Highness (25 page)

Flashing his lights and blowing the small horn, he tried to get her attention.               “Stop the car,” Geoff said into the earpiece of the driver.               

“Sir, the queen has given strict orders,” the driver answered. 

“Tell that to your prince.  He is behind you on a motorbike.  If he maims or kills himself chasing you, I promise the Queen will have your head,” Geoff warned gravely.  “And I’ll be the one to take it.”

Slowing down the vehicle as they approached the gate, the driver looked back at Hope, who sat crying into her shawl.  She had been crying the entire way.

From behind nearly thirty feet back, she could hear in a horn in the distance.  She turned to look behind her and saw Michael on the bike. 

“Stop the car,” she said, turning back toward the driver.  “Stop!”

The car stopped abruptly.  Opening the door, she quickly jumped out. Kicking off her heels, she ran barefoot toward him.  “Michael!” she called out, tears flowing down her cheeks. 
She couldn’t believe it.  He had come for her.
 

“Hope,” Michael screamed.  He knew that she couldn’t hear him, but he still screamed anyway.  Stopping the bike, he jumped off, nearly throwing it to the ground and ran to her.  Catching her in his arms, he picked her up and held her close. “What are you doing, you silly girl?”

“I didn’t take the money. I just heard about your brother and I know what is required of you, and I…” Her doubts pushed away as she saw his face, all red and flushed with life. 

Michael stopped her mid-sentence with a kiss.  Pulling away, he moved the hair from her face. “I know you didn’t take the money. I wouldn’t have cared if you did.  I still would have come after you.”  He held her shoulders.  “We made a promise, remember?  We are not going to let anyone tear us apart.”

“Michael, I love you. I love you more than words could ever explain. I just don’t want to hinder you from running this country. It’s such a huge responsibility.”  As she tried to find the words, he knelt on one knee.

“We made a promise,” he said looking up at her. His blue eyes flashed with love and promise. Pulling the ring from his pocket, he smiled. “Worried that I lost it in the chase back there.”

Hope’s eyes bucked.  Putting her hand over her mouth, she began to cry.  “Michael,” she said, shaking.  “Baby, what are you doing?”

“Hope Daniels, will you do the honor of being my wife and…” he shrugged, “possibly the queen of England.” 

He opened the box to reveal a blue oval sapphire ring.  It gleamed in the fading light as he waited for her answer.

Hope felt herself floating, even before she said the words.  She almost had to pinch herself to make sure that it was real.  “Yes,” she said, swallowing down more tears of joy.  “Yes, Michael, I will marry you.” 

Standing up, Michael slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her into him.  Kissing her passionately, he held her close.  “I’ll never lose you again,” he said with tears in his eyes.  He laughed as he looked at her face still frozen in shock.  “Come on.  Let’s get out of here and go celebrate.”

“Somewhere private?” she asked as they loaded into the car.

“No,” Michael said, putting his arm around her.  “Somewhere where the entire world can see us.” 

TO BE CONTINUED

Fall of 2015

About the Author

Latrivia Nelson is proud mother of two bubbly kids, the President and CEO of RiverHouse Publishing, LLC and the Director of Communications & Marketing for a local non-profit. 

When she’s not working her 9-5, she happily writes interracial romance and romantic suspense novels for readers across the world.  With 20 titles published to date and recognized as a national bestselling author, she has something for just about anyone. 

In her downtime, she loves to have a strong Jack and Coke with fiancé, Bruce Welch, watch marathon 80’s movies and order take out with her family