, and the kiss that started it all, behind her and move on without him?

*

Get Now!

The Royal Holiday Series

The Cinderella Princess
by Melissa McClone

Her Secret Prince
by Madeline Ash

Coming soon

His Defiant Princess
by Kathleen O’Brien

Coming soon

His Forbidden Princess
by Jeannie Moon

Coming soon

Melissa McClone
has published over twenty-five novels with Harlequin and been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house. For more on Melissa’s books, visit her website:
www.melissamcclone.com

*