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They did.
All her life, she’d cared for him, even after what she thought he’d done. He’d broken her heart, and his promises. But she’d learned a great deal about him throughout the last week. He was a great man. Kind and considerate. And she finally had to admit to herself…
There is something worth saving.
The way he made her feel, the happiness that he could bring her if she let him, deserved a chance. That was all he’d been asking for, and she’d made sure to crush his soul.
Those stupid letters. It was crazy that she was so determined to hold on to the past. Maybe he couldn’t marry someone who wasn’t a princess, but they could at least see whatever it was they had through. Screw his stuck up advisors, and screw logic.
She wanted to be with him.
She stood up, heart racing, and slid sideways as much as she could with a huge bear of a guy blocking her way out. “Excuse me, sir.”
The flight attendant frowned. “Please be seated. We’re about to take off.”
“I have to get off this plane immediately.” She scooted past the huge man next to her, tripping out into the aisle.
“You can’t get off the plane,” she said, shooting her coworker a worried look and blocking her escape. “Once the doors are closed, you can’t—wait. Aren’t you that woman the prince detained the other day?”
She latched on to that statement gratefully. “Yes, and I escaped.” She held her hands out, wrists up. “If he finds out you helped me leave the country, you might be charged with aiding and abetting. Arrest me immediately.”
“If you’re escaping…” A man stood up, frowning. “Why are you turning yourself in when you’re about to get away with it?”
“Guilt. Tons and tons of guilt.” Which was true because, God, it was so obvious he hadn’t actually gotten those letters, and that he was a man she could trust. She’d just been too scared. Well, not anymore. She held her hands out even more. “Detain me instantly, or you’ll answer to him.”
The two flight attendants exchanged looks, and it took all her control not to groan out loud. When she didn’t want to be captured, they couldn’t call her location in quickly enough. But when she tried to turn herself in, they hesitated.
“I don’t know…” the man said.
“Let me off the plane,” she said, between clenched teeth. “Call the palace, and ask to speak with the prince. He’ll back up the story about my escape after he hears my voice.”
The man stepped forward, brandishing his Air Marshal badge, and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “I’ll take care of this, ma’am,” he said to the flight attendant.
“Thank you,” Alicia muttered, wiggling her wrists. “Go on. Get it over with.”
The man slipped a cuff on her wrist, shaking his head. “So you escape, get on the plane, and then have remorse?”
“Pretty much,” she said, watching as he locked the other cuff.
The door to the plane flew open, and the flight attendant leaped back, eyes wide. “You can’t just come—” She covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”
A man fell into the plane, breathing heavily.
He was out of breath. And his hair was sticking up all over the place, and he doubled over, clutching his stomach. His white dress shirt was half tucked in and half out, and he was so disheveled that it took her a second to recognize the dark blond hair. But in her defense, she was all the way back in coach, and he was by the cockpit, so there were easily twenty rows between him and her. “Leo?” she whispered.
The flight attendant gasped and curtsied, “Your Highness?”
Leo lifted his head, scanning the plane for her with a wildness to his eyes she’d never before seen. He was sweaty, his face was flushed, and he wasn’t wearing his jacket. He’d never looked more out of sorts than he did now…or more perfect.
You came for me.
When he finally saw her, standing in cuffs in front of her seat, his brows slammed down. Half the people on the plane stood and bowed or curtsied, and a chorus of Your Highness filled the silence of the cabin, but his eyes never drifted from her.
The air marshal looked from her to Leo, understanding lighting up his eyes. “Your Highness.” He bowed once, his southern accent giving a soft drawl as he spoke. “She’s here. Just so you know, she turned herself in of her own accor—”
“Please release her immediately.” Leo staggered forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “She’s not my prisoner, and she’s free to go wherever she pleases.”
Alicia remained quiet because right now, she had no idea where she wanted to go at all. Everything inside her was a big jumbled ball of cords and wires.
