Honeymoon With a Prince (Royal Scandals)
Page 31
“Did you really believe that?”
“Until you, I’d never had first-date sex and would’ve put money on the fact I never would. Like I told you then, I’m not the one-night stand type.”
“I never want you to have a one-night stand again. With anyone.”
The first notes of The Honeydrippers’ Sea of Love brought a seductive smile to Massimo’s face she wanted to remember for the rest of her life. She couldn’t help but beam in return. “Even though I only wanted you for your abs?”
“Even though. More so because once you got past my front and saw the back, you didn’t flinch.”
Slowly, deliberately, with her gaze locked on his, she slid hands under his tuxedo jacket, then shucked it onto the closet floor. Her fingers explored the ragged edge of his largest scar through his shirt as they continued to dance. “They do give you texture.”
Amusement and desire lit his eyes. “You did not just say that.”
“I did.” Warmth rushed to her face. “They also give you texture as a human being. They’ve made you into who you are, for better or worse. And when you told me how you got them…well, I wanted you more that night than I did on the beach.”
“I tried to kill you that night.”
“You tried to kill an imaginary warlord, not me, and you stopped yourself. But seeing you that way made me want you all the more.” At his look of doubt, she explained, “I knew from the look of horror on your face when you attacked me and the way you helped me clean up the wet laundry afterward that you have a beautiful heart. Despite your wealth and status, you don’t consider yourself above others. You want to make yourself better. And you’re honest.”
Though he continued to sway in time to the romantic music, he spoke with a hitch in his voice. “Now I understand why you were angry that I didn’t tell you about my title right off the bat. You felt you were revisiting the mistake you made with Ted.”
“While I was sitting in jail, you bet. But I was dishonest with you, too.”
“It’s not the same, though. Neither of us was out to deceive the other. We’d both been burned…well, in my case, I really shouldn’t use the word burned—”
“Oooh, that’s as bad as texture.”
“—and neither of us wanted a repeat. We were trying protect ourselves, not to hurt the other person.” He reached for her face, cradling her head in both his hands. “But you’ve missed the biggest difference between me and Ted. I love you. I know with every fiber of my being that I always will.”
As tears started to spill down her cheeks, he said, “I always thought my life would go according to a certain, preordained plan. But accidents happen. Plans change. Being injured in Africa was an accident. But I think it’s led me to my passion.” He spun her back toward the bureau. “I’ve decided I want to help veterans who’ve suffered accidental injuries. I think it’s what I was meant to do, even if it wasn’t what I planned.”
Given the emotion she’d seen on his face during the Independence Day parade as the veterans marched past the review stand, it seemed the perfect fit. “I think so, too.”
“Finding you was an accident, too. I think I was meant to marry you. No…I know I was meant to marry you.” To her shock, he dropped to one knee in front of her. “Kelly, will you marry me? Trust me with your heart for the rest of your life?”
Through choked laughter, she said, “You just proposed to me in my pajamas. In a closet. After we’ve known each other for two weeks.”
“Are those disqualifiers?”
She shook her head. “My friends and family thought I was rash, choosing to take my honeymoon alone. Turns out, I was meant to come here alone.” Leaning forward, she touched her forehead to Massimo’s and closed her eyes, much as they’d done in the moonlight the night they met. He was everything she ever could want and more. “Massimo, I was meant to find you.”
“Then be rash again. Marry me.”
“It’s not rash if it’s right. I’d love to marry you.”
The kiss that followed was the sweetest, most passionate Kelly had ever experienced. As he pulled her to the soft rug, a low, deep sound startled them both.
Woof.
“Gaspare, go away,” Massimo groaned.
“No, wait. The closet has one more surprise.” Kelly reached for one of the ottomans, pushed a small button, then lifted the lid on its hidden compartment. “Feel inside.”
Massimo did so, his frown turning to a look of wonder, then to a broad grin as he recognized the familiar shape and texture of the item inside. Turning, he threw the massive dog bone Kelly’d stashed there. Gaspare bounded after it in unabashed joy.
“Good dog,” they said together, then Kelly laughed as Massimo closed the closet door.
THE END
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Read on for a peek at Nicole’s next Royal Scandals book, Slow Tango With a Prince.
Slow Tango With a Prince
By Nicole Burnham
Victor stood less than three feet in front of Emily, his marked-up newspaper rolled in his hand. Despite the fact he wore the same loafers, dark jeans and white Oxford-cloth shirt as this morning, no one could doubt he belonged in an apartment as luxe as this one. He carried himself as if he already owned the place.
Taller, broader in the shoulder and narrower in the hip than she remembered from their brief encounter, when a table had served as a buffer between them, he dominated the space between the island and kitchen's the rear wall of cabinets. He'd sent her heart into a slow flip this morning, but being this close to him fired every nerve in her body. If he spun her around and lifted her onto the counter behind him right then and there, she'd—
“Now you're stalking me?”
She met his gaze, defiant, but the chill in his blue eyes only served to emphasize the iciness of his tone. Her fantasy died, the connection they'd shared this morning completely severed by his quiet, accusing words.
“No, it's not like that—”
“That's why you put your business card beside my newspaper instead of handing it to me.” He stepped even closer, leaving her trapped between his formidable body and the kitchen's massive island. “You wanted to see which ads I'd circled so you could follow me.”
Emily shook her head, hoping he couldn't see how disconcerted he made her. She'd put the business card on the table rather than handing it to him because she'd been afraid he'd pull her fingers to his lips once again and he'd know how utterly desirable she found him. She hadn't thought twice about the ads she'd seen marked, but how could she explain her action without admitting her intense attraction and looking like a fool?
“Then explain your presence.”
“I will, if you give me some space.” Why was he so angry?
He tossed the newspaper onto the island countertop and then surprised her by leaning forward, bracing a palm on either side of her. Her heart leapt into her throat as he spoke. “I'm not giving you anything. I want you to explain yourself. Who's employing you?”
She blinked. Employing her? Who was this man, to have such a strong reaction to seeing her here? “I told you this morning. I'm the host of At Home Abroad.”
“And that's why you're following me?" His steady gaze bore into her as he spoke, as if he could draw out what was in her mind through sheer intimidation. “Or are you here for some other reason?”
It took every ounce of her fortitude to maintain eye contact. He'd imprisoned her in the space between his arms to compel her to respond, certainly, but there was something besides anger in his cold, assessing gaze, an emotion she hadn't expected.
Astonished, she said, “I make you uneasy.”
His eyes narrowed a fraction. “I'm not afraid of anyone,
let alone an oh-so-innocent-looking American woman in skinny high heels.”
“I didn't say afraid. I said uneasy.” Which was exactly the way he made her feel. Panicky, yet attracted and fascinated at the same time. But what could possibly make him uneasy around her?
His upper lip twitched as he stared at her, the same involuntary movement she'd noticed this morning when she'd asked if his name was really Vittorio. What was it he thought she wanted? This wasn't about appearing on her show.
“You're trying to distract me,” he said. His rugged, handsome face was only inches from hers now, so close she could kiss him with the barest of movement, if he didn't strangle her first for her perceived infraction. “Explain yourself or I'll have the real estate agent throw you out. I doubt she wants to risk a sale because of you, not on a property with a commission as high as this one.”
“All right.” Emily resisted the temptation to push him away. Putting a hand on his chest to give herself room to think would only worsen her predicament. “I admit that I saw which ads you circled.”
“So you did follow me.”
“No, not at first.” At his look of consternation, she explained, “When I said goodbye to you this morning, I had no intention of coming here. I'd taken a chance approaching you at the restaurant. When it didn't work out, I had every intention of sticking with the original couple we'd planned to film for the finale.”
“Then why did you inspect my newspaper?”
She couldn't help but show her exasperation. "It wasn't on purpose. I put it out of my head as soon as I left my card on the table.”
“Yet here you are, which leaves my mind to all sorts of imaginings.”
Was he flirting with her, or threatening her?
Both options were decidedly hazardous.
Also By Nicole Burnham
Christmas With a Prince (A Royal Scandals novella)
Scandal With a Prince (Royal Scandals #1)
About the Author
Nicole Burnham is the RITA-award winning author of over a dozen romance novels, most featuring modern-day royalty. She has lived and traveled all over the world, absorbing different cultures and visiting the opulent palaces and lush gardens that inspired the Royal Scandals series. All About Romance declares, “Nicole Burnham gives life to a fictional kingdom and monarchy that feel as though they could be real” and “gosh darn it, Nicole Burnham is good….readers should definitely check her out.”
Nicole currently lives in Boston. She enjoys yoga, games at Fenway Park, taking her dog for long walks, and reading the many romance novels on her bookshelves. Most of all, she loves writing stories about far-off countries, deliciously powerful heroes, and passionate heroines for her readers.
You can read more about Nicole and sign up for her popular e-newsletter at her Website. She’s also on Facebook and on Twitter.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Excerpt
Other Titles by the Author
About the Author