Becoming the Prince's Wife (Princes of Europe) (7 page)

“Carolena...”

He said her name with such longing, she couldn’t stand it. “Let’s not make this situation any more impossible. Go back to the palace tonight knowing you’ve passed your test.”

“And leave you like this?” he cried urgently, pulling her closer to him. “You don’t really mean that!”

“Yes. I do. You have Vincenzo to think about, and a mother who’s waiting for your return. Your wedding’s going to take place soon. You need to concentrate on Alexandra now.”

But she knew he wasn’t listening. He got to his feet, cupping her face in his hands. “I don’t want to leave you.” He sounded as if he was in agony. “Say the word and I won’t.”

Abby could hear her grandmother’s voice.
You go where angels fear to tread without worrying about anyone else but yourself.

Not this time,
nonnina.

“Thank you for your honesty. It’s one of your most sterling qualities. You truly are the honorable man your sister idolized. But I have enough sins on my conscience without helping you add one to yours.”

His brows formed a bar above his eyes. “You told me you caused the death of the man you loved, but you also said it wasn’t intentional.”

She averted her eyes. “It wasn’t.”

“Then no sin has been committed.”

“Not if we part now. I don’t want you going through life despising yourself for breaking the rule you’ve set. Believe it or not, I
want
you to go, Val,” she told him. “After the promise you made to your parents when your uncle died, I couldn’t handle it otherwise.”

“Handle what? You’re still holding back on me. Tell me what it is.”

“It’s no longer of any importance.”

“Carolena—”

He was willing to break his vow for her because he wanted her that much. Just knowing that helped her to stay strong. But he didn’t realize all this had to do with her self-preservation.

“Val, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to remain on board until tomorrow morning and then fly back to the palace. But please know that when I leave Gemelli, I’ll take home the memory of a man who for a moment out of time made me feel immortal. I’ll treasure the memory of you all my life.”

She pulled away from him and walked over to the door to open it. “
Addio,
sweet prince.”

CHAPTER FOUR

T
HE
MOMENT
V
ALENTINO
walked into the palace at eleven that night, he texted Vincenzo, who was still up. They met in Valentino’s suite.

“How did your day go?” his brother-in-law asked after he’d walked into the sitting room.

Valentino was still on fire for the woman who’d looked like a vision when he’d walked into her cabin.

“After we left Etna, I thought Carolena would like dinner on the yacht where there’s a wonderful view of the island. She’s staying there overnight. My pilot will fly her back in the morning. You should have seen her when we got out of the helicopter and walked over to view one of the fumaroles. She was one person who really appreciated the experience.”

“Michelina would never step foot on Etna and was always afraid for you. Sorry about this morning. I guess I thought it might frighten Carolena.”

Valentino had forgotten about his sister’s fear. It showed how totally concentrated he’d been on Carolena. “If she was, she hid it well. Now I want to hear about Max. How is he?”

“For the moment both he and Abby are asleep. It’ll be a relief to get him home. After the doctor tells us what’s wrong and we can relax, I’d like it if you could arrange to fly to Arancia so we can talk business.”

He nodded. “I’m as anxious as you to get started on the idea we’ve discussed. I’ll clear my calendar.” It would mean seeing Carolena again. He was going to get the truth out of her one way or another.

“Abby thinks Carolena would be a good person to consult over the legalities of the plans we have in mind. Did I mention her expertise is patent law? It’s exactly what we need.”

She was a patent attorney?
Valentino’s heart leaped to think he didn’t need to find an excuse to see her again when he had a legitimate reason to be with her before long. On his way to the palace, he’d come close to telling the pilot he’d changed his mind and wanted to go back to the yacht.

“Valentino? Did you hear what I said?”

“Sorry. The news about her work in patent law took me by surprise. Abby and Carolena are both intelligent women. With them being such close friends and attorneys, it will be a pleasure to have them consult with us. I’ve worried about finding someone we could really trust.”

“Amen to that. We don’t want anyone else to get wind of this until it’s a fait accompli,” Vincenzo muttered. “Abby asked me to thank you for taking such good care of Carolena today.”

If he only knew how dangerously close Valentino had come to making love to her. Once that happened, there’d be no going back because he knew in his gut he’d want her over and over again. That would jeopardize both their lives and put them in a different kind of hell.

“It’s always a rush to go up on Etna with someone who finds it as fascinating as I do.”

“She really liked it?”

“I wish I had a recording while we were in the air.”

Vincenzo smiled. “That’ll make Abby happy. She brought Carolena along because seven years ago yesterday her fiancé was killed days before she became a bride. Apparently this date in June is always hard for her. They were very much in love.”

Fiancé?

Valentino’s gut twisted in deepest turmoil when he remembered telling her she looked like a bride. More than ever he was determined to find out what kind of guilt she’d been carrying around all this time.

“Abby says she dates one man after another, but it’s only once or twice, never really getting to know anyone well. She believes she’s depressed and is pretty worried about her. Abby was hoping this trip would help her get out of herself. Sounds like your day on the volcano may have done just that.”

The revelations coming one after the other hit Valentino like a volcanic bomb during an eruption.

“I hope so.”

“I’d better get back to our suite. It’ll be my turn to walk the floor with Max when he wakes up again. My poor wife is worn out.”

“From the looks of it, so are you.” He patted Vincenzo on the shoulder before walking him to the door. “I’ll have breakfast sent to your suite at eight. Carolena will be waiting for you on the helicopter.”

“Thanks for everything, Valentino.”

“The queen says this will pass. She ought to know after raising me and my siblings. See you in the morning.”

After his brother-in-law left, Valentino raced out of the palace to the swimming pool. He did laps until he was so exhausted he figured he might be able to sleep for what was left of the rest of the night. But that turned out to be a joke. There were certain fires you couldn’t put out.

The next morning when he walked out to the landing pad with Vincenzo and his family, Carolena was still strapped in her seat. One of his security men put the luggage from her room on board as he climbed in.

Other than a smile and another thank-you for the tour of the volcano, she displayed no evidence of having missed Valentino or passing a tormented night. They were both accomplished actors playing roles with such expertise they might even have deceived each other. Except for the slight break he heard in her voice that caused his heart to skip several beats.

* * *

Four days later Carolena had just finished taking a deposition in her office and had said goodbye to her client when her new secretary, Tomaso, told her Abby was on the line. She hoped it was good news about the baby and picked up.

“Abby? How are you? How’s Max?”

“He’s doing great. The gastroenteritis is finally gone.”

“Thank heaven!”

“I feel so terrible about what happened on our trip.”

“Why do you say that? I was sorry for you, of course, but I had a wonderful time!”

“You’re always such a good sport. I know it made Valentino’s day for someone to be excited about his work.”

“He’s an incredible man, Abby.” Carolena tried to keep the tremor out of her voice.

“He was impressed with you, too. That’s one of the reasons I’m calling. He flew into Arancia this morning so he and Vincenzo can talk business.”

She almost had heart failure. It was a good thing she was sitting down. Valentino was here?

“Since you’re a patent law attorney, both men want you to meet with them. They need your legal counsel along with mine.”

Her pulse raced off the chart. “Why?” She’d thought she’d never see him again and had been in such a depression, she’d decided that if she didn’t get over it, she would have to go for professional help.

“They’re putting together a monumental idea to benefit both our countries. I’ll tell you all about it when you get here. Can you come to the palace after work? The four of us will talk and have dinner together.”

Carolena jumped up from her leather chair. No, no, no. She didn’t dare put herself into a position like that again. Legitimate or not, Valentino had to know how hard this was going to be for her. She didn’t have his self-control.

If for any reason she happened to end up alone with him tonight, she might beg him to let her spend the night because she couldn’t help herself. How wicked would that be? She’d spend the rest of her life mourning another loss because there could never be another time with him. This was one time Carolena couldn’t do what Abby was asking.

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I have a date for the symphony.”

“Then cancel it. I just found out this morning that Valentino is rushed for time. Did I tell you his wedding and coronation are coming up in August?”

She bit her lip. “No. I don’t believe you mentioned it.”

“He’d hoped to get this business settled before flying back to Gemelli tomorrow.”

Here today, gone tomorrow? She couldn’t bear it. This request had put her in an untenable position. What to do so she wouldn’t offend her friend? After racking her brain, she came up with one solution that might work. It would
have
to work since Carolena didn’t dare make a wrong move now.

She gripped the phone tighter. “I have an idea that won’t waste Valentino’s time. Would it be possible if you three came to the office this afternoon?” Neutral ground rather than the palace was the only way for her to stay out of temptation’s way.

“I’m afraid not. It would require too much security for the two of them to meet anywhere else. The security risk is higher than usual with Valentino’s coronation coming up soon. How would it be if you cleared your slate for this afternoon and came to the palace? Say two o’clock?”

By now Carolena was trembling.

“We’ll talk and eat out by the pool. If you leave the palace by six-thirty, you’ll be in time for your date.”

Carolena panicked. “I’d have to juggle some appointments.” That was another lie. “I don’t know if Signor Faustino will let me. I’m working on a big case.”

“Bigger than the one for the princes of two countries?” Abby teased.

Her friend had put her on the royal spot. The writing was on the wall. “I—I’ll arrange it.” Her voice faltered.

“Perfect. The limo will pick you up at the office at one forty-five. Come right out to the terrace by the pool after you arrive.”

“All right,” she whispered before hanging up.

In an hour and a half Carolena would be seeing Valentino again. Already she had this suffocating feeling in her chest. It was a good thing she had another client to take up her time before the limo came for her. When she left the office she’d tell Tomaso she was going out for a business lunch with a client, which was only the truth.

Luckily she’d worn her sleeveless black designer shift dress with the crew neck and black belt to work. She’d matched the outfit with black heels. There was no need to do anything about her hair. All she had to do was touch up her makeup. When she showed up at the palace, it would carry out the lie that she’d be going to the symphony later.

* * *

Valentino had just finished some laps in the pool when he saw Carolena walk past the garden toward them in a stunning, formfitting black dress. Only a woman with her figure could wear it. Abby had told him she was going to the symphony later with a man.

She’d parted her hair in the middle above her forehead and had swept a small braid from each side around to the back, leaving her dark hair long. Two-tiered silvery earrings dangled between the strands. He did a somersault off the wall of the pool to smother his gasp.

If he’d hoped that she wouldn’t look as good to him after four days, he could forget that! The trick would be to keep his eyes off her while they tried to do business. While Abby laid out their lunch beneath the overhang, Vincenzo sat at one of the tables working on his laptop. Both of them wore beach robes over their swimsuits. Max was down for a nap in the nursery.

She headed for Abby. A low whistle came out of Vincenzo and he got up to greet her. “I’ve never seen you looking lovelier, Carolena.”

“Thank you,” she said as the two women hugged.

Valentino climbed out of the shallow end of the pool and threw on a beach cover-up. “We’re grateful you could come this afternoon.”

Carolena shot him a brief glance. “It’s very nice to see you again, Val. Signor Faustino was thrilled when he found out where I was going. Needless to say, he considers it the coup of the century that I’ve been summoned to help the princes of Gemelli and Arancia with a legal problem.”

Abby was all smiles. “Knowing him, he’ll probably make you senior partner at their next meeting.”

“Don’t wish that on me!” That sounded final.

Valentino moved closer. “You mean, it isn’t your dream?”

“Definitely not.” She seemed so composed, but it was deceiving, because he saw a nerve throbbing frantically at the base of her throat where he longed to kiss her.

He smiled. “Our conversation on the deck of the yacht was cut short and didn’t give us time to cover your dreams before I had to leave.”

Being out of the sun, she couldn’t blame it for the rose blush that crept into her face. “As I recall, we were discussing
your
dreams for Gemelli, Val.”

Touché. But his unrealized personal dream that had lain dormant deep in his soul since his cognizance of life was another matter altogether.

“In truth, I hope to make enough money from the law practice that one day in the future I can buy back my grandparents’ small farm and work it.” Her green eyes clouded for a moment. “I’m a farmer’s daughter at heart.”

“I understand your parents are not alive.”

“No, nor are my grandparents. Their farm was sold. There have been Barettis in Arancia for almost a hundred years. I’m the only Baretti left and want to keep up the tradition by buying the place back.”

Had her fiancé been a farmer, too? Valentino knew a moment of jealousy that she’d loved someone else enough to create such a powerful emotion in her.

“I had no idea,” he murmured, “but since it’s in your blood, that makes you doubly valuable for the task at hand.” His mind was teeming with new ideas to keep her close to him.

“Abby said you and Vincenzo were planning something monumental for both your countries. I confess I’m intrigued.”

“Hey, you two,” Abby called to them. “Come and help yourselves to lunch first, then we’ll get down to business.”

He followed Carolena to the serving table. After they’d filled their plates, they sat down at one of the round tables where the maid poured them iced tea. Once they’d started eating, he said, “Vincenzo? Why don’t you lay the groundwork for the women and we’ll go from there.”

“Our two countries have a growing problem because of the way they are situated on coastal waters. We all know the land around the Mediterranean is one of the most coveted terrains on earth. Over the years, our prime properties of orange and lemon groves that have sustained our economies for centuries have been shrinking due to man’s progress. Our farmers are being inundated with huge sums of money to sell their land so it can be developed for commercial tourism.”

“I know that’s true,” Carolena commented. “My grandfather was approached many times to sell, but he wouldn’t do it.”

Vincenzo nodded. “He’s the type of traditional farmer fighting a battle to hold on to his heritage. Farmers are losing their workers, who want to go to the city. In the process, we’re losing a vital and precious resource that has caused Valentino and me to lose sleep. Something has to be done to stop the trend and rebuild the greatness of what we’ve always stood for. We’ve come up with an idea to help our farmers by giving them a new incentive. You tell them, Valentino.”