Royal Secrets

by Abramson, Traci Hunter

  They lingered at the toy store window a bit longer than the others, but the boys happily moved forward when Alora nudged them along. It wasn’t until they reached the pet store window that Dante pulled free of her grasp and both boys pled with their mother to make a purchase.

  “Please, can we get a puppy? Please, Mama?” Giancarlo looked up at her, his dark eyes filled with hope.

  “You know that’s not something we can get right now,” Alora said firmly. Then she motioned to the door. “I’ll let you go inside for a closer look though.”

  “All right!”

  The boys darted through the open door.

  Alora turned to Stefano with an apologetic look on her face. “I hope you don’t mind if they look for a minute.”

  “That’s fine,” Stefano assured her and followed her inside.

  Alora stopped just inside the door, watching as the boys greeted each of the puppies in the various cages that lined the far wall. She let out a small sigh, just loud enough for Stefano to hear it. He looked over at her, a bit surprised to see the look of disappointment on her face.

  “Are you okay?”

  Alora’s shoulders lifted. “It’s difficult to see your child want and not be in a position to give.”

  “I gather they have been asking for a puppy for some time.”

  She nodded. “It broke Giancarlo’s heart when his last dog died. He’s been after me to give him a new puppy ever since.”

  “Why didn’t you get a new one?”

  “We couldn’t have it in our apartment.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She shrugged, and her voice was matter-of-fact when she spoke. “Disappointment is a part of life. We all have to go through it eventually.”

  Chapter 20

  Alora startled when the phone on the end table rang. She tried not to think about the last time she had answered the phone or the reason she had refused to own one for the past three years. She glanced at the boys’ bedroom, reminding herself that they were safely tucked in bed and that she didn’t have anything to worry about.

  She cleared her throat and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Alora, it’s Stefano. I wanted to let you know the furniture you ordered has arrived.”

  “I was hoping it would get here before Janessa got back. How does it look?”

  “Why don’t you come down and see for yourself?”

  “I’d love to, but I just put the kids to bed. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving them alone, especially if they don’t know where to find me.”

  “I’ll send Brenna up to sit with them,” Prince Stefano offered. “If the boys wake up, she can call down and let you know.”

  He was right, of course, and if she could get Brenna to stay for an hour or two, she would be able to get a few things done before the workers arrived tomorrow to hang drapes and set up computers. “That would be great. Thank you.”

  “I’ll meet you in your office in ten minutes.”

  * * *

  Alora walked into the room and ran a finger over the aged cherry desk she had chosen for Janessa. “This is perfect.”

  Stefano nodded in agreement. The desk was smaller and sleeker than the monstrosity his uncle had left behind. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you decided to replace the furniture in here.”

  Alora turned to him and smiled. “I gather you don’t share your uncle’s taste in furniture either.”

  “Not at all.”

  Alora motioned to the empty space in front of the window. “Would you mind helping me move this? I think it will look better over there.”

  A combination of humor and surprise lit his face. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked him to do something so casually, and he didn’t know if anyone had asked him to perform menial labor since he had reached adulthood.

  She looked up at him and seemed to catch herself. “I’m sorry. I forgot who I was talking to.”

  He couldn’t say why that simple comment made him feel like he was being challenged. “Do you think I’m incapable of moving a desk because I’m royalty?”

  “No, but I think your broken collarbone would cause you some trouble.”

  “It’s more annoying now than painful.” Stefano tugged on the sling that still held his left arm in place. “Besides, you shouldn’t be moving furniture around anyway. You might hurt yourself.”

  She stared up at him with a look of disbelief on her face. “I hate to break it to you, but for most people, if they want something done, they have to do it themselves.”

  “I am well aware of that,” Stefano said as he watched Alora slide a chair into place beside a work table. “But I don’t see any reason why rearranging furniture can’t wait until tomorrow since we do have workers who are available to assist you.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Alora looked around the room, and Stefano could almost see her making a mental checklist of what still needed to be done. “I guess I’m just anxious to make sure it’s all finished before Janessa gets back.”

  “She won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, and you don’t have much left to do,” Stefano assured her. “If you want, I can make sure Martino calls you as soon as they arrive.”

  “Actually, that would be great.”

  Stefano’s eyes narrowed. “You know, I don’t think I have your cell number.”

  “Oh, you can just have Martino call me on the office phone,” Alora told him. “A technician came in yesterday and fixed the phones in here.”

  “Did he say what was wrong with them?”

  She nodded. “Apparently some of the wiring was messed up. All the calls to these phones were going to Martino’s office next door.”

  “That’s odd.”

  “That’s what the repairman said,” Alora told him. “He never did figure out how it could have happened.”

  “As long as it’s fixed now,” Stefano said, ignoring the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t quite right. He noticed a small box of toys in the corner of the room. “Have the boys been helping you out in here?”

  “Not yet, but I was planning on having them help me finish up tomorrow. I’m letting them keep a few toys in my office for when they need to tag along with me.”

  “I’m sure they’ll love that.” He nodded and then motioned to the door. “It’s a beautiful night out. Let’s go for a walk in the gardens.”

  She seemed to consider before nodding. “That would be nice, thank you, but I need to make sure Brenna doesn’t mind sitting with the boys a little longer.”

  He led her into the hall. “Don’t worry about that. She isn’t expecting you back until ten.”

  Her eyebrows drew together. “Why did you tell her I’d be gone for so long?”

  “Because I thought you could use some downtime,” Stefano said simply. Before she could protest, he added, “You’ve been working incredibly long hours for the past two days. It won’t hurt for you to stop and smell the flowers, so to speak.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” She walked outside with him and looked up at the night sky before motioning to the gardens. “It’s so beautiful here. Everything looks too perfect to be real.”

  “I will convey your compliments to our gardeners.” He turned down a path that ran parallel to the water. They walked in companionable silence until the path curved around a three-tiered fountain and they reached the stone wall that separated the gardens from the Mediterranean. Stefano rested a hand on the wall and stared out at the water. “So tell me, Alora, how do you like your new home?”

  Alora stepped beside him and mirrored his stance. “Before I moved here, I didn’t believe people really lived like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like this.” She waved her arm and motioned to the gardens and the chateau beyond them. “A beautiful home in a stunning setting, people who are kind and generous with their time and are always so willing to help with every possible need. You must have lived a very blessed life.”
/>   Stefano understood what most people believed life was like for a prince. He also knew that those same people would be shocked to know how many hours he worked in a typical day. Rarely did he sleep past six, and his social obligations typically kept him occupied well into the night. Realizing that Alora had only been around him while he was basically on a holiday, he kept his comment neutral. “Being royal brings both advantages and restrictions.”

  “I’m sure there are many things that are more difficult for you than they are for the rest of us,” Alora said softly. “I can’t imagine what it’s like having the public so aware of every move you make or having so many guards following you every time you go out. Still, you can’t deny the advantage of having gardens like these to play hide and seek in.”

  “That is true.”

  Stefano shifted to face her. A strand of her hair caught in the wind, and he reached out to tuck it behind her ear. Time froze for an instant when his hand skimmed across her cheek. Alora’s dark eyes lifted to meet his, her lovely features silhouetted in the moonlight. His heartbeat quickened, and his eyes lingered on her lips.

  It would have been so easy to lean forward for a kiss, to see if their blooming friendship had the potential of becoming something more. Then he thought of her children, of the fact that he could never offer her the opportunity to have more. Why his thoughts jumped from simply kissing her to making a life with her he couldn’t say, but something tightened in his stomach and then sank like a ball of lead.

  With a great deal of regret, he motioned back the way they had come. “I’ll walk you back.”

  * * *

  “Aunt Janessa!” Giancarlo and Dante raced down the curved staircase as though they had been doing so their whole lives.

  Alora followed behind them and bit back a smile when Janessa winked at her before focusing on the boys, her eyes widening in mock surprise. “Who are these two handsome boys? They can’t be Giancarlo and Dante. They’re much too tall.”

  “It’s us, Aunt Janessa!” Dante squealed with delight and grabbed on to her hand.

  Janessa leaned down so they were eye to eye. “Dante? Is that really you?”

  “You’re just being silly.” Dante giggled.

  “Oh, I am, am I?” Janessa pulled him close for a hug and then turned to give Giancarlo a hug. She stood and glanced back at Prince Garrett, who was watching with amusement. “Garrett, these are the friends I was telling you about.”

  Alora immediately caught herself comparing Prince Garrett to his older brother. They both had classic good looks—tall with dark hair and dark eyes—although Prince Garrett was an inch or two taller than his brother and not as broad through the shoulders.

  When her boys bowed to the prince, Alora noticed the amusement in his eyes that was very much like the expression she had come to expect from Stefano. She caught herself, realizing she no longer put Stefano’s title in front of his name when she thought of him. Not quite sure what to think of this unexpected familiarity, she focused on exchanging greetings with Prince Garrett.

  He chatted with them for a moment before he excused himself. He gave Janessa’s hand a squeeze before heading upstairs.

  Janessa turned her attention back to Alora and reached out to embrace her friend. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived. I hope everyone has made you feel welcome.”

  “I’m not sure if welcome is the word I would use. Spoiled is more like it.”

  Janessa smiled. “Let’s go for a walk, and we can catch up.”

  “Can we come too?” Giancarlo asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  * * *

  “Come in,” Stefano called out in response to the knock on his office door. He smiled when he saw his brother walk in looking both content and rested. “Welcome back. I hope you had a successful trip.”

  “I did, thank you.” Garrett closed the door behind him and then folded his long, lanky frame into the seat across from his brother. He shot Stefano a boyish grin. “I see you aren’t taking the doctor’s orders too seriously.”

  Stefano’s eyes darkened as he thought of his last conversation with the doctor. He planned to confide the recent diagnosis to his brother, to explain that everything had changed for both of them. He opened his mouth to say the words, but once again they wouldn’t come. “Dr. Casale’s orders are a bit strict considering how minor my injuries are.” Stefano shifted in his seat. “Besides, I don’t think I’m going to be able to stay out of the game for much longer. Things are starting to pile up.”

  “I’m sure it didn’t help that I’ve been out of town for the past few days,” Garrett admitted. “Any chance that you were able to get anything done on Janessa’s new offices?”

  “Alora was a bit hesitant to decorate them without Janessa’s knowledge, but once I told her you wanted it to be a surprise, she jumped right in.”

  “How much longer do you think it will take before everything will be ready?”

  “It already is,” Stefano said, delighting in his brother’s surprise. “Alora started first thing Monday morning, and the painters finished up yesterday afternoon,” Stefano told him with a hint of pride in his voice. His mind turned briefly to his and Alora’s time together the night before, but he quickly pushed past it. “She’s been working with the staff all day, moving furniture and taking care of the final touches.”

  “It sounds like she’s every bit as organized as Janessa said,” Garrett commented. “I have to head to the base for a couple hours, but I thought we could show Janessa her new space after dinner.”

  “Sounds good.” Stefano nodded. “Is six o’clock okay for dinner?”

  “I should be back by then.” His eyebrows drew together. “Why so early?”

  “Seven is a bit late to eat for Alora’s children.”

  “Ah. How has that been so far, having little ones underfoot?”

  Stefano smiled now. “They remind me of the two of us when we were young.”

  Garrett chuckled. “Heaven help us.”

  Chapter 21

  “Tell me what you’ve seen so far,” Janessa said to Alora as they walked out of Janessa’s rooms with the boys trotting along behind them.

  Alora immediately thought of her walk in the garden with Stefano the night before. She still wasn’t quite sure what to think of that moment when he had reached out, his fingers skimming her cheek. At first she had thought the gesture had simply been one of familiarity and friendship. Then she had seen something in his eyes, some window that let her see beyond his typical polished exterior. She felt the change between them, an intimacy that left her yearning to discover the man behind the princely exterior.

  Impatient with herself, she pushed the image aside and tried to focus on the intent behind her friend’s question. “Patrice showed us around the chateau a few days ago, and we’ve been through the gardens and down to the beach.”

  “Have you been out to the stables yet?”

  She shook her head. “They have horses here?”

  “Yes.” Janessa nodded, laughing as Giancarlo and Dante both rushed in front of them with pleas to see the horses.

  “Can we ride one?” Giancarlo asked eagerly.

  “I want to ride a pony!” Dante announced.

  Janessa grinned down at the boys and winked. “We’ll see if we can talk your mom into it.”

  Alora leaned closer to her and whispered, “They don’t know how to ride.”

  “Yet,” Janessa corrected. “Come on.”

  Together they walked past the gardens and up a dirt path that snaked through the trees and up a small rise. At the top of the hill, split-rail fences sectioned off the open fields, a long white building situated in the center of the paddocks. A trio of horses gathered in a far pasture under a large cyprus tree. The bay mare grazing in the field closest to them lifted her head and stared for a moment before slowly moving closer to the fence.

  “She’s hoping I have an apple for her.” Janessa reached out and stroked her neck as she spoke gently.
“Sorry, girl. I don’t have anything for you today.”

  “Can I pet her?” Dante asked eagerly.

  “Sure. Come here.” Janessa lifted him up so he could reach the mare more easily. “Just move slowly so you don’t scare her.”

  “Okay.” Dante reached out and rubbed her long nose. The mare snorted and tossed her head. Dante giggled, and Giancarlo took a step back and gripped his mother’s hand.

  “Who do we have here?” The stable manager stepped out of the stables and grinned at the boys. His husky build nearly disguised the fact that he had already seen his seventieth birthday come and go, but what little hair he had left was snow white. His dark eyes twinkled mischievously at Janessa as he asked, “Did you bring me some new stable hands?”

  “Oh, I think you might be able to put them to work,” Janessa said and then introduced the older man as Paolo Saldera.

  Never one to think of anyone as a stranger, Dante stepped forward. “Can I ride a pony?”

  “Well . . .” Paolo scratched at his chin as though deep in thought. “I don’t know that we have any ponies here, but maybe I can interest you in riding a horse.”

  “Oh, they’ve never ridden before,” Alora said quickly.

  Paolo’s eyebrows lifted, and he spoke to Alora now. “Is it okay with you if they learn?”

  “I would love for them to learn, but . . .”

  Before she could continue, Paolo nodded and reached out for Dante’s hand. “Well, let’s get started on your first lesson.” He offered his other hand to Giancarlo, who glanced up at his mother for a brief moment before abandoning her for Paolo. “Did you know I taught Prince Stefano and Prince Garrett to ride?”

  “Really?” both boys asked in unison.

  “Absolutely.” Paolo started toward the stables, leaving Alora feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

  “Don’t worry. He won’t let anything happen to them.”

  Alora watched the boys disappear into the stable before turning to Janessa. “Janessa, you know I can’t afford to pay for lessons.”