The coffee shop was down the street from the office space Johan had rented to house his newly rebranded nonprofit organization six months ago, and where Nya had been hired as director of education and youth programs. It was nepotism, sure, but she was also well qualified for the position and took her job very seriously.

She had coworkers who respected her decisions, and her own desk where she could sit and carry out important work. Johan was in and out of the office but tried not to give her too much attention. They’d both decided it would be unprofessional for him to give her suggestive glances across the office and, well, Johan had a hard time not showing exactly what he was feeling when he looked at her. It had grown even harder, lately, but she didn’t mind when he popped into her private office to kiss her cheek or rub her shoulders.

She finally settled on getting a box with a variety of muffins, tarts, and pastries for her coworkers and began the walk into work.

Yes, her back ached a little as she walked and she missed her family, but she was happy.

It all felt so . . . perfect. She’d thought she needed to go to a big city to find herself or return home ashamed. She’d thought she had to be boring and frumpy, or all-out glamorous.

Now she spent her days at a job she loved and her nights with the semi-prince she was planning a wedding with. She got to travel the world, sometimes staying at the finest hotels and sometimes in remote outposts, sometimes just for fun and other times helping to garner humanitarian attention and aide.

She’d thought her dreams were too big, but she’d been wrong—they’d been just right. All that had been missing, for her, was the person she could share them with.

She was almost back to the office when she heard a car come to a stop on the cobblestone street next to her.

She looked to her side to see one of the palace’s black SUVs. The back window rolled down to reveal the face of the man who was still absolutely smitten with her, who still held her every night, but made sure to always give her space to fly free.

“Ca geet et?” she called out.

“I’m good. Need a ride?” he asked, raising one brow. His seductive gaze morphed into one of annoyance as Lukas’s hand pushed his face back into the seat. Their smiling face popped up in the window; their hair was no longer pink, simply grown out long and worn down around their shoulders today.

“How do you tolerate him? Honestly. We have to go meet with some business leaders from France and all he could ask was, ‘I wonder if they’ll bring macarons? Nya loves macarons.’ Sickening, honestly.”

“Oh, you know you think it’s cute,” Nya said, opening the box of pastries and sticking it through the window. “Take a couple for the road. I’m going to be late for work.”

Lukas grabbed a scone and Johan ducked his head to kiss the back of Nya’s hand instead. Then he took an éclair with a wink. “See you tonight, Sugar Bubble. I’ll be a little late because I had to reschedule my appointment with Dr. Freudsbard.”

“Okay, see you tonight! Have fun haggling with the French!”

She watched the car pull away, then immediately screech to a halt.

Johan jumped out, ran up to her, and kissed her with the same passion he had the first time he’d debauched her, even as his hand slipped over her stomach and rested on the bump that could barely be discerned yet.

Both of her hands were full, so she kissed him even harder since she couldn’t slide her hand atop his to reassure him.

“Go to your meeting, Phoko,” she said gently before giving him a final peck. He was smiling his nervous smile so she knew what was coming.

“You sure you’re feeling okay? Does that have caffeine in it? Maybe you shouldn’t be walking?”

She gave him the most loving glare she could muster. “Johan.”

“Sorry! Working on it, working on it. I really just wanted a kiss.” He snuck in another quick brush of his mouth over hers. “I love you.”

“I love you, too!” she called out with a grin as he jogged back to the car. He opened the door, turning to stand on the sideboard and blow her a kiss as the car pulled away, because he still opted for the dramatic route every time. Lukas tugged him into the car by the lapels, and she continued on her way to work as they drove off.

You dream too big, girl.

She did. And she would never stop, if she could help it.

An Excerpt from Once Ghosted, Twice Shy

* * *

Did you know there are also two novellas in the Reluctant Royals series?

Be sure to pick up Once Ghosted, Twice Shy and Can’t Escape Love to complete your collection of steamy, fun royal romances!

Read on for a sneak peek of Once Ghosted, Twice Shy . . .

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Chapter 1

Winter

Attention, passengers, we apologize for the delay.” The MTA conductor’s voice was tinny, but the exasperation rang clear as the voice fuzzed through the speakers in the stalled subway car. “We are being held momentarily by the train’s dispatcher due to a malfunctioning signal. Or something. Thank you for your patience. We will be moving shortly. Maybe.”

Likotsi Adelele, mother of schedules and slayer of inefficiencies, would usually have been quite annoyed with her train being stuck on a bridge for half an hour with no explanation, but it was a special day: she had off from work. The full weekend! Two days to herself, a reprieve from managing meetings with dignitaries, heads of states, and business interests; planning royal dinners, royal date nights, and royal relaxation; and overseeing most aspects of the life of His Royal Highness, Bringer of Light and Love, Prince Thabiso Moshoeshoe of Thesolo, currently situated in Manhattan.