Page 27 (1/2)

"Minot Daily News," Crane said "Page one"

"Oh Oh! Dr Rivers!" Marin started to funize you without a threatening upraised fist You’re not on the list, but I’hness--"

"Please don’t do that," Jenny interrupted "It’s a surprise"

"Jenny, you know I can’t do that"

"Trust me," Shel said, "if you call her, it’s all over"

"What’s all over?"

"Jenny!"

They all turned at the boyish shout Sheldon iest Baranov, Prince Nicholas

"Your Highness," Jenny said, bowing Marin stood and also bowed "It’s past your bedtime, Prince Nicky"

"Jenny, I’o to bed, okay?" He tried to sound tough, but with the angelic blond curls and large blue eyes, couldn’t pull it off Ihness, this is--"

"Dr Rivers!"

"Uh, yes Dr Rivers, this is Prince Nicholas Baranov, sixth in line to--"

"Ohthat lanky stage of all height, no weight--goggled at hihness"

"Sorry, Jenn, but she is"

"Actually," Jenny said, eyeing Marin, as still standing beside her desk, "there seems to be some question as to whether he can co i-obeyed toneThey must teach them that when they’re baby royals , Shelher--I mean, she’s been really upset I know she wants to see hi Crane up

"I beg your pardon, Prince Nicky This is uess I missed some memos"

Crane shook his hand "It’s nice to meet you, Prince Nicholas Jenny’s told s about you"

"It wasn’t a bomb, by the way," the prince said "Don’t believe everything you read"

"If you’ll sign here, sir," Marin said, extending a clipboard in Sheldon’s direction

He took it, and signed in as a guest "Just like that, huh?" he asked, handing it back

Nicky grinned "Just like that"

Chapter 48

"Corateful for the interruption She needed a break fro The palace was the sa Because it looked like Sheldon alking through her door Her suite In the palace Where he would never ever go Because he--

"I’ three feet in front of her, "to listen to your apology"

She stared

"Also," he added, "I’ the fact that your little ’aparter than the NDISL"

She stared some more

"Well?" he de to say a thing? Did Ihate it And not only was I facing death by horrifying crash every second I was on the plane, I had to watch Jenny and Crane oo eyes at each other For hours! So you’d better say soet it," he snapped "You left I said I love you, and you were leavin’ on a jet plane like a bad Peter, Paul, and Mary song"

"Well, I love you, too," she snapped, "but I knew better than to say so!"

"Oh yeah?" He was shrugging out of his coat "You could have fooledto quit your job andyou know, you’ll be ordering brie as a dessert course" She yanked off her robe

"That’s a totally different issue," he insisted, unbuckling his belt "I put myself out there and you left Didn’t even say it back"

"Well, I wanted to!" She pulled her nightgown over her head "How could I ask you toyou were so happy at the NDISL? I love you, so I let you go"

"That’s nice for a cross-stitch sa out of his shoes and slacks and unbuttoning his shirt, "but this is real life And in real life, when someone you love says ’I love you,’ you say it back"

"Well, I love you"