Chapter 137

NOLAN

The prince stepped out of the limo and onto the sidewalk outside Yena’s parents’ house. Took a deep breath, crossed the path up to the front porch, and knocked on the door.

It swung open seconds later and there stood Yena, her glossy pink lips parted in a big, genuine smile.

“Hi,” she said. “Come on in.”

“Thanks.” Despite his best efforts, Nolan’s own mouth burst into a bright, wide smile, too. “How are you?”

He took a step inside and was blasted with the smell of bacon, eggs, fresh bread, and cinnamon.

“And this is for Tina,” he added, holding out a bottle of red wine with an ancient-looking label.

“Aw, thanks.” Yena took the bottle from him. “And I’m good. I’ve got a surprise for you, right over here.” She gestured to the dining room to his right.

Nolan turned to find that the furniture in the room had been moved, pressed up against the walls, to make room in the very center for an ancient-looking, wood framed and footed full-length mirror. Next to the mirror was a chair, on the back of which hung a partially constructed royal blue suit jacket.

He walked over and ran a gentle fingertip across the collar on the jacket. “Did you make this for me? Last night?”

Yena smiled proudly with her lips closed, trying to contain excitement. “Yes,” she said, with the tone of a person admitting guilt for a crime. “Do you like it?”

“Love it,” he replied with serious eyes. He took the garment bag in his arms, which contained the jacket he had been thinking Yena was about to lightly tailor for him, and tossed it aside.

“Try it on.” Yena slid the jacket off the chair back and held it up. Nolan smiled and shrugged off the jacket he was wearing and traded her.

They had done this once before. Nolan took care as he started to slide his arms inside the jacket, which was open at the shoulder seams and held together loosely with safety pins.

Suddenly a voice came crying out from behind him. It was Tina, screaming, “Oh, Nolan, you are here!”

He turned to see Yena’s adoptive mother rushing over. Nolan held out his hand to clasp hers and bent to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Tina blushed, holding onto the prince’s hands firmly.

“A pleasure to see you, Tina.” Nolan smiled. “Thank you for having me in your home. I must say, it smells wonderful in here today.”

“Ohhh.” Tina waved him off. “Just breakfast on the stove. Would you please join us, once you and Yena are finished with your…” She trailed off, looking at Yena. “Your business together here. We have plenty of food!”

“I could not impose.” Nolan shook his head politely. “But thank you so much for the invitation.”

“Oh.” Yena picked up the wine bottle from where she’d set it down on the floor. “Nolan brought you this, Tina.”

Tina smiled shyly as she took the bottle, mumbling something inaudible, then left the room with her head turned sideways, giving her daughter an obvious, wide-eyed glance that was clearly supposed to be discreet.

“Sorry,” Yena said as Tina disappeared around the corner back into the kitchen. “She’s embarrassing.”

“She’s delightful.” Nolan looked into the mirror and smiled. “Yena, this is perfect.”

“And it’ll only take a few minutes to sew these last pieces together, once we get them fitted.” She appeared in the mirror beside him and reached up to begin adjusting the pins on the left shoulder of the jacket.

Nolan’s skin lit up under the pressure of her touch, sending a rush of warmth shooting down the length of his arms.

He had been worried that might happen today.

Or maybe he’d been hoping that it would.

YENA

Lily was awake and raising hell inside my mind.

“Our prince! You must not let him go this time!”

I narrowed my eyes to focus on the blue fabric under my fingers, trying to block the thoughts out of my mind. Thoughts about how strange it was to be so close to Nolan, touching him, even, and not…

The thoughts were hard enough to try to ignore. And Lily’s begging whine.

But the physical sensations that were stirring all through my body were something else. Something uncontrollable was just happening, whether I wanted it to or not. An ache started in the center of my chest and slid down the center of my body.

Nolan cleared his throat. “So, have you and Evan discussed your departure date?”

“Oh,” I said, taking a breath in. “Yeah, well he’s ready any time, I guess. And I was thinking maybe Saturday would be a good day to fly out. Then I can be there Monday for a tour of the campus.”

I met Nolan’s eyes briefly in the mirror. He nodded, his expression neutral.

“I’ll set it up,” he said coolly.

“Thanks again.” I moved to his other side, now we were done with fitting one arm. Nolan squared his shoulders, adjusting his body while I pulled and pressed the jacket into place. It felt like his muscles knew instinctually where I wanted them to move.

My mind flashed to the last time I had fitted Nolan for a suit. Things had taken a very intense turn. But I looked around at Tina’s living room, with its built-in cabinet housing a piecemeal collection of ugly porcelain plates, and thought, we’re not at risk of that happening here.

A giggle escaped my lips, thinking about it. I stole a glance at Nolan and found his eyebrow arched at me in question. I shook my head, blushing, and he did me the courtesy of saying nothing.

I sighed, taking a step back. “We’re just about done here. Turn to face me, let me see.” I had the seams all pinned into place, fitted to Nolan’s broad chest and shoulders. The fit was perfect. And he looked gorgeous.

He stared down at me, his deep green eyes suddenly looking lighter. The blue of the jacket turned them teal.

“Oh yeah,” I said, the words falling out before I could think. “That looks good.”

He laughed, running a hand across mouth. Then turned back to the mirror and fidgeted with the jacket some more. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this for me.”

“It’s kind of the least I could do, Nolan. After all you’ve done for me.”

The vibe in the room suddenly felt heavier, and Nolan dropped his head to look down at the floor.

“Here,” I said, putting him out of his misery. I grabbed the sea-green pocket square and matching tie I’d made – they’d been on the table, set aside as a last little surprise.

Nolan tried to hold back a smile, shaking his head. “Perfect.”

He held his hand out and I gave him the tie. He put it around his neck and tied it expertly. I watched, then stepped in and pressed the folded pocket square into its place when he was done, finishing off the look.

And then my hand went rogue. It drifted over to the center of his chest… and stayed there.

I felt his heart beating. It was getting faster. And faster.

He looked down at me, his teal-green eyes glowing, and I wanted nothing more than for him to slide his big hands around my waist, bend his mouth to mine, and make the world around us disappear.