“Sounds perfect. I guess I can stand a little party if that’s my reward.”
“Then, let’s make this official.” Zain reached around her and picked up the ring box.
“I’m the worse fiancée. I didn’t even look at the ring,” Mila said guiltily. Zain opened the box again and Mila felt her mouth drop open. She knew it was hanging there catching flies, as her mother used to say, but there were no words for the large oval ruby circled with diamonds.
“It’s called the Heart of Rahmi. Do you like it?” Zain asked a little nervously.
“If it means I have your heart as well, then that’s all that matters to me.” Mila held out her hand as Zain placed the ring on her finger.
“You have it.”
Zain led Mila downstairs. No matter how many people they were going to hug, he wasn’t going to let go of Mila’s hand. He felt invincible. He was positive there was no one happier in the history of man than he was. They walked out onto the porch to the happy clapping of the townsfolk. His family was front and center, surrounded by all of his friends.
He paused with his arm around Mila’s waist as she laughed with a mixture of shock and happiness.
“Excuse me,” someone called out impatiently as he pushed his way through the crowd. “Just trying to do my job. Please let me through,” the overweight man in black slacks and a company shirt said as he kept his head down and pushed through the crowd. He got to the bottom of the steps and Zain heard Mila start to laugh.
“Does anyone know a Mila Thissen—Theesan. Something like that.”
“I’m right here,” Mila tried to step forward, but Zain didn’t let go of her hand.
The man dumped a suitcase on the ground. “Sign here. We found it in Mongolia. Sorry we lost your luggage,” he said, not sounding sorry at all. He grabbed the clipboard back from Mila and staggered off while grumbling about having to drive all the way out to Keeneston.
Zain’s parents shook their heads and then grabbed two extra glasses of champagne to hurry up the stairs. His mother wrapped Mila in a hug.
“Welcome to the family, dear. I’m just so thrilled for you both.”
“Thank you, Dani.” Mila smiled sincerely she accepted a glass of champagne.
“Congratulations, son.” His father hugged him tightly a second before his mother pushed him away to get her own hug. He saw his father hugging Mila while his mother looked at him with a mix of emotions. He could tell she was seeing him as if he were still six years old, but also a husband and future father of his own children.
Zain’s father held up his hand to stop the massive wave of people surging toward them. He handed a glass of champagne to Zain and then raised his. “To my son and his future princess.”
There were cheers, whistles, and smiles from everyone except a pale Mila.
“I forgot about that.”
Zain leaned over and kissed her lips. He nipped her bottom lip and she flushed. “I know. It’s just one of the many reasons I fell in love with you.”
“Oh, girls . . . another royal wedding!” Miss Lily cried happily.
*
Three nights later, Mila and Zain went to answer the door to their house. They had flown to D.C., packed all of her belongings, and returned to Keeneston. Her things would arrive tomorrow, but Zain was already making her feel welcome in his home.
“Are you ready for this?” Mila asked as the large group of their friends flooded into the house with hugs and kisses. Everyone from Sienna to Cassidy was there.
“I don’t know,” Layne said as she worried her lip.
“Yeah, I don’t know if I want to know what our parents did before we were born,” Riley grimaced.
“I do. I mean, our mom is such a . . . mom,” Wyatt said as Sydney nodded her head in understanding.
Mila tried not to laugh. They had no clue what their parents were like. “If you all would to take a seat, then we can start.”
Zain turned off the lights as soon as everyone had a place to see the giant television Mila was using for her slideshow.
Mila pointed the remote and paused. “Get ready to meet your parents.” She clicked the first slide.
“Oh my God!” they all exclaimed in unison.
EPILOGUE
Keeneston, five months later . . .
Mila tossed her head back and laughed as Zain twirled her around the ballroom floor. Desert Farm was decked out for the holidays with poinsettias, roses, and greenery. A fire burned cheerfully as snow fell outside. The cold weather didn’t slow down the wedding celebrations at all. It only enhanced the magic.
They had just returned from the official ceremony in Rahmi. There, she had worn a dress with a royal train that felt a mile long. But here in Keeneston, surrounded by family and friends, she wore a fun floor-length gown that sparkled in the light. Red crystals outlined the strapless gown as a nod to her engagement ring and the holiday season.
“Okay!” Mila giggled. “I need another drink.”
Mila walked with Zain to the refreshments where a group of their friends stood talking. “Did you hear the latest?” Sydney asked.
“We’ve been a little busy,” Mila teased.
“The panty dropper is back,” Sienna filled in. “They found a pair of red panties in the alley by the new hair salon on Main Street.
“The poor woman must be freezing,” Mila said as she shook her head.
“I don’t know. I think someone was keeping her warm.”
Mila flashed her eyes at Jackson. “I still think it’s you.”
Jackson smiled wider. “As if I would admit it either way. It makes me appear so sexy that I get a ton of public sex—and there’s nothing hotter than public sex. And I will never tell a princess she’s wrong. But I will ask her to dance.” Jackson held out his hand for her at the sound of the slow song. Mila shook her head with amusement and placed her hand in his as Ariana came to steal a dance with her brother.
“Riley, would you care to dance?”
Riley smoothed the royal blue dress she was wearing and accepted Matt’s extended hand.
“I haven’t seen you around much,” Riley hedged. She hadn’t seen him in almost a month. With winter upon the farm, she was focusing on next November's election for the Kentucky General Assembly. It was less than eleven months away now and she was working on gaining support before she made her official announcement in the spring.
“I’ve been undercover,” Matt told her as he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her near. He started swaying to the music and Riley was worried he might be able to feel how fast her heart was beating.
“Undercover? I don’t understand.”
“I was on loan to the Secret Service to bust a counterfeiting ring.”
Riley’s eyes widened. “That was you? I saw it on the news.”
Matt nodded. “I hated being away for so long, but it’s my job.”
“I would say I’m impressed, but I’ve always known you’re good at your job.”
Riley and Matt looked away from each other. He held her close, their bodies saying what their words couldn’t.
Gemma groaned as she watched her daughter dance. “Look at them. They’re not even looking at each other.”
Kenna shook her head. “These kids don’t know what’s right in front of them.
“Humph. She’s hardly a kid. She’s twenty-eight,” Gemma countered as Dani handed her a glass of champagne.
“Well, clearly they are next on our list,” Dani said as she sat down and pulled out a worn notebook.
“They’ll need some help getting out of their own way,” Paige told them.
Dani flipped through the book to a blank page and wrote Matt and Riley across the top. “So far, we’re three for three. Not too bad for beginners.”
“Don’t worry, Gemma, you came to the right people,” Katelyn said as she patted her friend’s leg.
Paige held up her glass. “To Operation Riley and Matt.” The women giggled and clinked glasses.