She tried her best to stop her voice from wobbling. ‘And what do you want us to be?’
He turned to face her, dropping the key in the palm of her hand and putting both his hands on her face. ‘I want us to be together. I want you to be the person I see first thing every day. I want you to be the person to tell me when I’m being cranky. I want you to be the person I share amazing sunrises and sunsets with all around the world. I want to know when I get off a plane I have the girl who’s captured my heart to talk to, no matter where I am. I want to look forward to coming home to you. I want to feel as if I’m coming home because I’ve got a reason to come home. I’ve found the person I want to love for the rest of my life.’ He stopped for a second, and she could tell he was trying to keep himself in check. His voice was beginning to waver.
Tears brimmed in her eyes. She didn’t doubt that this was the most emotionally open Reuben had ever been. And it was with her. Because he loved her—just like she loved him.
She reached up and covered one of his hands with hers. ‘I have too.’ She gave him a heartfelt smile. ‘But we might have a few issues.’
A frown creased his brow. ‘Why?’
She ran her fingers down the outside of his palm. ‘Because you think you’re getting a girl with a job as a nanny.’
She saw the little light of recognition flicker in his eyes. A smile hinted at his lips. ‘What am I actually getting?’
She couldn’t help her smile. ‘You’re getting the world’s lousiest student. I’m going to have to learn a whole heap of new skills. And for that I’m going to need a guy who is patient, understanding and who can put up with takeaways, books spread everywhere, and lots of moans and groans at exam times.’
He pulled her into his arms. ‘You’ve applied?’
She nodded. ‘I’ve applied.’
His lips hovered next to hers. ‘Well, I guess we’ve got that in common. I’m applying too. For a job that I’ve no idea if I’ll be any good at—but I want to spend the rest of my life finding out.’ He ran a finger down her cheek and stared into her eyes. She’d never loved him more. ‘But I haven’t found out yet if my application has been accepted. Thing is, I think the panel pretty’s tough.’ His lips brushed against hers.
She tried to respond instantly but he held himself just a few millimetres away, teasing her. ‘When do you think I’ll find out?’
She ran her hand down his chest. ‘Oh, I think you can find out almost immediately. There’s just one tiny little thing.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Do I have to share the cake?’
Reuben threw back his head and laughed then captured her mouth with his. And as her fist closed around the shiny key in her palm she knew.
She knew this was the man she’d spend the rest of her life loving and she couldn’t wait to start.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from HIS PRINCESS OF CONVENIENCE by Rebecca Winters.
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His Princess of Convenience
by Rebecca Winters
CHAPTER ONE
August, Monte Calanetti, Italy
THE FLOOR-LENGTH MIRROR reflected a princess bride whose flowing white wedding dress, with the heavy intricate beading, followed the lines of her slender rounded figure to perfection. It probably weighed thirty pounds, but her five-foot-nine height helped her to carry it off with a regal air.
The delicate tiara with sapphires, the something-borrowed, something-blue gift from the queen, Christina’s soon-to-be mother-in-law, held the lace mantilla made by the nuns. The lace overlying her red-gold hair, to the satin slippers on her feet, formed a whole that looked...pretty.
“I actually feel like a bride.” Her breath caught. “That can’t be me!” she whispered to herself. Her very recent makeover was nothing short of miraculous.
Christina Rose, soon-to-be bride of Crown Prince Antonio de L’Accardi of Halencia, turned to one side, then the other, as past memories of being called an ugly duckling, the chubby one, filled her mind.
From adolescence until the ripe old age of twenty-eight, she’d had to live with those unflattering remarks muttered by the people around her. Not that she really heard people say those things once she’d grown up and had been spending her time doing charity work on behalf of her prominent family. But she knew it was what people were thinking.