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They both laughed at that.
Curt swept Aliya off her feet, turned, and started carrying her toward the woods on the far side of the field.
“Wait a minute there, son,” her daddy’s voice hollered. “You ain’t carryin’ my daughter off without shakin’ my hand and huggin’ her mama first.”
Curt gave her a put-on worried face that made her laugh. Any trauma or pain she’d been through seemed to evaporate with him here, ready to shake her daddy’s hand and hug her mama, then take her off to give her the best kisses of her life.
He pivoted and carried her back to the watching crowd. He set her feet on the ground and shifted her to his left arm, encircling her waist with his palm as if he couldn’t stand to let her out of his touch.
He extended his hand to her daddy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I’m Prince Curtis August.”
“I know who ya are,” her daddy grumbled, but he shook his hand.
“I’d like to formally ask your permission to date your daughter, sir,” Curt said.
“Hmm.” Her daddy looked him over. “I guess a prince isn’t the worst kind of sort.”
“Daddy.” Aliya shook her head. “He’s the best.”
Curt smiled at her but focused back on her daddy.
“It goes without sayin’ that you’ll treat her like a princess or I’ll cut your heart out with my rusty hunting knife.”
“Of course, sir.” Curt didn’t even blink.
“Well, good on ya, then.” Her daddy gave him an imperious nod, as if he were the royalty.
Her mama didn’t waste a breath and went right at Curt with a hug. He did release Aliya to hug her properly, which was good on him as well and got some nods of approval.
Mama released him and edged back. “I’ll have loads of words of advice that ya probably won’t listen a beat to, but I’ll still give them. Right now I’m givin’ you permission to sneak on into the woods and whisper sweet words to my girl. You just keep it righteous, ya hear?”
“Yes, ma’am, Mama Drummond.” Curt nodded respectfully.
“Get on, then.” She shooed them with her hands.
Curt grinned and swept her off her feet again. Aliya would have to apologize to Sydnee Lee and her sisters and most of the town for failing at a proper introduction, but they’d have to give her some leeway. Her prince had come. For her. Every worry and wrong was made right in this moment.
He carried her quickly away. She could hear Chad chatting up some ladies with his smooth charm, and the men in the crowd all but worshipping Prince Derek as the number one contender in American Ninja Warrior currently. Funny as before she’d heard the same men grumbling because he wasn’t an American.
She focused on Curt. He was here. It was incredible.
She entangled her fingers in his hair and grinned up at him. “I can’t believe you came. I’d just determined that when the going gets tough, the tough get going and that I needed to get going after you. I just told the entire congregation that I was on my way to Augustine because I couldn’t be without my brave prince.”
Curt stopped walking. He hadn’t reached the woods yet. He stared at her in wide-eyed wonder. “You were going to come for me?”
She nodded. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but the time we spent together was the best time of my life. You didn’t know me from Eve, but you rescued me, protected me, made me feel cherished and …” Did she dare say it? “… loved. You’re the best man I’ve ever known.”
He set her feet down and held her close, smiling but also looking almost nervous. “The man who also gives you the best kisses of your life?”
“I don’t know about that one. So many boys have kissed me like the sun wasn’t gonna shine tomorrow.”
He shook his head at her teasing. “Luckily, I’m a man—and a prince. You’ve never known kisses like a manly prince can give you.”
She laughed, but her body was trembling. She loved him and wanted to yell it out.
“Aliya, truly.” His voice got husky. “You taught me how to get tough and get going. You taught me to forget myself and get back to work. How to live again.”
She smiled and felt emotional herself. “Well then, my hunky and charming prince. Are you gonna get to work proving you can give me the best kisses of my life?”
