Her Royal Bodyguard (11 page)

“Go away!” she cried.

“Wait! I just want to talk to you!”

“No!”

“Come on. I just want to talk.”

They rounded the corner and Angelina couldn’t hear them any longer, but she was frozen in place as the words echoed through her mind. She closed her eyes so she could concentrate on the words.

“We need the princess.”

“He wants to talk to her.”

“Give us the princess.”

“He just wants to talk.”

“Are you all right?” Rico asked.

“They said he wanted to talk to me,” Angelina murmured. Her heart pounded as she heard again the shots that rang out after the shouting, the grunts of pain, the squeal of tires in the darkness.

“What? Who?” Rico cupped her face and she finally forced her eyes open and came back to the sidewalk in Tuscora. Rico’s concerned expression touched her. “
Amore
?”

“Sorry. I just remembered what the men were shouting when they stopped our car that night.”

Rico put his arm around her and turned her into a small alleyway between buildings. “Tell me.”

“They said he wanted to talk to me.”

“Who said this?” he asked slowly. “Who wanted to talk to you?”

“I don’t know. Two men shouting. They just said ‘he’. I don’t know who.” Angelina dropped her head back against the stone wall. “Sorry. I know it’s no help, but that’s what they said before they started shooting. This doesn’t make sense.” She pushed away from the wall and began to pace the narrow space. “There are plenty of ways to communicate with me. Why would someone stop my car with hired gunmen if he only wanted to talk to me?”

Rico smoothed her hair back from her face and spoke in that calm, unruffled way that sometimes irritated her, but right now she appreciated it more than she imagined. “Just because these men said that doesn’t mean it is true. They could have used that excuse just to get you in the vehicle.”

“Oh. Yes. I see. You’re right, of course.”

They stood in the shadows, the sun unable to shine through the narrow slit between the tall buildings. “Are you all right?” Rico asked again. “Do you want to go back to our rooms?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.” Somehow she was backed up against the wall, Rico only a heartbeat away. “I’m fine until suddenly I remember why I’m here. Why we’re here. Why we’re lying to people. Then I get scared. I mean, I know I shouldn’t. You’re here with me and I trust you more than anyone, but I can’t help it.”

“It’s normal to be scared.” He swept his thumb lightly along her bottom lip. “That is nothing to be ashamed of.” His lips followed the path of his thumb. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

Her lips tingled and her tongue darted out to wet them. “I know.”

His eyes dropped to her mouth, then he blinked and looked away. “Let’s get a light lunch.
Tia
and
Tio
are known for their delicious and abundant meals, so we don’t want to eat too much.”

“Okay.”

They left the alley and Angelina saw that it wasn’t just the height of the buildings that had blocked the sun. Gray clouds were rolling in, but they didn’t yet have the heavy, dark look they’d likely take on in the next few hours. The wind was picking up too. Giuseppe was obviously right about the rain.

“Do I hear music?” she asked as she picked up the faint strains of a tune drifting down the street.

“I think it’s coming from over there.” Rico pointed to a restaurant on the corner, a welcome glow coming from the wide, multi-paned window. “Want to try it out?”

“Yes.”

Rico took Angelina’s hand and they crossed the street toward the foot-tapping music and the mouth-watering aroma of sauce. A short, thin man with a clean, white apron wrapped around his waist rushed over to them when they walked in the door.

“Welcome. Welcome,” he said. “Oh, I am so honored for you to stop into my little
ristorante
. I have a table here for you, right by the window.” He led them to a small alcove, just big enough for a table for two in front of the large, multi-paned window.

“Thank you,” Angelina said and glanced at Rico with a quirk of her brow. “This is a lovely place,” she added.

When they reached the table, Rico said, “Thank you, but I admit to not understanding the great honor.”

“Oh, well, you are Rosa and Giuseppe’s nephew. You work at the palace. You have come to our little town to celebrate your marriage. Everybody knows that. This is a small town and news travels to everyone.” He bowed with a flourish. “There are many places to choose to eat in Tuscora and for you to choose to dine here is wonderful indeed.”

“Your musicians are very talented,” Angelina said as the owner held out a chair for her. The trio was set up in the far corner and were playing a familiar folk ballad.

“And our chef is even more talented.” He handed them each a menu and bowed. “I am Francesco. While you peruse your choices, I would like to offer you each a complementary glass of wine in honor of your marriage. Our house red is full-bodied and flows like romance over the tongue.” He paused and looked at Rico.

“Thank you,” Rico said when he realized Francesco was waiting for his response. “That sounds perfect.”

“Very good. I will be right back with your wine and to take your order.”

After Francesco left, Angelina looked over to Rico “I can’t wait to taste a wine that flows over my tongue like romance.” They shared a smile.

“I think our host is quite enamored of you.”

Angelina waved away that comment. “Everyone in Tuscora is so welcoming. Your aunt and uncle must have a strong presence in this community for all the people to celebrate our union so heartily.”

Rico chuckled and picked up a menu.

Angelina looked at the handsome man beside her instead of the menu. If she were home right now, she would not be sitting in a restaurant with Rico. They never would have had the chance to get this close. Although they lived in the same place, their lives were completely separate. As Princess Angelina, the world had certain expectations for her. And that world included her friends and family. And Rico.

She would have had to have a compelling reason to even speak to him in the palace. He wouldn’t have even approached her at home unless something drastic happened, like someone trying to kidnap her. She never would have had the opportunity to simply reach out and touch him. Like…

This.
Angelina brushed her fingers lightly over Rico’s wrist. She’d never noticed how masculine his wrists were. The strong bones were pronounced beneath his tanned skin. His skin was warm with a sprinkling of dark hair.

Rico dropped the menu and turned his dark gaze on her. “
Amore
?”

She shrugged and began to pull her hand away, but he caught it and laced their fingers together. She wanted to sigh.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing.” How could she explain that she had enjoyed the last couple days here in Tuscora more than she had the last couple years at home? That she wished for a life where she could be free to do whatever she wanted to, not only what was expected of her.

“There is something. I can see it in your face. What’s wrong?” Did he know her so well already?

“I don’t like to complain. I can’t complain, really, can I?”

“About what?”

Just then Francesco came back with two glasses filled with a deep burgundy wine. Angelina was glad for the interruption and took a healthy sip. She hadn’t even looked at the menu so she ordered whatever Rico did and sat back and faced the musicians. She shouldn’t have said anything. She would sound petty and selfish. If she were lucky, Rico would forget all about it.

But of course, he didn’t. As soon as Francesco left the table, Rico turned to her. “Talk to me.”

“Most people would say I have a charmed life,” she said softly. There were other diners in the restaurant, but the small alcove offered them a bit of privacy. Still, she didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing their conversation. “I know my life is better than many. I have a loving family. I have no worries about food to eat or a roof over my head. I have so much when some have so little.”

“But?”

“But they also have what I can never have.”

He brushed a wayward lock of hair back from her face and his fingertips skimmed over her cheek. “What is that,
amore
?”

“Freedom. Freedom to be myself.” She leaned in close, dropped her voice to a whisper. “To be Angelina, whoever that is. Not the princess. Not the member of a royal family, scrutinized every moment.” She drove her fingers through her hair. “Every action of mine reflects on my family. On the entire country. Here in Tuscora, I’ve gotten a glimpse of what it might be like to have that freedom.”

Rico took her hand again, leaned in for a soft kiss. “In our rooms last night, I met the woman. Not the princess. Remember?”

Her face grew warm but she nodded.

He stroked the back of her hand with one long finger. “You are a strong, smart woman. You can do whatever you want to do.”

“You make it sound so easy.” It wouldn’t be easy. She could conceivably build a life outside the palace walls, but she had no idea where she’d go or what she’d do.

“You could do it. If you wanted it badly enough.”

“I don’t even know what I want,” she cried. Then lowered her voice again. “That’s the problem. When Maria asked what I was going to with the rest of my life, I realized I don’t know.”

“You’re young. You have time to decide who you are.”

“I am a princess,” she whispered, angry now at the conversation. At the futile wish for something else. “I know who I am. I know I should be grateful. I just always thought there should be…” She trailed off. She didn’t even know what word to use.

“More?” he asked softly.

She froze, a small gasp catching her breath. “Yes.”

“More for Angelina? More for the woman you are?”

“Yes.”

“Ah,
amore
. Believe me. I have felt that way too.”

When he was guarding Prince Vittorio, Rico could stand still for hours, not moving more than his eyes sweeping over a room. He could sit for long periods of time in the soft seat in the back of a limousine or on a hard chair in the back of an office while one of the prince’s meetings went on for hours. But now Rico could not sit still a moment longer. He didn’t understand the restlessness running through him, but there was only one thing he could think to do.

He squeezed Angelina’s hand and jumped to his feet. “Can I have this dance?”

She frowned slightly and glanced over to the corner where the musicians were playing. “There’s not really a dance floor.”

“Do you think anyone will stop us if we want to dance?”

“No.” She smiled and if nothing else, Rico could be happy to have given her something to smile about. “Yes, I would love to dance.”

Some man in ancient days must have come up with the idea of dancing in order to have an acceptable way to hold a woman in his arms in public. When Angelina pressed her soft body against him and wrapped her arms around his neck, Rico thought he must have done something right sometime in his life, since he’d obviously died and gone to heaven. Her body fit against his as if they had been made for each other. And he didn’t want to let her go.

Even though he knew he should release her—would eventually have to release her—for the length of a single dance Rico decided he would be selfish. Soon he would no longer be able to touch the princess with such familiarity. Soon he would never be able to hold her in his arms again.

So for the moment he was going to enjoy it.

They danced in silence for a few moments as Angelina’s scent surrounded him. Her body heated him. Tempted him. And when the musicians slid almost seamlessly from one slow ballad to another, he didn’t let himself feel guilty for keeping her in his arms for another song.

“I feel selfish for wanting more,” she murmured, her breath warm on his neck.

Something else he could relate to. “Don’t feel guilty. You deserve happiness, the same as anyone else.”

“What makes you happy, Rico?”

“Right now? Holding you in my arms.” Once the words were out there was no way to take them back, even if he’d wanted to.

“Seriously,” she said, even though her eyes sparkled at his words. “Do you like living a life swallowed up by the royal family? I know how many hours you work. This is probably the first vacation you’ve had since you took the job.”

“I would hardly consider this a vacation.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s more like babysitting.”

He stopped dancing, froze in the middle of the floor with the musicians on one side of them and the curious diners on the other. “It is an honor to protect you,” he whispered in her ear. “That I have the opportunity to dance with you is an added bonus.”

“But do you even have a life of your own?” the princess persisted. “How can you possibly have the time to do anything for you?”

He almost told her about Santori Security, the new business waiting for him when he got back from Tuscora. Almost told her he’d already given his notice to her brother. That the same restlessness she felt had pushed him to decide to leave the palace for a life on the outside. The words were waiting there on his next breath.