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You fell in love at first sight. Or did you just make that up along with everything else?”

      She stared up into his eyes, feeling his tension. He was hanging on to control by a thread, barely mastering his emotions. “No,” she whispered. “I did fall for you, right from the beginning. I knew it was wrong to continue to pretend to be Emmeline but I loved being with you … near you … loved everything about you.”

      “You loved being with me.”

      She nodded. “More than I’ve ever enjoyed being with anyone.”

      He reached down, slipped a hand into her thick hair, his fingers tangling the long golden strands. “Just as I’ve never enjoyed anyone as much as I enjoyed being with you.”

      The husky note in his voice and the heat in his eyes made her pulse leap and her body warm. Her skin tingled and her nerves fizzed and she had to remind herself to breathe.

      “So what do we do now?” he asked, allowing the long strands of her hair to slip through his fingers.

      “You’re not angry with me?”

      His hand moved to her neck, and down, caressing the base of her throat to the pulse that beat so erratically there. “I am, but that doesn’t seem to change what I feel for you.”

      She shivered at his touch. Her mouth had gone dry. “And what do you feel for me?”

      Emotion burned in his eyes, making the rich amber irises glow. “Love.”

      Her heart stuttered and stopped. Air bottled in her lungs, she looked up at him in wonder. “You … love … me?”

      He dropped his head, his lips brushing hers. “Fool that I am … yes.”

      She closed her eyes, heart racing. “Not a fool, Zale, because I love you so very, very much.” “Say it again.”

      She opened her eyes, looked up at him, seeing the hunger and hope in his eyes. “I love you, Zale. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

      ZALE lay in bed with Hannah in his arms, blinds still open so they could watch the sun set. Moments ago the sky had been a spectacular red and orange but the fiery colors were fading, leaving long lavender shadows to stretch across the plaza. The elegant street lamps at the train station were coming on, shining soft yellow pools of light onto the cobbled street.

      They’d been in bed for hours. Had made loved for hours. Their lovemaking warm and tender and bittersweet.

      Zale had known since birth he’d have to marry a blue blood, a true princess. He’d known since he was fifteen that princess would be Emmeline.

      But in the blink of an eye it had all changed.

      He wouldn’t be marrying Emmeline.

      The woman he loved was definitely not royal.

      Duty required that he walk away from Hannah. Common sense suggested the same, and yet somehow she felt as essential to his life as Tinny. And he’d never walk away from Tinny.

      But who would assume the throne if he chose Hannah? Who knew this country well enough to lead?

      There were cousins, of course, but none of them even lived in Raguva anymore, choosing instead to make their home in far flung places like Sydney and Paris, London, San Francisco and Buenos Aires. Places that were urban, sophisticated, exciting.

      On the other hand, he hadn’t been living in Raguva when his parents died. He’d been in Madrid, but he had returned, and learned what he needed to know to get the job done and he’d served Raguva well.

      Others could do what he had done. His oldest cousin, Emmanuel, was first in line, and a compassionate, educated man. He’d be a quick study but his health was poor. So poor in fact that he and his wife hadn’t started a family yet due to Emmanuel’s weak heart, which meant succession would once again be an issue.

      Emmanuel’s younger brother, Nicolas, was next in line and Nicolas was charismatic but a notorious spendthrift. Despite a sizable allowance, he was always in debt and looking for a quick bailout from one family member or another.

      No, Nicolas was not an option. He’d ruin Raguva within a year or two.

      So who then would be Raguva’s king should Zale step down? Who would protect Raguva? Who could put Raguva first?

      Hannah reached out, placing her hand on his chest. “Stop,” she murmured. “There’s nothing to do, nothing to decide. We both know how this plays out. I’m leaving in the morning.”

      “No.”

      Her hand caressed the smooth plane of muscle. “I don’t want to go, but I can’t give you heirs, and you need heirs. Not just an heir and a spare, but a whole brood.”

      “I won’t lose you.”

      “It will be better once I go. Better to make a quick, clean break. We both know the longer I stay the worse it’ll be.”

      “I’ve lost so much in my life, Hannah. How can I be expected to give you up, too?”

      She was silent a long moment. “I don’t know,” she said at last. “But it’s the only real option. You can’t forsake your country, and you need to be here for Tinny.”

      “Tinny can go wherever we go.”

      “But the palace is the only home Tinny has ever known. You can’t take him from his home. Nor can you walk away from your responsibilities here. You are the king. This is your country. This is your destiny.”

      He cupped her face in his hands, his expression fierce, his amber eyes burning. “You are my destiny. I am sure of it. More sure of it than I’ve ever been of anything.”

      She kissed him, once and again. “I love you, Zale, but you’re wrong. I can’t be your destiny, not when Raguva needs you.”

      “It’s so easy for you to go?”

      “No! It’s not easy, but if you relinquished your throne for me, you’d come to resent me, and I’d always feel guilty.” “There has to be another way.”

      Hannah curled closer to him, her cheek pressed to his chest so she could listen to the strong, steady beat. The even steady beat soothed her, reassured her. He was a good man and a true king. “But there isn’t, darling. Is there?”

      So it was decided. She’d be leaving in the morning. Zale would take her to the airport, and put her on his plane for Dallas.

      Decision made, Zale called the palace requesting Chef to send dinner over, and they ate in her room, and drank a bottle of red wine and talked for hours about everything but Hannah’s departure in the morning.

      At midnight they made love again and talked some more, and then somehow it was dawn, and the sun was rising from behind the mountains, turning the sky pale yellow.

      Hannah lay in Zale’s arms watching the sky gradually lighten.

      She felt Zale’s hand in her hair, his fingers threading through the long strands. He hadn’t spoken in hours but she could feel the emotion inside of him.

      “I know I’m not in a position to be asking for favors,” she said softly, breaking the silence, “but I’d like to ask for one anyway. Can I see Tinny one more time before I go?”

      Zale didn’t answer.

      “Just a brief visit,” she added. “I’ll keep it light. Won’t get emotional. Won’t make a big deal about saying goodbye.”

      “I don’t know, Hannah. Tinny already thinks you’re going to be his sister and he won’t understand why you’re not there anymore.”

      “But won’t he already be confused as to

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