King Jozef looked at Brad. Then at Katie. Finally back to Madame.
“Basketball for youth,” he said to her.
Katie jumped in, “A series of camps. Which you will officially open each summer. And you will begin the transition—”
Brad reached across to take her hand and squeeze, but she went on.
“—toward democracy, I hope.”
Brad and Madame groaned simultaneously.
King Jozef drew in a swelling breath. “Democracy? End the royal family of Bariavak? Throw out centuries of tradition? Basketball camp, yes, this I permit – for the children. But this – this you talk of—”
“Later,” Madame said. “You will talk of it later. But what has been decided has been decided. For your love of your granddaughter.”
Slowly, King Jozef of Bariavak lowered his head in a solemn nod.
“Grandfather.” Katie hugged him with one arm because Brad still held her other hand. “This is best. You’ll see—”
Brad tugged on her hand. “Not now. Give him time to adjust.”
And then Carolyn and C.J. were shepherding them away.
“C’mon, you two,” C.J. said, turning Katie and Brad toward the door. “Let’s get out of here with our victory before the opposing team talks the ref into pushing this thing to overtime.”
April and Hunter each held a door open for them as they left, then followed them out.
EPILOGUE
Seven weeks later
Ashton, Wisconsin
“He’s going to be okay you know.” Brad leaned back against the closed door of his bedroom – their bedroom, at least for tonight as they sorted out what they would do with her house and his apartment now that they were back in Ashton. “So no need for that frown.”
They’d left Bariavak and King Jozef, and it hadn’t been easy on his Katie.
“I know. Eventually. I do know that. But that’s not why I was frowning. Brad, this is important. You have to know I won’t hold you to what you said about not taking a head coaching job. I won’t take advantage of you – of your weakness.”
“Weakness? You mean my weakness for you? Hate to tell you, Katie, but you’ve been taking advantage of that one since the day you walked in the office.”
“Your grandmother told me. You have a weakness for underdogs. You have all your life and—”
“Yeah, yeah. And how she used that to get me to go to Ashton instead of the party school. That’s her tale, anyway.”
“You know?”
“Sure. I’ve always known. Let her think it was her underselling Ashton that got me here, but it was a combination of thinking Ashton could pay off big if the program caught hold and being in awe of Coach.”
“Oh.” She absorbed that for a breath then rallied, “But that doesn’t change that you do have a weakness for underdogs. I’ve seen it with the team. And with the kids. And… and of course that’s why you married me.” She looked up at him through her lashes.
“Yeah, right. That’s why.” He advanced on her.
“And why, in Bariavak – because who was more of an underdog than me? One woman, trying to stand up again a king and— You’re laughing? You’re laughing at me?”
“Hell, yes, I’m laughing at you, Josephine-Augusta – my Katie.” He kissed the top of her head. “If you were any less of an underdog with your grandfather, with Bariavak, and most of all with me, we’d all be puddles at your feet.” He kissed her nose. “My princess.”
“Don’t…”
But he was wrapping his arms around her waist, drawing her tight into his body and her protest evaporated in the heat.
“Katie Spencer.”
She arched into him. “Yes.”
****
A very satisfying time later, he stroked her bare shoulder, then kissed a mark his mouth had made earlier. “Uh, Katie?”
“Hmm.”
“I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“You remember you said that when you were Katie Davis you worshipped me?”
“Yes.”
“So, all that grief you gave me? That was worshipping? Does that mean it’s going to be worse from now on?”
“Much, much worse.”
“Okay. I can live with that. As long as you don’t love me the way Madame loves the king – whew! Stabbing him in the heart to save his heart from breaking.”
“I know. Don’t worry, I could never be as fierce as that. I’m a nice Midwestern girl.”
“Yeah, right. Nice Midwestern girl who’s about been the death of me.”
She ran a hand down his chest … and lower. “You don’t feel dead to me.”
“Maybe not quite yet. But before we test that theory, I want you to promise to do something for me. Maybe when we finally take a honeymoon.”
“What?”
“Wear that tiara like you did at the gala.”
“I won’t wear a crown. And that dress—”
“Not a crown. And definitely not the dress. Just the tiara.” He looked down at her, watching a smile come into her eyes. “So I can kiss you right out from under it again.”
THE END
If you enjoyed Katie and Brad’s story, I hope you’ll consider leaving a review of The Surprise Princess at Kobo – to let your fellow readers know about your experience.
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~~~
If you missed the beginning of The Wedding Series, see how it all began.
You are cordially invited...
to join the celebration as college friends embark on the greatest education of all–falling in love.
Prelude to a Wedding
Book 1
Paul and Bette request the pleasure of your company at their wedding
While they play matchmakers to Michael and Tris in ..
Wedding Party
Book 2
Then find out how the third of these college friends finds love in …
Grady’s Wedding
Book 3
Or read all the books for one great price in the boxed set
The Wedding Series Boxed Set, 3 Books in 1
Book 1-3
See Leslie's niece April Gareaux find her prince of a lifetime in
The Christmas Princess
Book 4
A prequel to The Surprise Princess.
Hoops
Book 4.5
Katie Davis is a perfectly ordinary young woman living a perfectly ordinary life in small-town Wisconsin … isn’t she?
The Surprise Princess
Book 5
He knows Wyoming ranching. He knows the Army. He knows her. He knows nothing about being a prince.
The Forgotten Prince
Book 6
If you particularly enjoy connected books – as I do! – be sure to check out:
A Place Called Home Trilogy
Wyoming Wildflowers Trilogy
Bardville, Wyomng Trilogy
For a complete list of Patricia’s books click here
Dear Readers: If you encounter typos or errors in this book, please send them to me at:
[email protected]
Even with many layers of editing, mistakes can slip through, alas. But, together, we can eradicate the nasty nuisances. Thank you! - Patricia McLinn
~
For a complete list of Patricia’s books click here
Or get a printable booklist
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn’s novels -- cited by reviewers for warmth, wit and vivid characterization – have won numerous regional and national awards and been on national bestseller lists.
In addition to her romance and women’s fiction books, Patricia is the author of the “Caught Dead in Wyoming” mystery series, which adds a touch of humor and romance to figuring out whodunit.
Patricia received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. She was a sports writer (Rockford,
Ill.), assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.) and -- for 20-plus years -- an editor at the Washington Post. She has spoken about writing from Honolulu to Washington, D.C., including being a guest-speaker at the Smithsonian Institute.
She is now living in Northern Kentucky, and writing full-time. Patricia loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.
Visit with Patricia:
The Surprise Princess Page 27
