“All of me is starting to hurt,” I whispered to him. “I forgot I even had some of these muscles.” I probably should have warmed up or stretched first.
“If you need any help massaging your sore muscles, I am at your service. I am excellent with my hands.” He winked at me, and we both suppressed our laughter.
I nudged him with my shoulder. “I shouldn’t humor you.”
“I think you should. I thoroughly enjoy being humored.”
As we drove through the cobblestone streets in the capital city of Imperia, I smiled at all the darling Swiss chalet shops with their gingerbread lattices that lined the main streets. Their red shutters were thrown open, and each window had its own box filled with colorful flowers. This time the only snow was at the very top of the Alps, and everything else was lush, clean, and welcoming. There was the medieval cathedral where I’d celebrated Christmas with the royal family. I saw the massive stone fountain where I’d made a wish and Dante had pretended to push Rafe in. I felt the same wave of homesickness that I’d felt in Atlanta.
Which I didn’t understand, because how could two completely different places feel like home?
We sat in a comfortable silence, watching the scenery fly by. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
I kept my gaze trained on the window. “If you hadn’t seen me for weeks and I came to Monterra for one day and I asked you to see me, but you were busy working and had a deadline, what would you do?”
“I would get in the car the moment you called and would spend every minute I had with you.”
He would have. I knew it. And if he was playing me, if this was all a game to him, he was the best player who had ever lived. Because his answer was perfect.
I gently leaned my head on his shoulder. I just wanted to feel him next to me, to be touching him in some small way since I couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything more.
He sighed happily, but didn’t move and didn’t say anything. Right then, it was enough for both of us.
The car passed through the castle gate, and I was so excited to be back at the palace. As if she knew we were home, Serafina instantly woke up. I took my head away from Dante’s arm.
I saw the whole family waiting near the steps, even the king in his wheelchair. The car came to a stop, and Kat jerked the door open. “You’re here! You’re here!” She crawled across Dante to hug me.
“Hey, darlin’!” I hugged her back. Dante winked at me when he heard that word, but I just hugged Kat tighter.
Nico told Kat to get off of his brother so that we could get out, and he directed some of the footmen to carry in our luggage. “You’re going to stay in the room next to mine,” Kat said as we climbed out of the car. “It’ll be just like old times.”
I hoped not just like old times. Not all of those times were good memories. Nico kissed me hello on my cheeks. “Buonasera. I’m so glad you’ve come back. It’s all Kat’s talked about for days.”
Chiara and Violetta both tried to speak to me at once, while Serafina danced around singing. I saw Rafe, and I hugged him. “I haven’t seen you in so long!”
“Good to see you,” Rafe said.
“I have to tell you, I think I’ve found the perfect girl for you. I should totally set you up.” I thought he and Genesis would get along like gangbusters. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but I suspected that Dante did have deeper feelings for me and that he’d kept Genesis around for so long only because she was my friend.
“I’m actually seeing someone right now,” he said with a weird look, before glancing at the cameras and pushing his glasses higher up his nose.
Really? I’d have to get that story from Kat later. King Dominic wheeled his chair over to me. I was pretty sure my mother would want me to curtsy to the king, but I just smiled at him instead. “It is nice to have you back again, Lemon. We’ve been very pleased with your work!”
I thanked him, and then Queen Aria kissed me hello. “We’re so glad that you’re here. We’ve missed you! We have dinner ready if everyone’s hungry.”