Her Royal Bodyguard (9 page)

“Come on,” he growled.

She grabbed his arm as they crossed the street. “Don’t be mad at me,” she said in a stage whisper. “You kissed me back.”

There was no time to respond. Besides, it was the truth. He shouldn’t be angry at her for their public display. He’d displayed as much affection as she had. He might have gone even further if Marco hadn’t reminded him of where they were. Rico couldn’t let Angelina distract him like that. A kidnapper could have knocked him out and taken the princess without even trying.

Marco stood as they approached. “Lucia, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you, but it is only because of the lovely dress your wife gave me,” she said graciously.

“No. No,” Marco replied smoothly. “Your beauty enhances the dress, not the other way around.”

“You’re sweet.” She kissed his cheek and Rico felt an insane burst of jealousy. It made no sense. He had to get his head back on straight. And a handle on his libido.

They followed Marco inside. The princess’s sunglasses were tucked into his jacket pocket, but she’d already been seen without them, and Rico knew they wouldn’t be practical in the dim light of the barroom anyway.

He studied the room as they entered. A curved bar spanned the back of the small space. Four people sat on stools, their backs to the door. Tables for two or four were scattered around the room, but only a few were occupied. There wasn’t much chance of danger from this group, but Rico didn’t let himself relax.

“A round of drinks in honor of the new bride and groom!” Marco shouted before they were halfway across the floor. Conversations stopped and everyone at the bar turned to look at them.

The princess hesitated in her steps and Rico almost knocked into her from behind. He grasped her shoulders to steady her.

“This is Rico,” Marco announced, his arm sweeping the room. “Giuseppe and Rosa’s nephew. Beatrice’s son. Remember him? He works for the palace guard now. He married the beautiful Lucia yesterday and they have come all the way to Tuscora to be alone together like young ones do.”

“Then why did you drag them in here?” one of the men, older than Marco and sporting a white handlebar mustache, asked. Laughter burst out around them. “Let the young people go and be alone together.”

“They don’t want to spend the afternoon with strangers,” the red-haired woman beside him said.

“
Old
strangers,” a man at one of the table added. He turned to the princess and winked. “Though we would be happy to spend the afternoon with
you
.”

More warm laughter filled the air. The princess looked up at Rico and smiled. Her pleasure at this welcome by a small group of locals was obvious.

“She’s pretty as a princess,” someone called out from across the room.

Angelina stiffened and Rico wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head, trying to calm her obvious nerves without drawing any attention. He threw a discreet glance to the other side of the dining room, but he couldn’t tell which of the three men at the table had spoken.

“Just goes to prove the man has good taste,” Marco said lightly.

“
He’s
not bad on the eyes either,” a woman with long white hair at the bar said, sending a playful grin in his direction.

“Yes, they are a most beautiful couple and I invited them here so we can toast to their marriage,” Marco replied. He gestured to the tall man behind the bar. “Tonio, drinks for everyone!”

Rico and the princess were ushered over to a table for four near the bar. Rico chose the chair with its back to the wall, so that the doorway was in clear view. The princess’s eyes were a little wide, her expression unsure as she sat down beside him. She’d probably never been in a local bar like this, surrounded by outspoken people who dressed without feeling any need to impress. He caught the princess’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.

It seemed as if everyone in the room was talking over each other. Rico got the impression that this was a group of regulars and they all liked to talk. Whether they ever listened to each other was another story.

Marco came over to the table with three long glasses of spumante. The sparkling wine looked inviting and refreshing. With a broad smile, he handed them each a glass, then, still standing, raised his glass high. “To Rico and Lucia! May their future together be long and happy.”

Everyone in the place repeated the toast and drank deeply. The princess caught Rico’s gaze and he could tell she was uncomfortable. Rico understood why she felt guilty for the deception, but he wouldn’t regret doing whatever it took to keep her safe. He tapped his glass lightly against hers and they drank.

“How long are you staying in Tuscora?” Marco asked after he took a seat at the table with them.

“We’re not sure,” Rico replied cautiously.

“We’re trying not to plan too far ahead,” the princess said with a little smile. “A honeymoon should be spontaneous, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely,” Marco replied. He leaned in close and winked. “Like that kiss on the sidewalk?”

The princess’s cheeks grew pink but Rico just shrugged. “I admit I am overwhelmed by this woman who agreed to become my wife.” He put his hand over hers on the table. “I find it difficult to keep my hands to myself.”

“I don’t want you to keep your hands to yourself,” she said softly.

Marco’s laughter boomed around the room. “I like this woman.”

“I like you too,” she replied.

“Son, this is a woman to keep around.”

Rico cleared his throat, glanced at the princess but she was staring into the bubbles in her glass as her cheeks turned a pretty pink again.

“Marco, you’ve embarrassed the girl,” the white-haired woman at the bar said.

“Bah! She captured this big tough guy. She must be a strong woman too.” A wicked grin appeared on Marco’s face. “And of course she has to know how strong she is. Just ask my Gina!”

Laughter burst out around the room again. His wife walked in at that moment and everyone called out to her.

“There’s my strong woman!” Marco shouted. He rose, arms outstretched. “Come to your man.”

Gina narrowed her eyes. “How much have you had to drink?” But she walked into his arms and kissed him soundly.

Rico had never thought much about getting married, of having a partner with whom to share his life. His job was dangerous. It took up most of his time. He’d convinced himself he didn’t need more than an occasional woman to slake his physical needs.

But something about seeing loving couples like his aunt and uncle, like Marco and Gina, couples who had been together for many years, made him wonder if he might be missing something. He glanced over to the princess and saw that she was studying the older couple as well. He squeezed her hand and she glanced at him and smiled.

He slid his hand off hers and picked up his glass. Once he got his security business up and running, he’d look for a woman. Someone graceful and gracious. Someone stubborn and passionate too. A strong woman like…

No. It would do no good to even think it.

Even if he imagined he might actually get married at some point, it would never be to the princess of Mezzano.

From a young age, his parents had warned him not to get too close to the royal family. He and Vittorio were the same age and had often run around together while they were growing up. They both had grown up in the royal palace, but the entire apartment in the staff’s wing where Rico had lived with his parents and sister was smaller than the crown prince’s personal suite.

Vittorio had remained Rico’s friend, but they had never been equals. The older they’d gotten, the clearer that had become. Vittorio would always be his prince and his employer. Well, not his employer much longer.

Rico glanced over at the princess, chatting happily with Gina. Angelina was lovely, passionate, strong. He desired her so much he could barely breathe sometimes, but he could never agree to her request to take her to bed. She wasn’t a woman with whom he could toy. And she was also not a woman with whom he could have a future.

He would never be Angelina’s equal.

By the time they left the bar, Angelina was feeling the effects of too much wine and too much laughter. No, not
too much
laughter, could there ever be too much laughter? But after enjoying herself immensely with these people she’d never met before, sitting so close to Rico whom she still didn’t really know, she was confused. It couldn’t be just the wine.

How could she have had more fun this afternoon than she remembered ever having with any of her friends back home?

She stumbled a little in her heels when they crossed the street. Rico kept a hold on her even as his gaze continued to sweep the street, watching the people strolling the sidewalk, the cars driving by.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his arm around her waist, his warm breath brushing against her cheek.

“Fine. Just a little…”

“Drunk?”

His amusement irritated her. She’d noticed he’d switched to coffee after that first glass, like a responsible bodyguard should. They’d shared a hearty sandwich a little while ago, but she probably shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine.

Angelina leaned her head back to look up at him and wobbled again. She grasped his arm. “Tipsy. That’s all. I can handle wine. I drink it all the time.”

“Of course.” But he held her tighter and she couldn’t be sorry about that.

They walked together in an easy silence then, their strides seeming to find a comfortable rhythm. Her hip was pressed against his, her breast pushed against his side. Her body felt loose and warm. The lack of sleep from the all-night drive was catching up with her and she knew Rico must be feeling it too. Still, she longed to be able to walk with him, just like this, all night long.

When they reached the villa, she said, “Rico?”

They stopped in the middle of the empty courtyard and somehow she was in his arms. “Yes,
amore
?”

“I had a really good time today.”

His wide smile made her even warmer. “I’m glad. I enjoyed myself as well.”

“Do you think we’re safe here in Tuscora?” she asked softly.

He pulled her in close and brushed his lips against her ear. “I will not let my guard down, of course, but yes, I think we are safe here.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad. It’s exhausting to be on edge all the time. I don’t know how you do it.”

Rico shrugged. “It’s all in what we are used to, I imagine. I find it difficult to relax. I can’t let myself relax when someone’s safety depends on me.”

Shadows were lengthening around them. They’d spent a much longer time with the friendly people at the bar than she’d thought. Angelina studied Rico’s face, saw the dark smudges under his eyes. “You need to get some sleep.”

“I’m used to pulling all-nighters.”

“Still.” She took his arm and led him up the stairs and into the apartment. She’d hoped to seduce him tonight but knew now that she shouldn’t push him. Not tonight when they were both so very weary.

But if not tonight, then when?

Angelina locked the door behind them and then turned to Rico. He must have been more tired than he admitted because he didn’t stop her when she took his hand and led him into the bedroom.

She slid her hands beneath the shoulders of the black jacket he wore over a soft gray button-down shirt. Before she could slip his jacket off with fingers that only slightly trembled, he stopped her, wrapping his fingers around her wrists.

“Your Highness…”

“A few minutes ago I was your
amore
,” she reminded him. She didn’t remove her hands from his firm shoulders. His warmth seeped through the shirt into her palms.

“We were outside,” he said, his voice infuriatingly calm.

“And now we are inside. Away from prying eyes. Away from curious ears.” She pushed the jacket off his shoulders and he released her wrists to let it fall to the floor. “Inside this apartment it is just you and me.”

His hands came up to grasp her arms now. He may have intended to push her away, but he didn’t. “Princess…”

“No!” she snapped. “While we are in Tuscora, I am not a princess. You are not my bodyguard.” Didn’t he understand? “You are a man. I am a woman.”

His jaw tightened. So did his fingers. “I am well aware that you are a woman. But you are still my princess.”

She slid one hand up to cup his rugged jaw. “And you are the man I trust more than any other.”

“Your Highness…”

“Don’t call me that! I am more than my title.” She was the one to push him away now. She turned and crossed to the other side of the room, but it was only a few steps. She whirled around to face him, the bed between them. “Don’t you understand? I want to be more than my title.” She spread her arms, feeling more vulnerable than she ever had before. “I am a woman, Rico. I am Angelina.”

He didn’t speak at first. Just looked at her, perhaps seeing her, really seeing her for the first time. Angelina’s heart raced as she waited for him to come to her. Or walk away.