The Crown Page 9

  “My heart belongs to the people of Torren. And to my future wife. It is with our union that I will be able to rule with strength and wisdom and direction that Torren needs to take us into the future as a country. Only with her, can I be the ruler I am meant to be, for she grounds me.”

  Jo forced air into her lungs. And she sobbed it back out. Hugging the pillow across her chest, she cried her anguish out to the television.

  “Go to him, Jo.”

  Her father’s voice made her jump, and embarrassment filled her. “How long have you been standing there?”

  “I saw the whole ugly cry.” His mouth quirked up gently.

  “Oh dad. I just need to get it out. I’ll be better tomorrow.” But even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t true.

  “Jo, if you love him this much, and if he uses a national speech at his coronation to reach out to you…just go back.”

  She knew he wouldn’t want to hear it, but she argued. “What about you dad? I can’t have them attacking us in the news like they did.” She choked on her next words. “We don’t have much time.”

  “Jo, I changed my mind. It was selfish of me to want to leave. I don’t care what they say about me. I don’t watch that stuff anyway. I was happy there. I went for walks on their grounds. They brought me anything I wanted to read. I swam in the pool. Nurse June misses it. She’s a grouchy bear back here at home.” He waved his hand. “And the marina can go too. What do we need with the Tiki Rumble when we have the Valdez fleet of boats?”

  Jo laughed. She knew he still worried, but accepted his sacrifice for her, and felt better. “And when the centers are up and running it might even be better for you.”

  He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I have everything I could ever want at the palace, with you there.” He stepped closer and Jo stood, rushing into his arms. They hugged for many moments. Hope filled her as she thought of ways that she could have Nico and be everything her father needed, but then the television announcer said, “Pundits are speculating about who the woman could be that Nico is referring to as his future wife. Jo Finley hasn’t been seen for one whole day anywhere outside the palace, and everyone noticed it was Monique, and not Jo, who entered with the family.”

  “I don’t know if I still have a chance with Nico. I left. And Monique…”

  He chuckled. “Don’t you be worrying about Monique. She is Nico’s Kevin.”

  Jo smiled before she could even stop herself. Kevin had been a boyfriend to keep her on track, to help her be responsible. But never was there any strong feeling between them, and now, he was the man who was trying to swindle them out of their marina. She stopped. “My Kevin.” Her father nodded his head.

  “Dad. Monique might be the one trying to sabotage us with the press. It’s her area of expertise. And she wants Nico.”

  He shrugged. “All I know is he likes that woman about as much as he likes going to all his meetings every day. He needs you, Jo, and he just told you with the whole nation looking on.”

  She sat back down on the sofa. Could her dad be right?

  16

  An international number showed up on her cell phone and she scrambled to answer it. “Nico?”

  A man’s voice on the other end introduced himself and explained he was an attorney hired by the Valdez family, and that he would be working with her attorney on the case against Kevin.

  She didn’t know what to say, but a wild hope filled her, an exhilaration that had nothing to do with saving the marina. If the palace was helping her fight this battle, Nico still cared.

  She gave the man on the phone all the details he needed and then went to find Nurse June. They were going to need to pack up all over again. On her way down the hall, Sierra texted. “Hey, I love your new Instagram!” She screen-shotted a picture of Jo, running with Nico, laughing into his face. They looked like a couple in love and she had to admit, they looked good together. Just as good as he and Monique. But where did this come from? She clicked on the account and scrolled through the images. There was a whole stream of them. She and the families she tried to help at the literacy ball, dancing on the red carpet with Nico, her awesome water ski dig, cutting on the glass, and so many more. She scrolled back to the top to see who ran the account. Fifty Six thousand followers. Oh my word. The account was in her name. She DM’d herself. “Who is running this beautiful account? I love it.”

  Every picture of every event the paparazzi distorted or ruined was in her Instagram as the real thing. It was as if someone had retold the story as it was meant to be shared. A notification showed she had a message. “Hey Jo. This is my wedding gift to you. Dahlia.”

  Her hands started shaking.

  Her DM showed a little red one again. “Be nice to him when he gets there.”

  She nearly dropped her phone. And checked the front door. Then she laughed at herself. Was he coming there?

  She called down the hall, “Pack up you two. We are going back.”

  Even if Nico wasn’t sure about her, even if they needed to work through a few things, even if he was too busy to talk to her for weeks, she would go and try to see, because if she didn’t make an effort, she would have many more pathetic ugly cries in front of the television in her future. She was much happier being near him. And besides, she could start working on her own career from there. She was busy with lots of plans. And she could work on them from anywhere.

  Nurse June peeked her head out. “We haven’t even unpacked yet. We’re ready when you are.” Her smile couldn’t grow any larger.

  Jo whispered. “Is my father ok?”

  “I can hear you. My hearing isn’t bad yet.”

  And they all laughed.

  But the Nurse nodded, and mouthed, “He’s great.”

  “I can see you Nurse June. You’re standing right in front of me.”

  Jo shook her head. “Looks like I’m the only one who didn’t know what I would do.” She headed toward her room to start throwing things back into her bags.

  The doorbell rang. And from the upstairs balcony, she saw a limo parked in front of her house.

  Her heart shook her chest as she raced to the door and flung it open. She couldn’t hide her disappointment. Trane stood in front of her.

  “Oh.” She cleared her throat and opened the door wider. “Trane. Come in.”

  “I’ll never live it down.”

  She laughed. Something about that comment was sounding very familiar.

  “I’ve never been shut down so fast by a woman. My brothers, they’ll torment me.”

  “What?” She looked out past him to the street, remembering the first time she had met Nico, but she didn’t see anyone.

  Trane held up an iPad, and Nico’s laugh warmed her. “She brings that out in all the guys.” He tilted his head to the side with the largest smile she had seen on him.

  She ushered Trane into the house and then waved before she stepped into the kitchen for some privacy. “Nico.” She drank in the sight of him. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too, Jo.” His voice came from the kitchen entrance. Her eyes shot up and she almost dropped the tablet. Nico stood in the kitchen doorway with Trane right behind.

  Trane bumped him closer into the room. But Nico shooed him away. “Trane. Leave us alone. I’m perfectly capable.”

  Jo giggled. “What?” Her smile hurt her cheeks and she couldn’t stop. “You’re here.”

  He nodded. “I am.”

  They sat at the table in her kitchen, both smiling and not daring to look away from the other. He laid two large manila envelopes on the table.

  “What’s this?”

  “I realized I failed you in such a large way the other day.” He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it in such an adorable manner she wanted to run her own hands through it again. “Was it just the other day? It feels like last year.”

  The stress and weight of the past few weeks showed on his face for a moment. Then he smiled again and energy seemed to spark
off him. “I let you down, so this is just my attempt to make it up to you.”

  Curious, she opened up the first. Legal papers. A settlement. “You settled with Kevin?”

  He grimaced. “I hated to give him anything, he’s such a creep to try what he did in the first place. But you are once again the full and complete owner of the marina and Tiki Rumble restaurant. And your manager is once again gainfully employed to handle things while you are away.” He paused, nervous for a moment. “If you decide to go away again, that is.”

  “Thank you, Nico. There are no words, really. Thank you.” She reached for the other envelope. “What could this be? After the first, I can’t imagine anything more wonderful.”

  She pulled out a paper with letterhead she didn’t recognize. But the first line welcomed her to their fellowship program.

  “I got your fellowship opportunity transferred to a university in Greece. It’s not far. People take boat shuttles to commute there during the week and come home on weekends. It was the closest thing I could find to what you’re looking for.” He paused, hope and worry competing on his face.

  A great sense of peace filled her. “So, you went to all this trouble. I’m guessing you still want me around?” Everything was going to be happy after all. She could be with the man she loved.

  “Ha. Come here, you.” He pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. “I didn’t handle our first big trial very well. I got drunk and tried to party like I used to, and then I couldn’t handle the resulting pressure like the strong leader I must be.” His eyes hurt her with their pain.

  “No Nico. You were great. It is I that should have been more patient. We are just so new. I was unsure. Monique.” She hated to say it, but what was the situation with Monique.

  “She’s gone. For good. I have never had any interest in Monique. You must know that.”

  Jo didn’t know. “You looked kind of cozy together sometimes.”

  “She is just really great at inserting herself. She’s been around a long time and knows how to be present at opportune moments.” He held Jo’s hand in his own. “But I never have, and never will, feel for her what I do for you.” He held her gaze, showing sincerity in his eyes. “We will get a new palace press liaison.”

  “One who likes me?” She lifted half her mouth.

  “That will be easy to find.” He pulled out a newspaper. “Once Monique’s influence was missing, this was the very next article to print.

  She grinned.

  “Bring Back Jo.” A huge headline across the top of the paper read.

  He held it up with a flourish. “I’m just here to do what my citizens want. What our citizens want.” He held out his hand and went down on one knee. “Jo, please marry me. Come back, be my wife, my queen too if you want, but be my wife.”

  She laughed. “Yes Nico. I will. Let’s go. I can’t even wait another second.”

  Her dad entered the kitchen followed by Nurse June and Trane, clapping. Trane looked at his watch. “About time, you two. We’ve got to get back. You’re both needed for a press conference and mother already has the date set for the wedding. Says there’s too much sadness. We need a party like Torren hasn’t had these past two decades.”

  Epilogue

  She walked down the same aisle, of the same church, that they had walked for the funeral, that Nico had for his coronation, and that her children would someday walk. And she felt at home. The distance to get from the back of the room to Nico, who looked as if he were a tiny Lego figure in height, looked longer than a football field, but the time to get there felt bitter sweet. Her father stood at her side. Strong and happy, although walking slower than when he was younger, but as joyful as she had ever seen him. He kept up a stream of conversation through his teeth. “You look more beautiful than ever.”

  “Thank you Daddy.”

  “You make him be good to you.”

  “You know he will be.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll be right here if he’s not.” After a moment. “You okay not moving away from your parents?”

  She smiled and nodded to people as they passed. “Of course.”

  He kept easing her nervousness and making her smile all the way up to the altar and then, with her hand on his, he led her to Nico and left her there. Before he could move away, tears welled in her eyes. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, Jo.”

  Then she turned to Nico. And her heart expanded, exploded. She didn’t know a heart could feel so much at once.

  Later, many hours into the evening, Nico sat, worn out, watching his wife on the dance floor. Very few were still moving. Nico was too tired to stand. But Jo kept going. Her body flowed and bounced with the beat and he couldn’t believe the love he felt for his wife.

  His body had finally worn out as his week caught up to him. He would hear about it from her later. One time they made a deal that whoever left the dance floor first would have to swab the deck. He chuckled. Tonight, she won. And he was happy to let her. Because he had just found a new source of enjoyment: watching his wife do what she loved.

  Trane pulled up a chair beside him followed by Lucan, Daniel, Tripp, and Thad. They all wore equally pleased smiles.

  “Do I want to know what’s gotten into you lot?”

  Trane smiled smugly and he shrugged. “We’re just happy. Aren’t we, brothers?”

  They grinned, each one.

  Nico didn’t let it concern him. Whatever prank they pulled, whatever stunt they found so amusing, could never mar his perfect day. “I hope you find someone as awesome as Jo.”

  “We know, your highness.” Daniel rolled his eyes. “You’ve been telling us for weeks.”

  Nico gestured toward Trane. “Ask his Dukeness over there. I became a much better person when I stopped messing around. He stopped having to clean up my messes and do my job.” He met Trane’s eyes. “Thank you, brother.” He drank a gulp of his water. “Here’s the truth of it. I wish I’d quit messing around long before I had. Life with Jo is so much better than all that.” He turned to them in earnest, but their eyes had drifted, each checking out a different part of the room. Well, no matter. They would learn, and perhaps Jo’s influence would rub off on them too.

  Trane stiffened next to him, and he looked as though he wanted to hide.

  Nico followed his gaze and a slow smile spread across his face. A beautiful redhead caught his gaze, her expression aflame with indignation, and Nico knew things were about to change for The Duke.

  Trane stood up. “Seraphina.”

  To read all books by Sophia Summers, go to https://www.amazon.com/Sophia-Summers/e/B07D1JZ2C2/

  http://www.sophiasummers.com

  Acknowledgments

  All my gratitude goes to sweet friends who make life special, to a wonderful cover designer, Victorine Lieske, and to my gracious editor Hanni Cluny.