before kissing me so totally and completely that I am left breathless. I raise my hand to his cheek, cupping his face and feeling so overjoyed that I can't even speak.
That's when Kal and Pippa stepped back into my line of sight, both of them looking pleased as punch. Kal reaches out a hand, touching my arm gently. "We're so happy for you. And I will just assume that you forgive us for our little deception…"
I sniffle. “I think so, this time.”
I hug Kal and Pippa, struggling just to breathe. Erik stands back and lets us have a moment. Then he pulls at my hand.
“Come on. I got four Skee-Ball machines. I think that this calls for some champagne and an epic Skee-Ball showdown.”
I grin at him, kissing him on the lips. I swear, my heart is so full just from looking at him that I’m on the cusp of crying again. “That sounds perfect.”
He grabs me by the waist and lifts me in the air. “I love you, Nika.”
Tears gather at the corners of my eyes. “I love you too, Erik.”
He squeezes my hand then starts toward the back corner of the tent, a smile on his lips.
37
Erik
My grip tightens on Nika’s waist as I look around the crowded room. She’s in her finest, wearing a gown of gold lamé that looks like it was painted on. And I am hovering beside her, an anxious man in a tux. I feel like at any moment, I could be replaced by any decent looking man my age.
Annika reaches over and takes my hand, squeezing it as she looks at me. “We are almost done. Really. This is a pretty fair exchange for stepping away from royal duty.”
I look down into her beautiful face and I can’t help but smile. “I know. The royal family has to make a big deal over our engagement. I get that. I just… I haven’t seen Stellan and I am sort of…” I trail off, shrugging.
My gaze wanders up, taking in everyone in the ballroom again. Nika gets drawn into yet another conversation about her ring. We did the proper thing and went to an actual jeweler, spending a fuck ton of money to nab the perfect princess cut platinum and diamond ring.
She still wears the other ring on a little chain around her neck, refusing to take it off. And I have to say, part of me loves her for that.
I fidget with the coins in my pants pockets, resisting the urge to check my watch for the five millionth time. Nika is right; this is a small price to pay for the relative anonymity that we asked for. In exchange, we’ve worked out a much stepped down plan with the royal press office. They get her one weekend a month.
The rest of the time, Annika and I can roll around like two happy clams at the royal beach house. Since I purchased the house outright, I will never have to worry about following the royal rules. With the purchase of my second property, my stable of homes has begun to look quite comfortable.
I spot Mr. Earl, his rumpled tux and his graying hair unmistakable. He's one of King Stellan's advisors and he corners me, clapping me on the shoulder and wishing me good luck. "I have to say, we will miss you around here. I know that the rumors about you stealing off with our own Princess Annika are rampant around here… But I still think you are a great fellow."
“Thank you. I have already branched out and started my own venture capital firm. I think Princess Annika and I will be just fine.”
Mr. Earl looks puzzled. “Venture capital? Isn’t that a little out of your wheelhouse? I would think that you would just apply for a similar position with another high profile person.”
I struggle to maintain a blank expression. "Yeah, well. I'm going to miss working at the palace. But I am sure you will be glad to know that I will be working to make the princess happy. And what makes her happy is not being in the spotlight." A little lie, but this is politics, after all. If Mr. Earl were being truthful with me or anyone else here, he would have come out of the closet a long time ago.
Mr. Earl smiles. "So, there's no truth to the fact that you were unceremoniously fired, then?"
I arch a brow. "Nope. I don't know where you heard that."
I see Nika moving