“And we’ll continue to do so.” Alejandro dropped down on one knee. “I love you, Jules. There’s no other woman I’d rather spend the rest of my life with. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Yes.” She pulled him up and kissed him hard on the lips. “A hundred times, yes.”
“I want you to pick out a ring you like.” He pulled something out of his pocket. A thin piece of line knotted into a ring. “I hope this will do in the meantime.”
Tears of love crested her lashes. “It’ll do fine.”
She’d been wrong. So very wrong.
Alejandro hadn’t been selfish. He’d been afraid. But he was still the same dashing hero from her midnight sailing adventure. And she knew from the bottom of her heart, totally devoted to her. Love overflowed as he placed the handmade ring on her finger. A perfect fit.
Her heart sighed. “I’m ready to sail off into the sunset.”
“Not yet,” he said.
She looked up at him. “I thought…”
“I’m going to marry you, but first I want you to take some time to live your own life. To be on your own before we settle down. Maybe six months to a year. I want you to experience the freedom you’ve longed for. Travel, sail, whatever you want.”
“I want to be with you.”
“I want to be with you, but this is too important.” He kissed each of her fingers. “Don’t worry. I’m not about to let you have all that fun without me. Some things we’ll do together. Others you’ll do on your own. But know I’ll be here to support, love and marry you when it’s time.”
“I’m counting the days.”
“I’ll have a real ring for you by then.”
She stared at the rope on her finger and smiled up at him. “This ring is real. Like your kisses. Speaking of which…”
He lowered his mouth toward her. “I thought you’d never ask.”
EPILOGUE
One year later…
STANDING ON THE deck of the eighty-five-foot sailboat, Jules listened to the wind against the sails. The sun shone high in the blue sky. The oiled teak gleamed. The old-fashioned schooner was something out of a dream or a pirate movie.
Contentment flowed through her. She’d spent the last year chasing her dreams. She’d sailed in numerous races, including winning a prestigious offshore race as part of an all-women’s crew. She’d traveled and worked on women’s rights issues. All the while Alejandro was there supporting, encouraging and waiting.
But this was the one dream she wanted to make come true.
She couldn’t imagine a better place to get married. No heads of state, no strangers, no media in attendance. Only friends and family. Her father, stepmother and four brothers were here as well as Alejandro’s father, mother and brother. Not quite a happy family, but Jules hoped in time differences could be…forgotten.
Alejandro squeezed her hand. He stared at her as though she were the sun and his world revolved around her. She felt the same way about him.
“I pronounce you husband and wife.” The ship’s captain smiled. “You may kiss the bride.”
Alejandro’s lips pressed against hers, making her feel cherished and loved. Jules kissed him back with her heart and her soul. She wanted him to know how much he meant to her.
Those in attendance clapped and cheered.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” she whispered.
“Wake up, Princess.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Your dreams are coming true.”
“A happily ever after, too?”
“Nothing less will do.” Alejandro ran his finger along her jawline. The caress sent tingles shooting through her. “But we have to do one thing first.”
Anticipation buzzed through her. “What?”
“Sail off into the sunset.”
Jules’s heart overflowed with love. “Sounds perfect.”
“Just like you.”
“I’m not perfect.”
His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Then you’re the perfect not-so-perfect princess for me.”
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0808-7
NOT-SO-PERFECT PRINCESS
First North American Publication 2011
Copyright © 2011 by Melissa Martinez McClone
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