Her dad lifted an arm, and Rosalina nestled under it. “When you were a little girl, you used to sit outside with Anne-Marie while she tended the garden. You had little plastic bowls and spoons, and you’d make these concoctions out of mud and berries and leaves and grass.”

“I remember that.”

“You’re a chemist,” her mother said. “And a perfumer. And you are not complete unless you are concocting.”

“And now you’ve fallen in love,” her father said. “With a cowboy who’s as comfortable in a tuxedo as I would be in assless chaps.”

“Papa.”

Grinning, her mother bopped him over the head with her book. Wow, she hadn’t seen them this playful with each other in ages. She was so glad the vote had gone their way.

“So, about that cowboy…” Rosalina watched their expressions carefully. “He says it’s an adjustment.”

“One that’s not necessary to make at this time,” her mother said.

“What’re you saying?”

“I’m back now, sweetheart.” Her father closed his book. “I’m going to resume my duties.”

“But I need to learn so I can take over when you’re ready to step down.”

“While your head is in the lab,” her father said. “Your sister’s is in the board room. When she graduates the London School of Economics, she’ll likely head to business school, and then she can come home and work with me. In the meantime…”

“I’m going to take a more visible role.” Her mother sounded proud and fierce.

“It’s about time.” The rightness of this moment flowed through her, making her feel light and airy.

“It certainly is,” her mother said. “And it wouldn’t be happening had it not been for you. So, you’re free, Rosalina. We give you our blessing to go wherever your heart takes you.”

She was going home.

To Calamity.

With the lights out and heavy drapes blocking the moonlight, Brodie couldn’t see a damn thing. Silently, he closed the door. She had a full day tomorrow so he wouldn’t wake her, but he needed to talk to her, set some things straight.

He shouldn’t have taken so long in the gym. Should’ve come back and reassured her they’d be all right. But he’d had some things to work out, and now he could be less of a dick about living here.

Cutting across the room, he headed for the bathroom. After a quick shower, he’d get in bed. Talk to her in the morning.

She’s not getting out of this bed until she knows how much I love her. And that he’d figured out a way to be happy here.

Golden light spilled out from under the closed door, and his pulse kicked up a notch with anticipation. He knocked lightly. “Princess?”

“You can come in.”