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“Do you mind if I order for us?”
He reached for her hand and they started walking toward the entrance. “I’m planning on it.”
“I promised Tomaso I would take advantage of every opportunity.”
His hand seemed to tighten around her fingers before he let it go long enough to open the door for her. “After we eat, we’ll stop by the cathedral to visit with the archbishop. The banns have to go out for our marriage. Then we’ll buy you some clothes for tomorrow.”
She gulped. “Why? I thought we were going to wait until my belongings arrived.”
“There’s no time. My father has already put things in motion. In the morning before the cabinet meeting at ten, the journalists from the major American and European television networks will come to the palace to broadcast the official news of the upcoming coronation and our marriage. I’ll be at your side the entire time and field any difficult questions.”
Her jaw hardened. “You mean, about me following in my mother’s footsteps.”
He lifted a wayward curl off her forehead. “Love is no respecter of persons past or present. Everyone has an equal right to it with whomever and wherever they find it.”
Except for a prince who must do his duty.
Two hours later his words were still revolving in her head as they entered an exclusive boutique in Capriccio where, Lucca told her, his mother and sister often shopped.
The clerk who waited on them recognized him, of course. When Lucca explained what they wanted, she told him she had the perfect outfit for Alex, who was still replete from their delicious meal.
Within seconds the woman produced a knee-length dress of woven lightweight silk in a heavenly shade of oyster. The diamond pin would look fabulous against it. As soon as Alex slipped it on, she had to admit the jewel neckline and tiered short sleeves suited her tall, softly rounded figure.
Lucca said as much when she left the fitting room and modeled it for him. His searching gaze started at her feet and made a slow, intimate perusal of her body. By the time it reached her face, her cheeks were on fire.
“The color of the material matches your eyes.” His gaze flicked to the clerk. “We’ll take it and some other outfits for day and evening. She’ll need shoes and lingerie.” On that note he refocused his attention on Alex. “Take your time, bellissima. We’re in no hurry.”
When Alex was a child, she used to pretend she’d been let loose in a store and could have anything she wanted. It felt like that now. After agreeing to marry him she couldn’t keep going around in the same two outfits. The clothes being shipped might not arrive for weeks and probably wouldn’t be appropriate for many future occasions, anyway. Naturally he wanted to be proud of her.
For once she decided to take him at his word. Unfortunately, she had so much fun they didn’t get out of there until it was close to 6:00 p.m. The clerk told her the packages would be delivered to the palace by eight. It was embarrassingly late already and Lucca had been sitting there for hours!
So much for letting him have time alone with his lover this afternoon. Red-faced, she apologized. “I’m sorry I took so long.”
“I’m not. This has helped me get my mind off affairs of state. I don’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.” He got to his feet. “You’re good for me, Alexandra.”
She sobered. “Thank you for being so generous. I promise to pa—” but nothing else came out because he silenced her with his lips.
“No talk of repaying me now or ever,” he whispered.
Alex had said the wrong thing again, but she had to remember that when they were out in public, his actions were always orchestrated to convince their audience he was in love. “I promise,” she whispered back, but she did intend to repay him one day. She just wouldn’t talk about it.
They left the boutique through the back door, where he’d parked his car. His security people had set up a barricade on the tiny street to give them space, but people pressed against it, eager for a glimpse of the prince.
Lucca had grown up learning how to handle the public. No matter where they went or what they did, he didn’t seem to give them any thought. Alex wondered how long it would take her not to feel like she was a goldfish on display.
The crowded streets made it impossible for Lucca to zip back to the palace at warp speed, but she gave him credit for trying. “Home at last and in one piece,” he drawled after shutting off the powerful engine.
“At last?” she teased. “A fighter jet couldn’t have arrived here any sooner.”
Suddenly he looked repentant. “Alexandra—I forgot about the helicopter. I should have requested it—”
“Don’t apologize,” she cut him off. “It was the events of the day that knocked me off balance, not the lack of a helicopter. The truth is, I found out in New York you only function at high speed. I like speed, too. If I owned a car like this, I’d be banned from driving it after the first time I went around the block.”
His hand slid from the gearshift to her lower thigh, sending out one heatwave after another. “Next week I’ll take you to a track in Monaco where you can let it rip to your heart’s content.”
“You’d let me drive this?”
His gaze sobered. “Of course. I don’t think you understand yet. Everything I have is yours.” After squeezing her leg gently he levered himself from the driver’s seat and came around to help her. She was glad she was wearing pants. With her long limbs it would be impossible to keep them modestly covered while trying to climb out under his all-seeing eye.
“How much time do you need to freshen up?” he asked once they’d reached the second floor.
Surely he wanted to get away on his own, but being the dutiful prince, he felt he owed her his time in order to look like the attentive fiancé. Today he’d done more than any engaged woman could ask for. Now it was up to her to return the favor.
“Since I’m going to have to face my first press conference in the morning, I’d prefer to have an early night, but in case you need me in an official capacity, I can be ready whenever you want.”
A remote expression crossed over his masculine features. There was a pause. “What I had in mind can wait.”
Of course it could. His thoughts were on his lover. They’d been apart long enough.
“Then if you don’t mind, I’ll ask the kitchen to send up a sandwich while I get started on my writing exercises for Tomaso.”
On impulse she kissed his hard-boned jaw where she could feel the beginnings of his beard. Another enticement she mustn’t dwell on. “Thank you for a wonderful day. I’ll always remember it. Buonanotte, Lucca.”
“I’ll come by your room at quarter past nine in the morning. Sogni d’oro, Alexandra.”
Tomorrow she would have to ask Tomaso what it meant.
Lucca spent a restless night tossing and turning. Her last words to him before running off sounded like a goodbye speech, and they weren’t even married yet. She was more excited about her next Italian lesson than being with him.
He couldn’t fault her for anything where their agreement was concerned. Her performance so far was nothing short of miraculous. Unfortunately, he found himself wanting more from her. Because his feelings for her were growing, it was probably just as well he’d been forced to come back to his room and take a cold shower.
She was right about him. He didn’t know how to take things slow, but it appeared that for once in his life he was going to have to learn that lesson. In the past few days he’d come to realize his whole life’s happiness depended on it.
At eight the next morning, he and Regina ate breakfast in his parents’ suite. By nine o’clock he’d showered and shaved. At 9:10 a.m. he left his suite wearing a dark gray business suit and tie. Aware his need to see Alexandra was over the top, he had to tamp down his excitement, but he couldn’t prevent the explosion of his senses when she opened the door to him, the embodiment of feminine allure.
Her silver high heels added two inches, making it easier for him to capture that supple mouth wearing a light pink frost. He almost acted on his desire to taste her, but remembering who was waiting for them downstairs, he caught himself in time.
If his eyes didn’t deceive him, her heart was pounding faster than normal. The diamond seemed to be in constant motion, pulsating with bursts of green light. Each beat matched the rhythm of his own heart, increasing in speed like his Ferrari.
She raised those solemn gray eyes to his. “Do I look all right? I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” Her freshly washed hair smelled of peaches, a scent he would always associate with her.
The thing about Alexandra was that she didn’t have one selfish, self-absorbed, narcissistic atom in her body.
“You’ll do,” was all he could manage to say. In an automatic gesture he grasped her hand, twining his fingers around hers as they started down the hall.
“Where are we going?”
“To the conference room of my office on the main floor.”
She flashed him an anxious glance. “You don’t show it, but are you scared? Just a little bit?”
He took a steadying breath. “I was a lot scared until you opened your door just now.” If she hadn’t been there … If she’d run away because she couldn’t go through with it after all …
“You always say and do the right thing, Lucca. Thank you for sending the manicurist and hair dresser. My nails needed help, but I’m afraid my hair is hopeless.”
“I like your hair exactly the way it is. As for your nails, I’ve never noticed. Mama saw to those details this morning.”
“Then I’ll have to thank her later. Has your father forgiven me for the other night?”
“Since I’m not exactly the poster boy of perfection, either, he said your escapade convinced him we’re made for each other.”
“That’s not very reassuring.”
Lucca chuckled before giving in to the urge to kiss her neck. “All in all, we’re off to a better start than I would have imagined.” Just getting her to Castelmare had been a feat.
Once they reached the main floor, he caught hold of her upper arms. “You’ll see a lot of government officials in there. Don’t let it bother you. Their presence will help keep the news conference civilized. Remember you’re half Carlisle, half Grigory, a unique combination unlike any other.”
She gave a meek nod.
He cupped her chin and raised it a trifle. “One more thing. Keep your eyes on me.”
“I already planned on doing that,” came her quiet response.
Their mouths were only centimeters apart. Unable to help himself, he gave a quick kiss to those pliant lips, uncaring that some of her lipstick stayed on his … a little part of her he could savor until the day came when he would taste all of her.
Carlo cleared his throat behind them. “Everyone’s waiting.”
“Ready?” Lucca asked her. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Hers were guarded. Then she surprised him by lifting her hand to wipe the lipstick off his mouth with her fingers.
“Now I am.”
It reminded him of the things his mother did for his father before an important dinner or conference so he would look his best. Alexandra could have no idea how the small gesture moved him.
Binding her hand to his once more, he drew her toward the west end of the palace where the double doors of the conference room were opened wide. The buzz of voices filtered down the hall.
The president of the cabinet was officiating today. He stood at the lectern placed on a raised platform in the center of the room. Everyone was seated below him. Regina sat to the side of the lectern representing Lucca’s immediate family. As soon as the statesman saw Lucca, he struck a staff to the floor several times.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, members of the cabinet, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Lucca Umberto Schiaparelli Vittorio the Fifth of Castelmare and the Princess Alexandra Carlisle Grigory.”
Everyone rose to their feet and began clapping. Amidst the cheers came the inevitable shower of flashbulbs going off.
For Lucca it was a source of intense personal pride that Alexandra handled it as though she’d been born to it. All his life he’d dreaded this day coming, but that was before Alex. …
CHAPTER SEVEN
KEEP your eyes on Lucca. Like a mantra Alex repeated his advice.
The huge room, as ornate and splendid as the rest of the palace, had to be filled with several hundred people if you included all the security assembled. Regina, looking beautiful in a dusky-rose suit, gloves and a broad-brimmed hat with a cluster of real roses at the side of the crown, sent her a private smile.
Alex reciprocated before ascending the platform with Lucca. A dozen microphones had been set up to carry the broadcast. It was the middle of the night in Los Angeles. By morning Alex’s friends would see all this on TV at work and go into shock. Before the end of the day she would have to make phone calls of explanation to them and Mr. Watkins.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell anyone the truth in case it ended up hurting Lucca. All she could say was that Lucca was responsible for helping her unite with her family and in the process he’d swept her off her feet.
Any woman seeing Lucca would understand how that could happen. Anyone catching sight of the green diamond fastened to her dress would agree that Alex was as greedy as her mother.
Yet strangely enough, none of it stung, because she had Lucca on her side. They’d entered into a pact to help each other. With him championing her, she had nothing to fear except an inability to get into medical school. But she wouldn’t think in defeatist terms. Right now her only job was to play Lucca’s adoring fiancée in front of the camcorders, a role she found came as naturally to her as breathing.
After the head of the cabinet sat down, Lucca moved to the lectern taking Alex with him. Together they faced the sea of faces.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, translators, members of the cabinet and their assistants,” he began in English, “I’ve called this news conference to announce my ascendancy to the throne on the twenty-eighth of this month. My father’s health demands that he step down.” Lucca’s voice broke, revealing the depth of his concern for his parent. In the stillness following his news, Alex slid her hand into his. He gripped it so hard, he had no idea of his strength.
“As all of you can see, I picked up something precious while I was in New York. Alexandra has consented to become my wife. Regretfully, her father, Prince Oleg Grigory, and her mother, Kathryn Carlisle, are both deceased. But it’s most fortunate that her great-uncle Yuri Grigory is still alive and will walk her down the aisle.
“My parents have declared the twenty-eighth of this month a state holiday in honor of the coronation and my wedding to this wonderful woman.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. The barrage of flashes almost blinded her.
“Before the cabinet meeting starts, Alexandra and I will entertain a few questions now.”
Too many voices called out at once. “One at a time please,” Lucca said with enviable calm.
“Princess Alexandra, how does it feel to be wearing the Ligurian teardrop diamond?”
Lucca darted her an amused glance, obviously curious to know what she was going to say.
“Like I’m carrying a monument around.” Her comment set off an explosion of laughter in the room that included Lucca’s own deep, attractive brand. It took a minute for the noise to subside.
“Princess Alexandra?” came another voice. “How did you manage to keep your involvement with the prince a secret all this time?”
“I have my ways.” Taking a risk she added, “My mother was always in the news. I learned certain tricks to remain invisible.”
“Over here, Princess Alexandra—” This from a burly journalist in the corner. “Rumor has it your father had ties to the mafia in Las Vegas. Can you confirm that?”
Lucca stiffened. She could tell he was ready to intervene but she preempted him.
“Yes,” she spoke clearly. “It was rumor. My father was an excellent businessman who used his own money to be successful. Sadly, his life was cut short in an airplane crash. I would give anything if he were still alive.” Her voice shook.
A strong arm slipped around her waist, pulling her closer, then Lucca said, “One last question.”
“Princess Alexandra?” This from an older woman journalist. “It’s obvious that like your mother you could have your choice of many men, be they sheiks, royals or film stars.” That was news to Alex. “What was it about Prince Lucca you couldn’t resist?”
Alex needed to put on a convincing act, but it wasn’t hard. She slowly smiled at him. “We met while I was in a shop. At first I mistook him for a security guard. I was in a very anxious state at the time and I’m afraid I unfairly took it out on one of the employees.
“When Lucca intervened, I assumed he’d been watching and had decided to take charge. We exchanged words. Actually I flung insults at him and demanded to know if he was going to have me arrested. In his maddeningly reasonable way he assured me nothing could be further from the truth and suggested I sit down. Now when I look back on the incident, I realize he’d used his monarch voice on me.”
Laughter burst from the audience. Lucca eyed her with a devilish gleam.
“The man had so much charm that before long I discovered I was having the time of my life. When he finally admitted who he was, I’m afraid I was hooked.” At this point she fought to keep her voice steady.
“I say afraid because I didn’t want him to be a prince, but once the heart feels that pull, you have no choice in the matter. He more or less took me away, but not to prison, thank heaven. Of course, the fact that he was easily the most attractive man I’d ever met didn’t hurt the situation any.”
