Maia grinned as she tucked the police report detailing Sven's harassment charges into her purse. She didn't think him showing up here was going to lead to something like this nor did she realize Dan and his officers had been watching him since he waltzed into town and it warmed her heart that they cared enough about her make sure Sven was charged with something, if only to get back at him for how he stranded her last year.

"Are you happy that's over?" Mateo said as he slipped his fingers through hers while they walked down the sleepy main street.

"I am," she said, smiling up at him. "I didn't realize how much this town looked out for each other and I definitely didn't think I'd be included in that."

"I know how you feel." Mateo nodded. "I know you said we're a hot topic in town, but I didn't expect that kind of support last night."

"Neither did I," Maia said as a couple gleefully waved to them from across the street. "But I guess I should've. Whether we feel like it or not, we're part of this community."

"We are," Mateo said as they waved back to the couple. "It's kind of why I don't want to leave. I like my life here even if I'm branded as the aloof hottie on the hill."

Maia laughed softly. "You like that nickname," she said, leaning into him. "But you don't have to leave forever, right? You're acting like you're never coming back."

"I probably won't if my father gets his way," he said as they stood beside his truck. "Oost den Burg will be my life and that won't leave much room for anything else."

Maia raised an eyebrow. "Not even for a fiancée?"

"Oh no," Mateo said, bringing her hand to his lips. "A fiancée would be the only person I'd have time for."

A blush burned over her cheeks as she bit her lip. "Good because I don't want you to desert me the minute we get to Oost den Burg. At least not for the first few days."

"No, that won't happen and I won't allow it."

"Thank you," she said, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I'll just need a little time to get my bearings and I'll be fine."

"I'll do whatever you need to feel comfortable," he said and the sincerity swirling in his brown depths filled her with a calming warmth. "You don't need to worry about that."

Maia chuckled softly. "Your ex was an idiot to fuck over a man like you."

Mateo kissed her forehead. "And your ex was a fool to treat a woman like you so terribly."

God, she should just tell him. This wasn't an act for her. She wanted his tender gazes, sweet kisses and the way he cared for her like her needs and wants were always his top priority.

"Mateo, I –"

"I know you two lovebirds weren't about to leave without coming in to see me after last night," Jodie exclaimed, halting the confession on the tip of Maia's tongue.

"Of course not." Maia laughed, turning around to face the woman standing on the steps of Crested Cups. "We were just about to come inside for a coffee."

"Good!" She beamed. "Because your usuals are on the house today and I made a fresh batch of blueberry muffins too," she said, whisking away back into the shop.

"You little liar." Mateo chuckled. "We had no plans to go in there today."

"I know, but you saw her face." Maia huffed. "I couldn't say no and she made fresh muffins!"

"That's true," he said, grinning as he slid his arm around her waist. "We have some time before we need to speak to your sister and you can tell me what you were going to say before Jodie interrupted us."

"Oh, it was nothing," Maia said with her heart pounding as they walked the short distance to the shop. "I was just going to say I should... warn you about Faye. She'll probably give us one of her motherly lectures about everything."

"Ah, well then you can tell me how I should approach this conversation with her," Mateo said, opening the door for her. "I want to make a good impression with your sister."

"Oh, you can try," Maia said as they weaved through the tables to their booth tucked in the corner of the shop with two coffees and a blueberry muffin sitting on top. "But she wasn't a fan of me hanging out with you in the first place and she's not easily charmed. So, I don't know how this is going to go with her."

"Honestly, I'd be worried if she wasn't skeptical. Does Faye know we're together?" he said as he hung their coats on the hooks beside the booth and slid into the seat across from her.

Maia nodded. "She knows and she's most likely going to grill you about your life. Don't be offended if she comes off as cold. It's just how she is sometimes, especially when it comes to me and relationships."

"I take it she wasn't a fan of Sven either?"

"God no." Maia laughed. "To tell you the truth, Faye's never liked any of the guys I've dated. So you won't be any different."

A smile tugged at the corners of Mateo's lips. "Or maybe I will. Won't that be a twist."

"It would, but I highly doubt it. Faye's always worried I'll end up like our mother." She smirked. "A hopeless romantic always in love with the wrong man, until she met our father but he died when Faye and I were young and she was never the same."

"I'm sorry about your dad," Mateo said, sliding his hand over hers. "How's your mother now?"

"Oh, she passed away about ten years ago. She was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, but I like to think she died of a broken heart and she was just waiting for Faye and I to get our lives together before she joined our dad," Maia said as a smile tugged at her lips. "Faye thinks I'm silly for thinking that, but I'm my mother's daughter. Forever the hopeless romantic."

"I don't think that's silly and there's nothing wrong with being a romantic. I'm sure that's why you write it so well," Mateo said, caressing the back of her hand. "And I'm sorry you lost your parents."

"It's okay. I had a great childhood, but my parents are why Faye tends to act like she does. She'll never admit it, but I think that's why she got married and had children so young. She didn't want to end up like them."

"And probably why she's protective of you too. I respect that." Mateo nodded. "She sounds like a good sister."

"She is. She keeps me grounded when my head is in the clouds." Maia laughed. "And she's always been my fiercest cheerleader for my work," she said as her phone lit up on the table and buzzed to life. Maia frowned as she gazed at the series of messages coming through and she scowled as she picked up the device to read what Sven had to say.

Sven >> I want you to know that I'm leaving. I wouldn't come to see you before I left, but you'd just think I was harassing you again. <<

Sven >> All I wanted was to talk to you and show you I've changed. I hope you're happy with that guy you know nothing about.<<

Sven >> But I'll be here when it all falls apart and it will, because I'm going to tell you who Mateo really is.<<

Sven >> I'm sure you don't know that Mateo's real name is Hendrik de Koning and if you do, then I bet he hasn't told you he's a Prince from Oost den Burg who was kicked out of his family for his many disgraceful sex parties.<<

Maia slid a hand over her mouth as pictures of Mateo flooded her phone. His eyes were glazed over and half closed while he was stark naked with men and women groping him and kissing him in various places.

"Maia, what's wrong?"

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she looked up from her phone. "How could she do this to you?"

Shame clouded Mateo's eyes as he curled his hand into a fist. "Sven sent you the pictures, didn't he?"

She nodded. "I'm so sorry," she said as another series of messages popped up on her screen and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

Sven >> He's a deplorable man, Maia and he's just using you. He doesn't care about you and he just wants you for your image.<<

Sven >> I won't let him tarnish your name and manipulate you into marriage. I'm sure you must be planning to meet his family in Oost den Burg and if you are, I'll be there to get you out of this. I'll take you home so we can start over. Don't believe his lies, dropje. I love you.<<

"What's he saying, Maia?"

"Sven's going to be a problem," she said, pushing the phone across the table to Mateo and heaved a deep sigh. "He's on his way to Oost den Burg and he thinks he's going to save me from you."

"Whether you want to be saved or not," Mateo said, putting the phone down. "I'm sorry he sent you those pictures. I should've been the one to show you, but I can hardly look at them myself."

Maia shook her head. "You can clearly tell you're not aware of anything in those pictures and I wouldn't expect you to relive that kind of trauma," she said, grasping his hand. "You...you were taken advantage of and if you were a woman, your ex and everyone involved would've been arrested."

"You would hope," he said, looking around the coffee shop and the people stealing glances at them. "I think we should get out of here. We need some privacy and we really need to speak to your sister soon. I also need to warn my security about Sven and his friendship with Gesina."

"Yeah," she said, wrapping up her muffin and sticking it in her bag. "I'm ready to speak to Faye now. I don't care if she gets mad. This is happening and we're together, so she's just going to have to deal with it."

Mateo threaded his fingers through hers and squeezed her hand. "Thank you for being so chill about everything."

"Oh, I'm not." Maia scoffed. "I'm furious that someone exploited you like that," she whispered under her breath. "And I'm even more pissed that Sven thinks he's going to play hero and save me after I told him plenty of times that I'm done with him." She shook her head. "Let's go. We have too much to do and too much to talk about."

"Yes, ma'am," Mateo said as they weaved through the tables and waved goodbye to Jodie.

That was it. Maia was done with Sven's games, his desire to meddle in her damn life when he couldn't be bothered to care about her like this when they were together and furthermore, she was fuming about those pictures of Mateo!

How could anyone in their right mind do something so heinous and vile? She was going to be his goddamn fiancée and she was going to play her part well. He needed someone by his side that actually cared about him.

And she wanted to be that person because...

Her heart thumped as Mateo opened the car door for her.

Oh God...

A blush scorched her cheeks as a heavy dose of realization washed over her while she watched Mateo round the truck.

Oh fuck...

There was every possibility that she was in love with him.

"Nope. No. You both can shut the fuck up right now," Faye seethed over the phone.

"But Faye, you need to know what's going on. I'm going to do this whether you like–"

"I know that! I swear you get yourself into the dumbest shit!" Faye roared.

Mateo's eyes grew wide as he grasped Maia's hand. "I...I know this seems a bit ridiculous and I understand your concerns –"

"Mateo, Imma stop you right there. I don't want to hear anymore until I see you."

Maia frowned. "What?"

"I just booked a flight. I'll see you both in the morning and we're going to make sure you two play this shit off right," she said as the phone went silent.

Maia let out a slow breath as she squeezed Mateo's hand. "So...I guess you're going to meet my sister."

Mateo nodded slowly. "I've never been so scared in my life to meet someone. Is she going to kill me?"

"With words? Yes, but her anger will be mostly aimed at me," Maia said, laughing nervously. "The good thing is, she doesn't seem completely against this and she's coming here to help."

"Right," Mateo said, sighing. "I'm so sorry."

Maia slid her hand to his cheek. "None of this is your fault. I dragged you into my mess and if I didn't do that, your father wouldn't have made that announcement. I got you into this and like I said, I'm happy to return the favor."

Mateo slid his hand over hers and the relief swirling in his eyes made her heart flutter. "I don't deserve a friend like you."

"Yes you do," she said, kissing his cheek. "And I'll always be here for you, like you are for me."

"Thank you," he said, kissing her palm before he reached for his phone on the coffee table. "I need to make a few phone calls before your sister gets here. I want to make sure I've got everything sorted for you so she'll know you'll be okay with me."

"That's probably a good idea," Maia said as she popped up from the couch. "I'm going to go back to my place to set up a bed for Faye. I don't know how long she's planning to stay."

"You know you can both stay here, if you want?"

"We could," Maia said, biting her lip. "But I think that would piss her off even more."

"True and we don't need that," Mateo murmured. "Do you want me to give you a ride?"

"No, it's fine. I want to walk, but you can pick me up for dinner later."

"It's a date," he said, getting up to walk her to the door. "I'll pick you up at six and how about I make you some ribs and mashed potatoes?"

"Oo, yeah," she said, shrugging on her coat. "And some garlic roasted veggies too."

"You got it, Miss Maia." He grinned and she loved the way his eyes lit up at the thought of making her food. "I'll see you soon."

Maia took the short trail Mateo plowed out for her back to her cottage. She couldn't believe her sister was coming – actually, she could. Being engaged, fake or not, to someone like Mateo was going to be massive for her brand as well as the agency and Faye had every right to be concerned, especially if she and Mateo failed to be a believable couple on such a big stage.

But how could they get it wrong?

They both had feelings for each other. Mateo had already expressed the desire to be with her, all she had to do was tell him how she felt.

Sighing as she opened the door to her cottage, she threw her keys on the counter and trudged to the fireplace to get it started.

There was nothing holding her back besides not really knowing what to expect in Oost den Burg or what being part of a royal family would be like, but did it matter?

Her feelings for him weren't going to change. Mateo was her person.

A/N: Holy shit Maia....Just tell him! For fucks sake! 🤦🏿‍♀️ I really thought she was going to get it out in the street before Jodie came out the shop. I mean there's nothing stopping her at this point and now that her sister's coming I'm not sure she's going to do it. I have a feeling Faye will have her overthinking everything 🙄

And Sven can seriously go fuck himself. He has no idea what he's talking about! I hope he makes a damn fool of himself in Oost den Burg...please I need to see it!

Also, I was cackling writing Faye's little freak out over the phone 😅😂 She said, Imma stop you right there Mateo 🖐🏾 and he was rightfully scared! Oh my poor Mateo...lol

Faye's visit is guaranteed to be interesting 😬