He looked nothing like that man now. He seemed distant. Powerful. From another world.
When the first marchers approached the reviewing stand, he casually put a hand on his sister’s shoulder and gave her a warm, protective smile. Even from her vantage point across the street, Kelly could see the dimple in his cheek, the one that only seemed to appear when he completely relaxed.
Just the way he had on the patio at Guilia’s.
After that, the rest of the parade passed quickly. Kelly tried to focus on the floats, but occasionally sneaked peeks at the reviewing stand, unwilling to be caught staring, but unable to look away. She’d struggled to find the balance between a normal level of curiosity—because the Barralis were, after all, the main attraction—and a level of intensity April would suss out as romantic interest.
April was too perceptive by half, and the last thing Kelly needed was for April to detect the waves of lust coursing through Kelly simply by looking at Massimo.
But then, near the midpoint of the parade, she’d seen Massimo scan the crowd. Noticed his gaze light on her. Had shivered under his watch, but knew he couldn’t possibly see her watching him back, since her head was turned to the side and she’d been studying him from behind her sunglasses.
Nevertheless, his scrutiny unsettled her. Thankfully, April had grabbed her arm just before the final marchers approached, pulling her toward the bar in hopes they could nab a seat before the crowd dispersed.
“You look far away. What’s on your mind?” April asked, snapping Kelly’s mind back to the bar.
“Prince Massimo, I suppose. We still have a lot of work to do.” Both true statements, even if the man’s closet wasn’t the specific direction her thoughts had taken. “Though now that the floor is done, I feel like we’re making progress.”
Kelly had been thrilled to discover the original hardwood remained underneath the ugly carpet. The intricate details matched those of the apartment’s main rooms, making the closet feel more spacious since it now flowed from the rest of the suite. Best of all, it was in such good shape it didn’t need refinishing. A good scrub followed by a light polish restored it to its original glory.
“I never thought it’d turn out so beautifully. That nasty carpet protected it. Go figure.”
April glanced over her shoulder, looking for the waitress, then turned back to the table and smacked her palm to her forehead. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you! The head of maintenance called me. The extra carpenter is available to help me install the shelves tomorrow, otherwise he can’t come until next week because he’s working on a project in the royal kennels. I went ahead and told him to come tomorrow. Are you ready?”
“Tomorrow should be fine.” Though it was a day earlier she’d expected. After doing a quick mental inventory of the tasks remaining, she said, “I haven’t decided yet whether we should use that dresser from the main room. If so, it would need to be moved into the closet first. It’ll be easier to get it in there without having to navigate around the new shelving. I can call maintenance and get it moved tonight.”
“We don’t need maintenance. I’ll help you move it after we eat.”
“I thought you wanted to go to the fireworks?” April couldn’t be serious about the offer. “Besides, it must weigh a ton.”
“It’s hours before the fireworks and I’m stronger than I look. So are you.” April raised her drink in a toast, so Kelly did the same. “Here’s to us.”
“And here’s to you reconsidering your offer to help. Unless you have a few tricks up your sleeve.”
At that moment, a man with dark, glossy hair and clear, light olive-toned skin walked by, beer in hand. His soft yellow shirt and white shorts set off his complexion to perfection. He gave April a subtle wink.
April tucked a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear and gave the man a sultry smile. To Kelly, she softly replied, “Oh, I do.”
* * *
“What did we toast at the bar? Here’s to two stupid women?” Kelly muttered two hours later as she and April struggled to lift one corner of the bureau high enough off the ground for April to toe a sliding disk underneath. “We may kill ourselves doing this.”
“No one’s allowed to die when there are so many guests in the palace. Bad form,” April huffed. When they’d approached the palace, they’d had to avoid a long line of limousines depositing well-dressed guests at the front stairs for the banquet. “But let’s hope this fits in the closet the way you think, otherwise we’ll be moving it back.”
“No kidding. I’m glad you had sliders to protect the floors. If we had to carry this, could you imagine what might happen to—”
“Ahem!” April paused and bugged her eyes at Kelly over the top of the bureau. “One, we couldn’t move it without the sliders, and two, thou shalt not speak of the floors or anything that may or may not happen to them. Bad juju.”
“All right.” Kelly exhaled, then put her hands on top of the massive piece of furniture. “No more talking. Let’s get this thing in place.”
“Then I’m going in search of the fireworks.”
“The fireworks, or the guy from the bar?”
“Both. And the sooner, the better.”
On that note, the women put their weight behind the bureau. Fortunately, with sliders under each of the thick legs, it glided across the hardwood floor with less effort than Kelly anticipated. No evidence of its transit was left behind as they rounded the corner from the living room into the bedroom, though it took several minutes to maneuver the huge piece through the closet door and into the spot Kelly indicated underneath the window. After a few adjustments, Kelly stood back to take a look. “You know, I think it’s going to work.”
April flexed her hands to loosen the kinks as she walked to the door and turned to inspect the closet. “Not just work. It wows. It was lost in the living room, but in here…well, you can really appreciate the thing.”
Satisfaction filled Kelly’s being. A blend of classic and modern design was exactly what she’d hoped to accomplish in the space, and the bureau satisfied the classic component.
“It’ll look even better once the shelves are installed. And wait until you see the chandelier I found for the center of the room. It’s a clean design that’ll work well with the shelving, and it has cut crystal accents that will help it feel true to the era of the rest of the palace. Then I’ll put a couple of matching crystal lamps on top of the bureau, at the edges.” She talked with her hands, demonstrating exactly where she wanted to position the lighting for maximum effect. “Prince Massimo can use the space between the lamps to set out small items like ties or cufflinks as he’s getting dressed.”
“So we’re all set?”
“Yep. But let’s leave the sliders underneath until tomorrow, just in case it needs to be moved while the shelving and hang rods go in.”
“Agreed.” As April continued to study the space, she added, “From what I know of Prince Massimo, he rarely lets anyone do anything for him. Nothing personal, like designing a closet, at least. But I can see why you’ve earned his trust. You’ve thought of all the little details, like giving him a place to lay out his ties.”
“Thank you. I hope he’s happy. He’s certainly paying me enough.”
That brought a grin to April’s face. “Did you negotiate up his original offer?”
Kelly looked at her askance as she bent to wipe some dust from the front of the bureau. “No.”
“You should’ve. You’d be getting more. Trust me.”
“More isn’t necessary. Besides,” she said with a dismissive wave, “it would feel as if I’m ripping off the people of Sarcaccia. I do already.”
“It doesn’t come from taxpayer money. The palace is privately owned and maintained.”
“Really?” Most European palaces were owned by the government since the funds to build them originally came from state coffers. “I had no idea.”
“The Barralis have been very financially savvy over the years,” April exp
lained. “They bankrolled the construction of this place with proceeds from their own shipping company centuries ago. These days they have investments all over Europe and the U.S. Here in Sarcaccia, they own wineries. They also make money from the royal kennels and I’m pretty sure they own the polo grounds down on the southern end of the island.”
Kelly must’ve looked incredulous, because April elbowed her and said, “Trust me, they won’t feel ripped off if you do a good job for them. But if they hire you again, haggle for more money. You’re the one who got ripped off this time.”
“Not at all,” she insisted. “Prince Massimo’s been extremely generous.”
April exhaled, as if exasperated with trying to teach a stubborn student, then let her gaze sweep the closet.
“I have to say, I’m glad you’re going to be able to use this,” April said, approaching the bureau once more. She studied the front, then pulled open one of the lower drawers and ran her hands around the interior. “I couldn’t imagine it going into storage down in the depths of the palace. It must be several hundred years old. The workmanship is astounding. Did you get a look at the drawers?”
“I did. They’re smooth as can be. Even the bottoms are finished.”
“Keeps delicate clothes from being snagged.” April commented. “If a king wanted to store his valuable silks, he’d have commissioned a piece specifically designed to protect them. My guess is that’s what this was for. It’d be interesting to find out who ordered it and who built it.”
“I have a request in to the royal historian. It’s unbelievable how much history is under this roof.”
“No kidding. Speaking of which, I’m outta here. Time to celebrate all this Sarcaccian history with some fireworks.” April closed the drawer and straightened. “You sure I can’t talk you into joining me? I’m meeting some friends near the marina. That way, if it actually does rain, we can duck into one of the bars and keep the party going.”
The expectant tilt to April’s brows nearly made Kelly say yes. Nearly. “I’m wiped out from being in the sun all day. And with the shelves going in tomorrow, I should mark out the spots for the electrical outlets and the chandelier. It won’t take me long, then I can get a good night’s sleep before we start tomorrow.”
“Nikolai from the bar will be there. He’s bringing his hot friends, too.”
“No doubt.” When they’d made their way to the parade route and then to the bar, she’d noticed April’s knack for attracting male attention. “But believe me when I say that meeting a cute guy is the last thing I need at the moment. I really appreciate the invitation, though.”
April shrugged. “Your loss. See you tomorrow, then.”
Once Kelly had the closet to herself, she grabbed a pencil to mark out spots on the walls where she wanted two new electrical outlets. Wiring in the palace was tricky, given its age, but she’d done a walk-through with an electrician the day before to see what was feasible. She then pulled a ladder from where she’d stowed it in the corner, taking care not to tangle the work light she’d hung from the side, then climbed to the ceiling to mark the circumference of the new chandelier’s canopy around the old fixture.
She paused while atop the ladder, taking in the unique view of the closet. Once again, her gaze fell to the bureau. Years of careful polishing made its top shine despite its age, while the curved front of the piece gave it unique charm. When viewed from this angle, the bureau seemed deeper, as if the top extended further to the back than the drawer April had inspected earlier. The contrast piqued her curiosity. Kelly climbed down from the ladder and pulled out the top drawer, but nothing struck her as out of the ordinary. Frowning, she tested the lower drawers. When she reached the one April checked earlier, she noticed that, sure enough, it wasn’t as deep as the others.
On a ripple of excitement, she eased her fingers along the sides of the drawer, releasing the mechanism that kept it in place, then withdrew it all the way from the case. After setting the heavy drawer to the side, she felt along the back of the bureau. She sussed out a small wooden piece that didn’t seem to have a function. She pushed on it, but nothing happened. A wiggle to the left and right, however, and the piece gave way, revealing a narrow hidden compartment behind it. She lowered the false back and was rewarded with a thunk as something small and weighty fell into the bottom drawer.
She opened the bottom drawer and withdrew a bag crafted of plush cornflower blue velvet and slightly larger than a deck of cards. A white silk drawstring held the top, but Kelly didn’t need to open it to know it contained jewelry. The weight of the bag alone told her it must be a significant piece. Gently, she pushed the drawer shut and stood. As she placed the bag on top of the bureau, something slithered out a hole in the bottom. Instinct made her reach for it, catching it in her palm before it hit the floor.
A gasp escaped her lips as she looked at the necklace in her hand. Laden with brilliant diamonds and sapphires, and boasting a massive sapphire as its centerpiece, it was fit for a queen.
Chapter Nineteen
A gasp, then a wave of applause went through those gathered on the long patio outside the palace’s main ballroom as blasts of green and yellow lit the night sky. As they faded, gold streaks crossed through the smoky air and erupted into a shower of glitter, which was followed by more large green and yellow starbursts. The breeze, which was blowing inland from the direction of the marina, carried the scent of exploded fireworks and the damp chill that prefaced a rainstorm. Still, the rain had stayed offshore, allowing the fireworks to go off on schedule.
In the distance, Massimo could hear the roar of the thousands of people gathered near the marina as the display reached its crescendo.
He wondered how many of those revelers would end up drenched, or if the downpour that’d been forecast would hold off until they could make their way home. The well-heeled crowd on the palace patio had it easy. They could duck inside the ballroom within seconds to escape a storm if necessary.
“I see you met with the stylist.”
Massimo turned his attention from the fireworks to the source of the droll comment. Vittorio stood just behind his right shoulder. Massimo raised his brow marginally, but kept his sarcastic response to himself. They watched the fireworks in silence for a few moments as the crowd around them chattered away, with couples pointing out different colors to each other and commenting on which types of fireworks were their favorites.
“It’s good to have you back,” Vittorio said just loud enough for Massimo to hear. “Not just back to attending events—which I think you’ve needed—but back to the family.”
The seriousness of Vittorio’s tone made Massimo glance at his older brother, but the crown prince’s gaze remained fixed on the skies, his eyes reflecting only the blues and reds of the fireworks blossoming overhead.
“You remember the text message you sent me asking about a particular tourist? What prompted it?”
Vittorio shielded his eyes as if to better view the fireworks, with the positioning of his forearm blocking others from seeing him speak. “A rumor floating amongst the paparazzi that morning claimed that a well-known palace insider was about to be arrested for defrauding the family. That’s why they were at the station.”
The information surprised Massimo. “Was there a story?”
“About you? All that was reported—since you apparently haven’t checked—is that the police chief stated you were at the station in regard to Gaspare, who’d wandered off that morning but was located on the beach. The tourist’s name was never mentioned. The reporters thought they had their fraud story when you walked out, but when the police chief stated that it wasn’t related and that he knew nothing of a palace insider committing fraud, they left.”
That was a relief where Kelly was concerned, but didn’t explain why Vittorio had been paying such close attention. “So what of the original rumor?”
“Let’s just say that I’m monitoring the situation.” An ironic smile lifted one side of the older prince’s m
outh as he dropped his hand from his forehead and turned to Massimo. “Of course, I hadn’t anticipated discovering your information along the way. That was a nice bonus.”
“Anything to make fun of me?”
Vittorio’s eyes lit, but he said nothing.
“On a more interesting topic, where’s Carmella tonight? I’d hoped to get to know her better.” Vittorio’s girlfriend was nowhere to be seen during the cocktail hour that preceded the fireworks, nor had she joined them in the royal box at the parade. Massimo had only met the woman in passing during a leave of absence two years ago. He’d thought her a passing fancy, as the part-time actress didn’t seem Vittorio’s type, and hadn’t paid her much attention. However, from what Massimo had heard and read, the two had been inseparable for the last year. An engagement announcement was rumored in every other issue of the tabloid press. Bookmakers across Europe were waiting with baited breath to see when, and how, Vittorio would propose. If the crown prince weren’t his brother, Massimo might be tempted to place a bet himself, just for fun.
“She has the flu.”
Though Vittorio’s face remained neutral as he looked skyward, Massimo knew it was a lie. “I see. I hadn’t heard.”
“It’s unfortunate,” Vittorio continued, his tone conveying far more than his words, “as the timing couldn’t be worse, given how much the family is in the public eye this week. But these things can’t be scheduled. They happen when they have to happen.”
In other words, the relationship was over and Vittorio had been the one to end it. Whatever had happened between them, Vittorio must have felt it necessary to call it quits before the Independence Day festivities.
“I’m sorry to hear it.”
“I’m sorry, as well. Naturally, there have already been questions, so the press had to be informed about her sudden illness.” Vittorio finally met Massimo’s inquisitive look. “I suspect she’ll be on the mend very soon. She’s rather resilient. She also has someone taking care of her.”
Honeymoon With a Prince (Royal Scandals) Page 20