inferno could muster.
Wrapped in each other’s flesh, Edward kissed Clem sweetly on the shoulder. He leaned into her ear and whispered.
“Welcome home.”
Epilogue
5 Months Later
Clem sat at the dining table, watching the snow fall peacefully over the grounds of Kawell Castle. A blanket of white crystals covered the patch of her garden that had thrived with tomatoes and peppers just months ago. She sipped at her coffee, remembering a moment when she’d sat in this very place, dreaming of what it would be like to live here.
Now her dream had come true. Not only did she and Edward live at the castle through the winter, but she had the privilege of leading historical tours through their beautiful restoration all year long. How rewarding it was to hear people comment on an architectural characteristic she’d lovingly renovated herself. She sighed happily, as the click clack of Edward’s loafers announced his arrival.
“Good morning, love,” she said, and he sat down next to her, a stack of papers in his hand.
“Morning.” He leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek. “What’s on your agenda today?” he asked.
“I have a tour at ten, then I’m heading over to the shop to work on a project with Uncle Stoddard.” She poured him a cup of coffee and passed him the sugar because she knew he liked it sweet. “You?”
“I have a meeting at the Chantalaine complex at two. It’s almost move-in ready, and, as I suspected, there’s already a waiting list.”
“That’s great news,” she said, happy for him that his current urban development was a success.
“Things are looking good for Sovalon,” he said. “We’re in a good place.”
She took a bite of a sweet roll and nodded. “I bet your father is over the moon.”
“You can’t even imagine,” Edward replied.
It had taken King Hansen some time to get used to the idea that Edward wouldn’t always play the same cards as him, but once he realized that Edward’s ideas were valuable ones, things started to turn around. Now, Edward’s father had virtually turned the power over to his son to both rejuvenate and restore the Kingdom with his building projects. Father was happy with the outcome, and son was happy that he had the trust and respect of his father back.
Clem smiled. She and Edward had found a balance with each other, as she’d hoped. They split their living between Edward’s penthouse, the farmhouse, and the castle, which kept things feeling fresh and new. To Clem’s surprise, there were some aspects of modern living that she actually appreciated. Reliable hot water was one.
They’d managed to find a nice balance between preservation and progress, with new housing developments being built, prioritizing Edward’s progressive, modern green initiatives, but with an eye toward maintaining historical details. There was plenty of work for Wicke Restoration, keeping the business booming and Clem still working to preserve any smaller historic sites she could, ones that weren’t ideal for development. She’d never believed that two people could find such a happy medium between two opposing world views, but here they were, marrying the best parts of the old and the new and creating something utterly unique that they could both be proud of.
“Clem,” Edward said quietly, “I’ve never properly thanked you for believing in me and giving me the confidence to be my own man.”
“Edward,” she said, blushing, “no thanks needed. Besides,” she said and shot him a naughty look, “you thank me in other ways.”
“Completely selfish, let me assure you of that.” He laughed then became quiet and serious again. “I can’t imagine my life without you, Clem.”
He pulled a black velvet box from his pants pocket and got to one knee.
Clem gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. Was this really happening?
“Clementine Wicke, will you do me the great honor of becoming my partner in life?”
The ring he offered her was an antique—a ginormous blue diamond, princess cut and set in white gold, with smaller diamonds encircling the main stone. She recognized it as one she’d seen up for auction recently. She’d oohed and ahhed over it but never imagined it would someday perch on her finger. Tears flooded Clem’s eyes as she stared at Edward, this man who was unexpectedly the love of her life. A memory flashed.
Dusk.
A tall, casually dressed man flashing his cell phone light at her, accusing her of stealing.
A tumble and a passionate kiss with a handsome stranger.
The surprise realization that he was the arrogant Prince Edward, the man responsible for destroying historical sites