Chapter 416

The jet landed in Detroit then next morning and the car picked them up as planned, taking them back to Nora's place.

"I really love your home. I can't get over how comfortable it feels." Christian said, sitting on the pillow filled sectional.

"I'm glad." Nora said.

"I cannot wait to see what you do to the palace." He said. She clammed up slightly.

"Only if you want to change anything, that is." He said, touching her hand.

"It's not that. It's just all still so surreal for me." She said.

"I'm meeting your father in two hours. It's about to feel very real." He said.

"It is." She said, laughing. "You're wearing a suit to meet him?" She asked, bringing him a drink.

"I'm meeting the father of my future wife for the first time. Of course I'm going to wear a suit." He said.

"Alright." She said with a smile.

"What? You don't like it?" He asked.

"It's great." She said.

"Where are we having dinner?" He asked.

"At his house. My father hates crowded places and I thought it would be better for conversation. If the town gets wind of the king of England having a cheeseburger at Five Guys, it won't be pretty." She said. He nodded.

"Understood." He said.

She changed her clothes and put on a sundress and hat.

"Could you be any more adorable?" Christian asked. Nora blushed.

"Thank you." She said.

They walked to the car and got inside. "Would you rather take your car?" He said.

"No. It's ok. Pulling up in a rented Rolls Royce will be quite the conversation starter." She said. He smiled and nodded.

"Alright then." He said. Derek and the driver got in and off they went.

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Her father had a large piece of land in the middle of nowhere. There was a lake across the street and he had a big log cabin nestled in the woods.

"This is incredible." Christian said. "You grew up here?" He asked.

"I did." She said. The car pulled up and just as Nora imagined, her father was outside, shooting guns.

"Ahhh skeet! My favorite. I love some clay pigeon action." Christian said. Nora smiled.

"Seriously?" Nora asked.

"Oh yes." Christian said. He was like a kid at Christmas.

They got out of the car and walked over to the side yard where it was all set up. Guns and ammo and a trap was set up with clay disks.

Her father seemed to be having trouble getting the trap to work and he struggled to hit them once they were thrown up. He saw them walking over and put down his gun. He sized Christian up and Nora knew her father already assumed he was a complete pansy by his suit and shoes, his clean hands and his perfectly styled hair.

"Hey Daddy." Nora said.

"Hello kiddo." He said, giving her a hug.

"Dad. This is my fiancée, Christian. Christian, this is my father, John." Christian extended his hand.

"It's an absolute honor to meet you. Your home is incredible." Christian said.

"Sounds like you think my daughter is pretty incredible also." He said.

"Yes. I do. I think she is extraordinary." Christian said. There was an awkward silence between them.

Her brother walked up and hugged Nora.

"Marcus, this is Christian." She said. He shook Christian's hand.

"Good to meet you." He said. "And I guess welcome to the family?" Marcus said. Her father sneered a little and turned to the trap.

"Clay pigeon shooting. I love it." Christian said.

"Right." Her father said.

"Mind if I have a go?" He asked.

"Sure. Be my guest." Her father said. "I can't get the damn thing to work."

Christian walked toward the table with Marcus following him.

"You didn't tell me he was English." Her father said.

"Is that a problem?" She asked.

"No. Of course not. You just didn't tell me." He said.

"My father has had a helluva time getting this thing to work." Marcus said. Christian nodded and looked it over.

"Ah, here's your problem. The automatic setting is off." He tinkered with it a bit and walked over to the guns. He picked up some ear plugs and her father sighed.

"This should be interesting." He said to Nora and Marcus.

Christian checked to see if the gun was loaded properly, then snapped it into place.

"Pull." He said. The trap released a disk and Christian shot it right out of the air.

"Pull." He said again, this one going a little further away. He aimed and hit that one as well. Then three more times, hitting the target every time.

His father and brother looked at Christian in shock.

"Love it. Invigorating, isn't it?" Christian asked.

"Who in the hell are you involved with?" Nora's father whispered to her.

"We'll get into that soon enough." She said, smiling. Christian looked over at her and smiled.

Dinner was being set up by Mary, also a widow, and John's neighbor and friend. They had known each other for years and she was a big help when Nora wasn't available.

"Hello, Nora." She said as they walked to the deck and sat down.

"Hey Mary. This is Christian, my fiancée." Nora said.

"Wow! Nice to meet you! Congratulations! How unexpected." She said, shaking his hand.

"Yes. A little fast, I know. But Nora is very special. I'd hate to regret letting her go. I'm not one to chance something like that." Christian said. "This lemonade is wonderful."

"Thank you, I made it just for tonight." Mary said. "It's John's favorite."

"I prefer beer myself. Would you like one?"

Marcus asked Christian.

"Sure. Would love one." Christian said.

"Me too." Nora said. Marcus pulled two out of a cooler filled with ice. John sat down next to Marcus and looked Christian over.

"So, engaged huh?" John said.

"Yes. I apologize for not asking your permission first, it was a bit spur of the moment." Christian said.

"You're not… pregnant are you?" John asked.

"No! No. Of course not." Nora said.

"So you just want to marry a complete stranger?" John asked.

"Not exactly. I've known Christian for five months now." Nora said.

"Way to keep a secret." Marcus said.

"It wasn't exactly meant to be a secret. It's all been a bit of a whirlwind." Nora said.

"Are you in the same business?" Her father asked.

"No." Nora said.

"How did you meet?" Marcus asked.

"At a bar. And it's a long story." Nora said.

"Well I'm happy for you. Over the top happy." Mary said.

"Thank you." Nora said.

"Yes. Thank you." Christian said. Another long silence.

"Let me bring the food out." Mary said.

"Do you need any help?" Nora asked.

"No hun. It's just grilled chicken and asparagus and salad from the garden. And my homemade strawberry pie. I'll be right back." Mary said, getting up and walking inside.

"So, Christian. What do you do for a living?" Her father asked. Nora took a drink of her beer. Christian looked over at her and then at John.

"I'm actually in the family business." He said, with a shy smile.

"And what is that?" Marcus asked.

"I am, um" he cleared his throat. "I'm the King of England." He said, looking at Nora and then back at John and Marcus.

They looked back at Christian and Nora.

"Here's the salad! Feel free to get started!" Mary interrupted.

"It looks fantastic, Mary. Thank you." Christian said, filling his plate. Mary looked around at John and Marcus.

"What did I miss?" She asked.