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"No," he said very softly "I saw that the terrible clothes you wore hid a very large heart and a woman determined to do as best for her family, even if it wasn’t as best for her And I saoman as completely out of her depth but went out of her way to make everyone around her comfortable and happy, froraphers and drivers To me, when I didn’t deserve it You were nice to everyone, Maylee And you were genuinely delighted to be on the trip, even though I was treating you like you didn’t deserve to be there And you took all of my abuse because you knew the money would help your faenuinely nice person, no matter how , simply scuffed her shoe and stared down at it so he wouldn’t see the tears welling in her eyes

"And no e you, that remained the same, Maylee That you had an unfettered joy in life and all the people who surround you, and it made me realize that I needed some of that joy in my life, too And it didn’t matter how you were dressed Not any your clothes and your hair, I kept feeling vaguely unsatisfied with the results, and now I knohy"

"Oh?" She shifted, arms crossed over her chest protectively She felt a little uneasy at his words Was he setting her up for another fall?

To her surprise, he leaned forward and touched the curls brushing her shoulders "I love these ridiculous curls of yours, Maylee Toabout you--they’re a bit wild and carefree, but they’re so full of light and sunshine that you can’t help but cherish the sight of them They’re untamed, and they should always be so"

His hand in her hair was distracting her, as were his words She tre I love your frizzy hair I love your slow, drawling voice and how you want to go do your faith healing on everyone you s and never tellyou I love that you never ask me about my money, or if you can spend time with the royal fas don’t matter to you nearly as much as I do That I’m a person to you, not just a title or a wallet And that’s so that I’ve never been to anyone in Bellissilasses, Griffin’s eyes were serious "And that’s why I’ in love with you"

And he extended his hand back out to her This hand is the property of Maylee

She stared at it, thinking Then she looked up at him

Griffin stood in front of her, utterly stiff His collar was askew fro on it, and he looked incredibly uncomfortable

She didn’t take his hand She didn’t know if she was ready for that

He seemed to realize this, too Slowly, it curled up and he dropped it to his side "It’s funny," he said in a soft voice "When you’re a member of the royal family, you don’t expect to have to work for anyone’s affection It’s a given that it will auto anyone to like usted with hi to say--or do--to convince you of my sincerity"

For some reason, that rueful confession convinced her more than his declaration of love Maylee looked up at hi?"

"I beg your pardon?" He tilted his head, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly

"My hound, Bubba Would you kiss him to prove to racefully "If I ers in her alloped out of the trailer and toward her, all flying ears, cheeks, and ropes of slobber He stopped in front of her and she knelt to rub hioing to give you a nice kiss, okay, boy?"

"He’s quite aleaky fellow"

She giggled at that "He’s a hound They tend to drool"

"So I see"

And to her surprise, he bent down and kissed the top of the dog’s head Then, he straightened with a gri you"

"I see that" Lorda to contain her laughter

"Aht need you to kiss a chicken next"

He looked resigned "How does one even kiss a chicken?"

"Very carefully," she said, and got to her feet, dusting her hands off on her jeans "You’d do that for me?"

"If that’s what it takes to convince you of my earnestness, I shall kiss every bit of fowl you place in front of les escaped "Why can’t I staysiure indeed?" He attempted to put a smile in his voice, but his face res I truly a affection properly, especially when I’m at home and everyone expects h I’er in line for the throne It’s like I’ but how the royal fas should be But Alex broke the mold, and I can, too" He reached out and touched her hand "I can assure you that I never, ever encouraged Saxe-Gallia or anyone else That was si up rubbish to sell papers"

Griffin’s words were so fervent that she knew they were the truth No s, she had to stop and think rationally The rown up with a cold mother and father How could she expect him to be wildly affectionate in a fa? Even Alex was reserved around Luke, and he was her fiancé

Actually, she supposed that Luke and Alex were married now Poor Luke--he’d married into a family of stiff-necked royals Maylee smiled at that

At her shtened "Please tell me you don’t hate reed, and took his hand in hers and gave it a little squeeze

Griffin looked a little disgruntled at that "I rather hoped I’d be showered with kisses upon usted tone "I thought you royals didn’t like shows of affection?"

"I’d be willing to soldier through for your sake"

Maylee snorted

"Coed her closer to him "Letof a bachelor I a bachelor?"