“Is this a round-trip excursion or are you staying for good this time?” Joe’s voice jolted him from his thoughts.
“It all depends.”
“On Lani the lovely.”
“You got it.” He wouldn’t force himself on her. He’d always resolved not to do that. Rahiian or not, every woman deserved to choose her own husband.
“Speaking from personal experience, I’ve learned that women will let you make a mistake once, but they don’t look too kindly on you screwing up the same way a second time. What made you change your mind about her?”
AJ hesitated. He’d probably mentioned his older brother to Joe in passing a few times, but had never revealed the full extent of his malice. In general he preferred to leave Vanu buried in the past. But was that perpetuating the fraud that had driven him and Lani apart? Still, he didn’t want to say anything without asking Lani. If she wanted the ugly details of her first marriage kept secret, he’d oblige.
“Maybe I just came to my senses.”
“Don’t lose ’em again, okay? This is a long flight to make at a moment’s notice.” Joe turned and shoved him.
“I’m living and learning every day, bro. This time I plan to get it right.”
“I did warn you that marriage isn’t for the faint of heart?” Joe had been married three times and, by his account, paid untold amounts of alimony to his three former beloveds.
“Many a time. You’re probably at least fifty percent responsible for scaring me off marriage until now. That and the fact that the divorce rate in L.A. is around seventy percent.”
“What’s the divorce rate like in Rahiri?”
“I have no idea. Haven’t lived there in a decade. Lani’s mom was divorced, though I suppose that took place in the States.”
“You just make sure it doesn’t happen to you.”
“I’d have to be married first.” A possibility that had blossomed in his mind again. Sure, it would be easier if it weren’t for the whole royalty angle, but the prospect of making Lani his wife made his chest swell with excitement.
The sun was climbing across the sky by the time Rahiri came into view, its familiar teardrop-shaped outline beckoning him like an old friend. “Skip the airport and head straight for the palace. There’s a long paved drive with palm trees on each side. You can land right there.”
“And get a royal summons? I’d rather go to the airport.”
“Too far away. It’s almost an hour’s drive from the palace.”
“I thought that was so their royal majesties don’t have to be troubled by the drone of engines.”
“It is, but I’m sure they’ll survive.”
“Your mom was really pissed off last time.” They’d done it once before, years ago, when AJ returned for a family party with a group of friends.
“I can handle her. I already called and told her we were coming in. Didn’t want to get shot at on approach now that everyone’s so paranoid these days. She wasn’t happy about it, but she’ll survive.” AJ scanned the ground through the small side window. Already he could make out the multilayered rooftops of the palace and the lush grounds. Lani was down there somewhere. How would she react when she saw him?
Joe guided the plane expertly into a straight line with the drive, which was mercifully free of vehicles and pedestrians. “Here goes nothing.”
As they roared to the ground and taxied down the drive, AJ’s pulse went into overdrive. As soon as the plane stopped, people came running out of the palace. He jumped from the plane, scanning the faces.
“AJ!” His mother’s scream rose above the din of voices. “Didn’t I tell you never to land on the drive? It’s dangerous—there could be a pothole, or a fallen tree branch.”
“Palm trees don’t have branches, Mom.” He gave her a hug. “Where’s Lani?”
“She’s being measured for her coronation gown. They’re doing it in the ballroom because of the good light in there. Hey, where are you going?”
AJ had already slipped her grasp and strode into the palace, heading for the ballroom. Staff members stared at him, and hushed whispers buzzed amongst the polite greetings.
He had no idea how Lani would respond to his sudden arrival, but at this point he really didn’t care, he just ached to see her. The palace corridors seemed endless as he marched along them, past the secret passageway he’d sneaked into with Lani, past all the other doorways and hallways where they’d exchanged glances—and more.
“Did you return to claim the throne?” A black-clad reporter, brandishing a tiny video camera, leaped out of a doorway to his left.