With a smile he told her to sit in the chair and put her feet up on the ottoman. It pleased him that he got no argument out of her. With a flick of the switch, he sat back on the couch and they began watching 24.
Again it gratified him that she was hungry and ate her sandwich with more relish than usual. He’d been afraid their little scuffle in the hall had put her off her food, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
The thought came into his head that she was probably excited to live with her father again and enjoy his company. Which left Vincenzo nowhere.
He craved Abby’s company. During his trip to France she was all he ever thought about. To his surprise, it wasn’t because of the baby. Perhaps in the beginning the two had seemed inseparable, but no longer.
Abby was her own entity. Lovely, desirable. Her companionship brought him nothing but pleasure.
“Don’t you think the queen is fantastic in this series? She was the perfect person to be cast in that part. How could the king want that other woman when he had a wife like her?” Abby was glued to the set. Vincenzo didn’t think her remark was prompted by any other thought than the story itself, but it pressed his guilt button.
In his own way he’d been faithful to Michelina, but it hadn’t been passionate love. This need for Abby had only come full force recently. His amorous feelings for her had crept up on him without his being aware.
“She’s very beautiful in an exotic way,” Vincenzo agreed, but his mind was elsewhere.
“How would it be to have been born that exotically beautiful? I can’t even imagine it.”
He slanted her a glance. “You have your own attributes. There’s only one Abby Loretto.”
“What a gentleman you are, Vincenzo. No wonder your subjects adore you.”
“Abby—”
“No, no.” She sat up straight. “Let me finish. All you have to do is look through that scrapbook again to see it.”
A burst of anger flared inside him for his impossible situation.
“If you’re trying to convince me to continue playing the role I was born to in life, it’s not working. I’m no longer a baby who happened to be the child of a king. I’ve grown into a man with a man’s needs. If I’ve shocked you once again, I’m sorry.”
“I’m not a fool,” she said quietly. “I can understand why you balk at the idea of marrying someone you don’t love, even if it is your royal duty. After your experience with Michelina, it makes more sense than ever. But I can’t believe that someday a woman with a royal background won’t come along who sweeps you off your feet so you can take over for your father.”
The program had ended. Abby got up from the chair to take the disk out of the machine and put it in the shoulder bag with the others.
He eyed her moodily. “Perhaps that miracle will occur. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. At this point, the birth of our child is the only event of importance in my life. It’s all I can think about.”
“That event isn’t far off now.”
No... He had less than six months before she left for the States. Getting to his feet he said, “The men should be here shortly. Come with me. If you’re up to a walk, I’ll escort you back to your old stomping grounds.”
A happy laugh, like one from childhood, came out of her. “That sounds like a plan. I ate an extra sandwich half. The doctor would say that’s a no-no. Otherwise at my next appointment I’ll weigh in like—”
“Don’t say it,” he warned her. “I prefer my own vision of you.”
She was turned away from him so he couldn’t see her reaction. “I’ll leave a note to tell them everything is here in the living room ready to go.”
Vincenzo waited, then led her down another hall outside her apartment that came out at the side of the palace. They passed various staff as they walked down the steps and out the doors into an early evening.
July could be hot, but the breeze off the Mediterranean kept them cool enough to be comfortable. He’d crossed these grounds hundreds of times before, and many of those times with Abby. But this was different.
If he wasn’t fearful of giving her a minor heart attack, he’d reach for her hand and hold it tight while they strolled through the gardens. Her father’s apartment was in one of the outbuildings erected in the same style and structure as the palace. At one time it had housed certain members of the staff, but that was a century ago and it had since been renovated.
On impulse he stopped by a bed of hydrangea shrubs in full bloom to pick some flowers. “These are for you.” He put them in her arms. “The petals are the color of your eyes. Not blue, not lavender, just somewhere in between.”
“Their scent is heavenly.” She buried her face in them, then lifted her head. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You have no idea how many times over the years I’ve longed to pick these. Mother called them mop heads. These were her favorite flower and color.”
“Maybe it’s because she was reminded of them every time she looked into her only baby’s eyes.” Abby now averted them. “Abby, was there a reason your parents didn’t have more children?”
She nodded. “Mom and Dad had me five years after they were married, because he’d been in the military. Two years later they decided to get pregnant again, but by that time Dad had been shot while on duty and it turned out he’d been rendered sterile. They weren’t keen on adopting right away. I think it’s one of the reasons they decided to move to Arancia, where they could make new memories.”
Vincenzo was aghast. “I didn’t know. Your father was so devastated when he lost her. I’ll never forget.”
“No. They were very much in love, but they had a great life all the same.”
“And they had you.” He was beginning to understand why she and her father were so close.
“Their inability to increase the family size was probably another motivating reason for my wanting to be a surrogate for you and Michelina. It’s crazy, isn’t it? So many women and men, whether in wedlock or not, seem to have little difficulty producing offspring while others...” Abby didn’t finish the rest. She didn’t have to.
They continued walking until they reached the apartment where she would live until the baby came. She left him long enough to put the flowers in water and bring the vase into the living room. He watched her look around after she’d set it on the coffee table.
This was the first time Vincenzo had been inside Carlo’s suite. Family pictures were spread everywhere. He saw books and magazines her father must have read.
“Is it good to be home, Abby?”
She turned to him. “Yes and no. The apartment at the palace has been like home to me for quite a while. Both Dad and I can be semireclusive without meaning to be. We’re both insatiable readers and like our privacy on occasion. He’s going to have to put up with me invading his space again.”
“Oh, I think he can handle it.” Vincenzo happened to know her father had been on a countdown to get Abby out of the country from the time Michelina had died. “I’ll stay until the men arrive with your things.”
Abby sat down on one of the love seats, eyeing him with some anxiety. “I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble to get the yacht ready.”
“My father pays the captain a good salary to make certain it’s able to sail at any time.”
She shook her head. “I don’t mean the money.”
He let out a sigh. “I know you didn’t. Frankly, the only person put out is yours truly, because I had my heart set on taking you to Barcaggio, on the northern tip of Corsica.”
“I’ve never been there. You think I’m not disappointed, too?”
Abby sounded as though she meant it. Her response went a long way toward calming the savage beast within him.
“With your love of history, you’d find it fascinating. They had a unique warning system, with sixty gua
rd towers dating from the fifteenth century, to keep the island safe. At least three towers in sight of each other would light fires to give a warning signal of pirates approaching. The Tower of Barcaggio is one of the best conserved and the water around it is clear like the tropics.”
“Don’t tell me anything more or I’ll go into a deep depression.”
A rap on the door prevented him from responding. He was glad the men had come. The sooner they left, the sooner he could be alone with her for a while longer. “I’ll answer it.”
For the next few minutes, a line of security people walked in with bags and boxes. Vincenzo helped to carry some of her law books into the library. What he saw on the desk gave him an idea. After he’d thanked them and they’d left, he called to Abby.
“Is there something wrong?” She hurried in, sounding a little out of breath.
“I think I’ve found a way we can be together for meals without leaving our suites.”
She looked at him with those fabulous eyes. “How?”
“We’ll coordinate our meals for the same time every evening and talk on Skype while we eat. That way I can check on you and know if you’re lying when you tell me you’re feeling fine.”
Her lips twitched. “That works both ways. I’ll know if you’re in a mood.”
“Exactly. Is it a deal?”
“Be serious, Vincenzo.”
His heart beat skidded off the charts. “When I get back to my apartment, I’ll Skype you to make sure everything’s working properly.”
“You don’t mean every night?”
“Why not? Whether I’m away on business, out of the country or in the palace, we both have to stop for food, and we’re usually alone. At the end of a hectic day, I’d rather unwind with you than anyone else. It’ll save me having to go through Angelina to find out your condition for the day. Shall we say seven?”
“That’ll last about two minutes before you’re called away to something you can’t get out of.”
He decided he’d better leave before her father showed up. Together they walked to the entrance of the apartment. “Shall we find out? How about we give this a thirty-day trial? That should keep the gossips quiet. Whoever misses will have to face the consequences.”
Amusement lit up her eyes. “You’re on, but a prince has so many commitments, methinks you’ll be the one who will wish you hadn’t started this.”
Vincenzo opened the door. “Don’t count on it. I’ll be seeing you as soon as I get back to my apartment.” He glanced at his watch. “Say, twenty minutes?”
“I won’t believe it till I see you.”
With that challenge, he left at a run for the quick trip back to his suite. There was more than one way to storm the citadel for the rest of her pregnancy without physically touching her. He didn’t dare touch her.
It disturbed him that though he’d been in a loveless marriage, he could fall for another woman this fast. He was actually shocked by the strength of his feelings. To get into a relationship was one thing, but for Abby to be the woman, Vincenzo needed to slow down so he wouldn’t alarm her. He knew she was attracted to him. It wasn’t something she could hide, but she never let herself go.
Because of her control, he had to hold back, but they couldn’t exist teetering on the brink much longer. Thanks to cybertechnology, he’d found a way to assuage some of his guilt. Without others knowing, he could be with her every night for as long as he wanted to satisfy his need to see and talk to her while he focused on the baby.
Vincenzo intended to be a good father, but he was struggling with the fact that he’d fallen for the woman who was carrying his child. What did that say about him?
* * *
Abby hurriedly put away her clothes and got settled as best she could before heading for the library. Passing through the living room, she picked up the vase of flowers and carried it with her.
After putting it on the desk, she sat down at her dad’s computer, ready to answer Vincenzo’s call. The big screen rather than her laptop screen would be perfect to see him, if he did make contact. She didn’t doubt his good intentions, but she knew from her father that the prince followed a tight schedule, one that often ran late into the evenings.
In her heart she knew the decision to move home had been the right one, but when Vincenzo had walked out the door a little while ago, a feeling of desolation swept through her. Her move from the palace had marked the end of the third journey. Now she was embarking on the fourth into the unknown and had the impression it would try her mettle.
She’d lost Michelina, who’d provided the interference. Now it was all on Vincenzo to support her, but he’d made the wise decision to stay at a distance. So had she, yet already she felt herself in free fall.
Trust that clever mind of his to dream up Skyping as a way to stay in touch without distressing their fathers or the queen. As she was coming to find out, Vincenzo’s resourcefulness knew no bounds.
Unable to resist, she leaned over to smell the hydrangeas. She’d never see one again without remembering how he’d just stopped and picked an armload for her.
The way to a woman’s heart... Vincenzo knew them all, she admitted to herself in an honest moment. He was in there so tightly, she was dying from the ache. There’d never be room for anyone else. The video-call tone rang out, making her jump.
“Good evening, Abby.” She’d put the speaker on full volume to make certain she could hear him. The sound of his deep, velvety voice brought her out of her trancelike state.
His looks went beyond handsome. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. “Good evening, Your Highness.”
“You’ve become very formal since I left you.”
“I’ve got stage fright.” It was the truth. No one in Arancia would believe what she was doing, and with whom.
“Our connection is good. We should have no problem communicating tomorrow evening.”
“I might have one problem with the time. Dad is going to be home early for a dinner I’m cooking. Would you mind if we said eight-thirty?”
“I’ll make a note on my agenda,” he teased.
She smiled. “This is fun, Vincenzo.”
“It’s not the same as being with you in person, but I’m not complaining. Would you answer a question for me?”
“If I can.”
“Did Dr. DeLuca let you know the gender of the baby?”
Her lungs froze. “No. He wanted to obey your wishes. I think you’re wise not to know yet. Then your father and the queen would either be planning on a future king or future princess. This way everyone’s still in the dark.”
He chuckled. “I love the way you think, especially when you read my mind so easily. However, there is one thing I’m curious about. You never talk about the baby.”
Pain stabbed at her heart. “I’ve been taking Dr. Greco’s advice—don’t think about the actual baby too much. Better to stay focused on taking care of yourself rather than dwelling on a child that won’t be yours.”
His face sobered. “How’s that advice working out for you?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m finding it’s very hard to carry out. I have to admit that if you hadn’t asked me that question just now, I would know you had a stone for a heart.”
“Abby,” his voice grated, “you’ve accepted to do the impossible for me. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t thinking about the baby day and night.”
“You’re right. During the talks I had with you and Michelina before I underwent the procedure, I made a decision to be like the postman who delivers the mail without knowing what’s inside the letters.
“If a postman were to open one, he’d probably be so affected he would never make it to the next destination. Getting the ultrasound today was a lot like opening that first letter. I can’t not think about the baby, whether i
t’s a boy or a girl, if it will look like you or Michelina or someone else in your families.”
Vincenzo turned solemn. “I’ve told you before, but I’ll say it again. I’m in awe of you, Abby. You’ve taken on a weight too heavy to bear.”
“You took on a weight, too. Not every man would trust a stranger with the life of his unborn child.”
“You’re no stranger,” he answered in a smoky tone.
“You know what I mean.”
“I don’t think you know what I mean. You were never a stranger to me. A child in the beginning, of course, but from the beginning always a friend. I feel like I’ve known you all my life. It seemed a natural thing that you became our baby’s surrogate mother.”
She moistened her lips. “Depending on when the baby decides to come, we could be halfway home right now.” Abby didn’t want to think about the big event because of what it would mean. The thought of permanent separation was killing her. “Have you bought any things for the baby yet?”
“I’m glad you brought that up. In a few days I’m going to go shopping and would like your help to set up the well-furnished nursery.”
He couldn’t know how his comment thrilled her. “I’d love to be involved.”
“I’ll send you pictures online and we’ll decide on things together.”
“Do you know where you’re putting the nursery?”
“Either in my apartment or the room down the hall next to it.”
“What did Michelina want?”
“We never got that far in our thinking. Her concerns over telling Bianca about the pregnancy overshadowed the fun.”
Of course. “Well, it’s fun to think about it now. If it’s in your apartment, you’ll have a nanny coming and going out of your inner sanctum.” His low chuckle thrilled her. “When you’re up all hours of the night with a baby with colic, will you be glad it’s near at hand or not?”
“I’ll have to think on that one.”
“While you do that, what’s on your schedule for tomorrow?”
Expecting the Prince's Baby (Harlequin RomancePrinces of Europe) Page 11