Page 100 of The Prince Who Loved Me

Her radiant beauty dimmed the extravagance around her. “I love you.Je t’aime, Sebastien.”

And he kissed her, in front of Their Majesties, their courtiers, and anyone else who followed them into the small, abandoned drawing room which was now his favorite place in the whole castle.

She steeled her shoulders and faced his parents, clutching his hand tight enough to crunch his bones. “It’s true there are a lot of things about me you don’t like, sir. Madame. Sebastien knows everything about me. And he loves me anyway. So can you shelve your cynicism and maybe get to know me a little before passing judgement based on what you’ve read on a piece of paper?”

Sebastien squeezed her hand in support while his father stared her down. There was nothing he could add to her speech.

Moments ticked by until the Queen gave the King a nudge and he let out a sigh. “I suppose.”

She dropped a curtsey, this time with a perfect bent knee and her head at the proper angle. “Merci.”

The King muttered something and shuffled off, followed by the Queen. Sebastien lifted his chin and stared down their audience until they left the room, leaving he and Brandi alone.

“You’re amazing,” he said.

“I’m not amazing. I’m an idiot.” To his shock, tears built in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. “The letter you left me. Your sketchbook. Even without words, everything you feel for me is in those pictures you’ve drawn. I’m so sorry I doubtedyou. I’m sorry I doubted us, but…”

“But…” he asked gently.

“How could I ask you to give up your family for me?” She swiped at her cheeks with her palm. “It’s hard for me to accept that you’re mine. And without me losing myself to keep you. You’re just here. You’ve always been here.”

“And I’m not going anywhere. I love you. So much sometimes that I ache with it.”

“I feel the same way.” She brought his hands to her mouth and kissed the backs. Then she got on one knee in front of him.

A flutter tickled his gut and he tried to take a step away, but she gripped his hands like she would a bat. “What are you doing?”

“Marry me. All I have is a twist tie that came from a sandwich I had in the airport, but you’re going to be poor, so it fits.” She finagled it out of her pocket and held up the small red-covered wire, her gaze clear and full of love. “I’m making my own happiness. And you’re in it. I want to spend my forever with you.”

“Brandi, I…” Ah, hell. Screw it. He lowered himself to the ground and wrapped her in a hard embrace. “Yes. Forever. You and me.”

Epilogue

Brandi ground her snow-white tennis cleats into the dirt next to home plate, Belle’s Medicinal Brewery providing the backdrop next to the large field. Everything felt right, even the autumn breeze across her shins, exposed from her raised white dress. It had been smooth and sleek for the wedding ceremony, but the seamstress had been able to play with the design to let her hike it up so she could run.

Wendy stood at the pitcher’s mound, looking stylish in a deep maroon dress, ready to wind up and send the ball hurtling her way. Jordan leaned forward at first base in the same attire, hands on knees, glasses firmly in place.

“Take her down, Brandi!” her husband yelled from first. Sebastien had shed his tuxedo jacket and undid his bowtie and the first few buttons of his shirt. He looked damn sexy. So sexy that she didn’t notice Wendy had released the ball until it flew by her poised bat.

“Strike one!” yelled the umpire.

“Keep distracting her, Charming!” Wendy called to first base.

He moved his hands across his lips, indicating silence.

Brandi shifted the hook in her dress so her legs had more movement, then readied herself again. The sound of the ball connecting with the bat echoed around her as the ball flew over Wendy’s head and into the outfield.

“Run!” she yelled to Sebastien as she made her way to first base. He followed her directions, making it to second before Rob got there with the ball. Brandi made it to first even as Jordan stood ready, but Rob threw the ball back to Wendy.

Charlotte and Paisley cheered from the stands as one of Brandi’s college teammates stepped up to bat. The players wereevenly divided between those with experience and those who only knew the rules, but all of them had come to Fountenoy Hall to celebrate Brandi and Sebastien’s wedding.

True to his word, Sebastien renounced any claim he had on the Casagnes throne. His mother and father spent weeks trying to talk him out of it. So did Brandi, until she realized he was doing it for himself, not for her. She feared it would drive a wedge between him and his family, but they seemed to be working it out.

He’d always be her prince, regardless of what any line of succession said.

A field had been cleared near Belle’s distillery to make room for new buildings and a pavilion, but for now, Sebastien had hired a crew to turn it into a real softball field instead of using the makeshift space in front of the peach orchard. Brandi had insisted on a prenup, but even then, she worked to bring him into the plans she had for Belle’s.

Earlier that day, Jordan and Wendy had lined up along the first baseline along with Sebastien’s sister Violeta as her bridesmaids. Her two friends radiated a happiness that outshone the diamonds on their fingers.