Secrets of a Prince (The Princes of New Sargasso #3) - Carol Moncado Page 0,61

“If you do think of anything else, please contact us as soon as possible.”

“I will.”

A minute later, the three of them were alone. Again.

“I know it’s not the finality you’d like,” his father told them. “It’s coming.”

Minnie nodded. “I do understand. I really do, but yes, I wish it was official.”

The king leaned forward slightly. “I have some other news. The settlement you signed was never paid into any of his accounts. It’s yours to do with as you please.”

Minnie blinked. “Really?” Did she even want the settlement anymore?

“Yes. You don’t have to decide right now what you’d like to do. You could put it in a trust for your children or donate it. You could put it in an account with only your name on it and instructions that it goes to a charity of your choice when you pass. It is yours. Not Joss’s. Not mine. And definitely not your father’s.”

As Joss watched her struggle to absorb the news, he went on. “Why don’t the two of you take a few days off?” The king stood. “Go to the shore and have a sort of honeymoon.”

Joss thought it sounded perfect. Minnie looked like she thought it was a great idea, as well.

“We’ll cover anything that needs covering.”

They both stood and followed the king out of the conference room. He went to his office, but Joss took Minnie’s hand and headed upstairs to the private portion of the palace. They stuck to the back halls and staircases so they wouldn’t run into anyone.

An idea began to form in his head.

“Throw some stuff in a bag, and we’ll take off,” he told her. “But we’re not going to go to the shore. I have another plan.”

“What kind of clothes? Are we going to the mountains instead, and I need warm stuff?”

He shook his head. “Nope.” With a grin, he headed toward the closet where his clothes had been pared down a bit to make room for hers.

Packing wasn’t something he did often on his own, but he could handle this. He didn’t need much.

Tossing a couple of pairs of jeans and t-shirts in a bag, he waited for Minnie to do the same. He texted his security team with his new plan.

They confirmed it would work.

Minnie packed quite a bit more than he did, but she had no idea where they would end up.

Half an hour after they made it to the apartment, they were on their way to the garrison.

She looked at him a bit oddly when he handed her a ball cap and sunglasses before donning his own and climbing in his Honda.

Less than an hour after leaving the conference room, he pulled into the parking garage at his apartment building.

“Why here?” she asked, surprise and confusion on her face.

“Why not? I know you spent a lot of time here, but this time we’re spending the time together. I’m not leaving unless you go with me.” He took her hand as they walked toward the elevator. “Plus, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Like the rooftop garden and pool. It was starting to get too cool for most pools, but this one was in a greenhouse, which meant it could be used basically year-round.

He hadn’t told her to grab a swimsuit. Maybe she’d grabbed one, just in case.

They reached the apartment and Joss slung his bag over his head so the strap settled across his body. He unlocked the door, then turned and picked Minnie up in his arms.

She squealed and clasped her arms together around his neck. “What are you doing?”

“Carrying you over the threshold to the place I wish was our first home together.” He carried her inside, kicking the door closed behind them.

Rather than setting her down, he carried her all the way to the bedroom and set her on her feet.

He kissed her.

She kissed him back.

This time their stay in the apartment would be very different than the first time she lived there. This time, they would be together.

With no secrets between them.

Epilogue

Winter had fully set in by the time June rolled around. Minnie felt like it had been years since she submitted her entry to the contest. Even though she’d known the announcement wouldn’t be made until mid-June, the waiting came close to killing her.

She probably could have found out a lot more about it. Over the last several months, she and Kari had become true friends. As many times as she was tempted to ask how it was going, Minnie