“I can’t tell you how delighted I am that you decided to join us.” His voice was calm and assured, but his eyes sparked with surprising uncertainty as he lifted her hand to his lips in an annoyingly charming gesture.
“I didn’t get the chance to thank you earlier for spending time with Giancarlo,” Alora said formally. “He very much enjoyed it.”
“I should be the one thanking you for allowing me the privilege.” He lifted his left hand in greeting when someone called out to him as they passed by. Alora didn’t miss the pain that registered on his face with the movement.
“Why aren’t you wearing your sling?”
He smirked at her. “I wasn’t sure I would have anyone to help me cut up my dinner.”
“That’s hardly an excuse. You’re still in pain.”
“Not really. The doctor said I should be able to stop wearing it within a couple days anyway. I thought I would use tonight as a test run,” Stefano told her. “Besides, I would prefer that my injury not be the topic of tonight’s dinner conversation.”
He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and gestured with his free hand to the parlor. “Since you’re here, I was hoping you would let me introduce you to a few people.”
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, but she nodded. “All right.”
Stefano led her toward the man he had entered the room with a few moments earlier. “Alora DeSanto, this is Mario Petruzzi. Mario works for the Italian ambassador. The ambassador and most of his senior staff are vacationing for a few days at the resort in Bellamo.”
“I hope you are enjoying your stay,” Alora said as Mario shook her hand.
“Very much so, thank you.” Mario smiled charmingly and then spoke to Stefano. “How is it that you always manage to find the most beautiful women in the countryside?”
Alora could feel her cheeks heat, but Stefano simply patted her hand. “In this case, I owe the credit to my brother’s fiancée. Alora and Janessa are old friends.”
He turned to Alora. “You are American?”
“I’m from Italy.”
“I see.” Mario gave Stefano an amused look. “So you have exhausted the supply of beautiful women in your own country, and now you are stealing from mine.”
Stefano merely smiled and shrugged. “Can you blame me?”
“Not at all.” Mario chuckled.
“I’m sure we’ll talk to you later.” Stefano shook Mario’s hand and led Alora through the crowd toward an older man who appeared to be in his sixties. “Alora, this is Bernardo Campesi. He is the president of the ruling council here in Meridia. He was kind enough to drive over from Calene to join us tonight.”
The man greeted her in the form of a nod and then spoke to Stefano. “Your Highness, I hoped I might steal a few moments of your time while I am here. Perhaps we can meet in your office after your guests leave.”
“I’m sorry, Bernardo, but tonight doesn’t work for me.”
“It will only take a minute,” the older man pressed. “I have to return to Calene tonight.”
“I’m sorry, but I really can’t.” Stefano shook his head. “But I would be happy to call you tomorrow.”
“Very well.” He nodded stiffly as Stefano led Alora farther into the room.
Stefano introduced her to several more people from the Italian embassy before dinner was served.
When they walked into the dining hall, Alora noticed the place cards on the table. Her stomach clutched at the thought of searching for her name, of the possibility that a place hadn’t been set for her. To her relief, Stefano walked her to her chair before taking his place at the head of the table. She hadn’t originally considered that she would not be seated beside Stefano and was a little uncomfortable when she saw that Janessa and Garrett were sitting at the far end of the table.
Then Mario took the seat beside her and started his harmless flirting once more. He introduced her to those seated closest to them, and Alora found herself fascinated by tales of embassy life and the latest political ventures of her homeland.
After the last course was cleared and the first guests began to say their good-byes, Janessa approached Alora. “I’m glad you changed your mind about coming tonight.”
“Me too.” Alora glanced over to where Stefano was speaking with several people, including two young women who appeared to be vying for his attention. “Do you ever feel out of place at these dinners?”
“All the time.” She glanced across the room at Stefano. “Although I do have to admit that life has been a lot easier for me since our engagement was announced. I remember what it was like to have most of the single women in the room stare at you like you’re the competition.”
“Yes, but you were dating Prince Garrett. Stefano and I are just friends.”
“Are you sure?” Janessa let the question dangle as Garrett stepped beside her.
Alora nodded but still felt her cheeks flush.
“Alora, you look stunning tonight.” Garrett shook her hand before slipping his arm around Janessa.
“Thank you.” Alora managed to smile. “You look rather dashing tonight yourself.”
Garrett simply grinned. “I’m sorry to steal Janessa away, but I think we have a few guests who would like to say good-bye to us before they leave.”
Janessa reached out to give Alora’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay.” Alora watched them cross the room to position themselves near the front entrance, where they could chat with everyone as they left. She turned to scan the room for Stefano, surprised to see him excuse himself from his current conversation and head toward her.
“I’m sorry we weren’t seated together at dinner.”
“That’s okay.” She smiled up at him. “Your friend Mario was quite entertaining.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Not too entertaining, I hope.”
“Let’s just say he helped pass the time.”
Stefano glanced around the room. “It looks like everyone is heading out. Can I convince you to take a walk with me?”
She hesitated, Janessa’s suspicions rattling through her mind. “It’s getting late.”
“Please, Alora?” Stefano looked down at her, and she felt like they were the only two people in the room.
She hesitated again, not sure she trusted herself to be alone with him in the moonlight. As she opened her mouth to say no, the word yes tumbled out.
Without a word, Stefano took her hand and led her through the terrace doors.
Chapter 27
With her hand still in his, Stefano led Alora down a lit path that wove through a maze of blooming flowers and ivy-covered trellises. He heard muffled voices coming from the chateau’s entrance and turned away from them. Though he had spent several hours working beside Alora earlier, he wanted time alone with her away from work and family.
He studied her for a moment, trying to gauge her mood. She seemed to have gotten past her anger from earlier. Her words still stung because they were true, both the fact that he had been less than a gentleman in demanding that she come to dinner and the reality that he was not a parent. She couldn’t know, of course, why the second comment had hit him so hard, but he could address the first.
“I suppose I should apologize to you for this afternoon. It appears my manners are a bit rusty when it comes to dating.”
“I think you made up for that when you talked to Giancarlo,” Alora said quietly. “I don’t know what you said to him, but he was an angel tonight when you brought him back.”
“He’s just nervous about starting at a new school.”
Alora stopped beside a climbing rose bush and turned to face him. “He told you that?”
Stefano nodded, noting the surprise on her face and the way the moonlight shimmered on her gown.
“That’s amazing. He rarely confides in anyone besides me.”
“It sounds like he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities before now.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“I came because I wanted to, but my gratitude helped overshadow my anger.”
He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “I really didn’t mean to make you angry.”
“I know.” She granted him a smile. “I’m afraid my temper can get the best of me, especially when someone tells me what to do.”
His eyes lit with amusement. “I’ll have to remember that.”
“I don’t know if that’s something I want you to remember about me.”
“Maybe I want to remember everything about you,” Stefano said, his voice lowering so it was barely louder than a whisper. He stepped closer, his hand releasing hers so it was free to trail up her arm and rest on her shoulder. He saw the alarm in her eyes. He might have been able to keep his distance if he hadn’t also seen the flash of wonder.
“We should go back in.” Alora whispered the words, her eyes fixed on his.
“Not just yet.” Stefano cupped her shoulders as he lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was whisper soft, but it vibrated with comfort, belonging, and a hint of passion. He breathed in her scent, the exotic aroma of her perfume combined with the flavor of the sea. Something clicked inside him, a sense of rightness that he had been searching for without even knowing it. When he broke the kiss, he found clarity, but he saw confusion in her eyes.
“Stefano . . .” Her voice trailed off as though she were at a loss for words.
He smiled, amazed that her simple use of his name could feel so right. “I have to try that again.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to complicate things between us.”
“This doesn’t have to be complicated.” He drew her closer, and his lips met hers once more. He felt her put a hand on his chest as if to resist whatever emotions were flowing through her. Then slowly that hand slid up to his shoulder, and she simply held on. In that moment, everything he was, everything he would become, was wrapped up in her.
As if she felt the change in him, she stepped back and looked up at him with wide eyes. She shook her head. “This is wrong. We can’t do this.”
His eyes narrowed as he tried to understand her words. Surely her feelings had mirrored his own. Even in the heat of the moment, he understood that this whirl of emotions wasn’t just the result of a kiss but the culmination of weeks of developing friendship and the underlying connection between them. He ran a finger lightly down her arm, his eyes remaining fixed on hers. “We can’t do what, exactly?”
“Get involved.” She took a steadying breath, and he was amazed to see her mask her emotions behind a blank stare. Her voice was calm when she spoke now, almost professional. “I have my children to think about, and it wouldn’t be wise for me to start dating right now, especially when they are going through so many changes.”
“Don’t do that.” Stefano’s voice was low and even, but it vibrated with frustration. “Don’t use Giancarlo and Dante as an excuse to stop living your life.”
“I’m not.” She snapped out the words, and part of the calm façade chipped away. “Can’t you understand? I don’t want this kind of complication right now.”
“With me or with anyone?”
“With anyone,” she said vehemently. Her voice softened fractionally when she added, “but especially not with you.”
“Why not?” Stefano reached out and gripped her arms, both to keep her from backing away and to satisfy his need to touch. “I care for you, and no matter what the tabloids might say, I haven’t cared for anyone in a very long time.”
A spark of hope flashed in her eyes before she controlled it. Once again, her voice was unsteady when she spoke. “It could never work.”
Temper and impatience snapped inside him. When he would have pulled her closer, she stepped back.
“Stefano, I’m not trying to play games with you. I’m trying to keep both of us from getting hurt.” She turned and took several steps before turning back to face him. “You know my children are everything to me. The greatest gift I can give them is a sure knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It would be too confusing for them to get attached to someone who doesn’t share that understanding.”
He stared blankly at her for a moment. “You’re telling me you won’t spend time with me because I’m not Mormon?”
“I’m telling you that this can’t go any further because you’re not Mormon.” She looked skyward as though offering some silent prayer. When she looked back at him, she pressed her lips together, and he could see her determination. “The first day I met you, my children told you they want to be missionaries someday.”
“So?”
“I want to see that happen, and I’m afraid that if I fall for someone who isn’t a Latter-day Saint, my boys will lose their focus on what’s really important.” She swallowed hard. “I already worry about what Janessa will face when she and your brother have children.”
It took a moment for Stefano to realize that Alora didn’t know of his brother’s conversion to the Mormon Church. Shamelessly, he tried to spin the misconception to his advantage. “Let me get this straight. You won’t even go out with me, but you’re willing to support Janessa’s choice. Why?”
“Because she said when she prayed about marrying Prince Garrett, it felt right. It isn’t my place to say that she’s making a mistake when the Lord already told her she isn’t.”
He hadn’t ever considered that anyone would pray about such a personal decision and get an answer, but obviously Alora believed it was possible. He nodded, considering. “Okay, then. Why don’t you pray about spending time with me?”
She shook her head immediately. “That’s hardly necessary.”
“If you believe God can give you guidance in such personal matters, it is completely necessary.”
“Stefano, we both know you have plenty of women who would be thrilled to go out with you. I don’t understand why you’re wasting your time with me.”
“I have feelings for you. Is that so hard to understand?”
“We’re friends. That’s all.”
Frustration bubbled inside him. “Don’t tell me you didn’t feel anything when I kissed you, that you aren’t interested.”
Her shoulders straightened, and anger flashed in her eyes. “I’m starting to think you aren’t accustomed to someone telling you no.”
The truth of her statement stung, but Stefano stepped forward and took her hand. “You keep giving me excuses, but I think the only reason you don’t want to be with me is you’re afraid.”
Tears threatened, and she blinked them back. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t want to feel anything for you because I know what it’s like to have everything and then have it all ripped away. I’m not willing to go through that again. I can’t.”
“Alora . . .”
Her eyes still bright, she shook her head and took a step toward the chateau. “I’m going inside. Good night.”
He started to follow, but the defiant look on her face told him that nothing he said would change her mind. Not tonight anyway.
Turning away from the chateau, he walked deeper into the gardens. She would change her mind, he told himself. This attraction between them was too strong to ignore. It demanded to be explored and developed. Neither of them would be able to leave it alone until they knew where it could take them.
He wavered between giving her some time to herself to come to terms with her feelings and putting his efforts into changing her mind. Though his pride favored the first option, his heart edged him toward the second. He could rearrange his schedule to stay at the chateau a bit longer, or perhaps he could convince Janessa that Alora should spend some time at the palace as they began working on the initial wedding plans.
Possibilities rolled through his mind until a thought struck him and overshadowed all others. Did it really matter if Alora changed her mind? She had pointed out herself that there were plenty of other women who were w
illing to spend time with him, women who didn’t have children to tend to or religious beliefs that got in the way. Other women wouldn’t scrape at his pride or point out his weaknesses.
Then again, before he met Alora, he couldn’t remember anyone ever expecting more of him than what they could see on the surface. He had been photographed countless times with dozens of beautiful women, but only once had he saved the resulting newspaper clipping. His stomach clenched as he faced the simple truth. He didn’t want any other woman. He wanted Alora.
His cell phone rang, and he instantly thought of her. Then he remembered he had never given Alora his phone number, that he still didn’t have hers. He pulled the phone from his pocket and saw his brother’s number illuminated on the screen. “What is it, Garrett?”
“They found it, Stefano. They found the other half of the transmitter.”
Chapter 28
Stefano didn’t mince words when he arrived in Janessa’s office, where he found her and Garrett. “Where was it?”
“Exactly where Levi thought it would be,” Janessa told him.
Stefano thought back to his encounter with his uncle earlier in the month and Alora’s report that he had returned a second time. “I didn’t want to think it possible, but I have to wonder if Uncle Elam could somehow be involved in this.”
“We were wondering the same thing,” Garrett admitted.
Janessa nodded in agreement. “There’s no way to know if he was involved in planting the devices originally or if someone persuaded him to come retrieve the transmitter for them, but either way, his sudden visits this month are definitely suspicious.”
“But why would he spy on our family?” Stefano asked with a hint of annoyance. “He had no reason to.”
“Maybe he did,” Janessa said gently. “According to the CIA’s file on your uncle, he stopped using his offices here about two years ago. There was some speculation among my colleagues at the Agency that your father asked him to leave.” Janessa looked from Stefano to Garrett. “I’m still new to Meridian politics, but can you think of anything that happened here around that time that might have caused a falling out between your father and your uncle?”
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