by Holly Rayner
“I’m all set, really. Thank you for your exceptional service. I will be in touch once I’m ready to fly home,” he said.
“As you wish, sir. If you need anything, we’re at the ready,” she said.
Oh, he knew. Everyone was always at the ready, always at his beck and call. A little thrill rushed through him at the spur-of-the-moment decision to remain totally anonymous. Surely no one in this small town would recognize him, and he hadn’t been interesting enough to make tabloid headlines for a couple years now.
He pulled up the handle on his suitcase and stepped into the airport terminal, walking in the direction of the general pick-up area. His phone dinged, and he saw that his ride had arrived. He picked up his pace, strolling through small crowds of people that generally ignored him.
It was the most liberating feeling!
Matteo walked through a pair of sliding doors and breathed in the scent of car exhaust. A long row of cars darted in and out of the two available lanes as people jumped in and out of each vehicle. It was pure chaos, and for a moment Matteo was stunned.
“Hey! Are you Matt?”
A younger man with a baseball hat called out from his small, two-door car. Matteo nodded, and the man jumped out and opened the trunk.
“I’m Jesse, your ride. Here, let me help you with that,” he said. He lifted Matteo’s suitcase into the trunk and slammed it shut before running back around to the driver’s side. Matteo slid into the passenger seat and closed the door before Jesse swerved into traffic, deftly navigating.
“Nice suit,” Jesse said.
Matteo glanced down and realized that he looked entirely overdressed compared to his car mate. He grinned.
“Thanks. It was kind of a last-minute trip,” he said.
“Whoa, where are you from?” Jesse asked.
“What do you mean?” Matteo said.
“Your accent, man. It’s subtle, but I deal with a lot of travelers. You’re not from here,” Jesse said.
Matteo considered how much to share. He didn’t want to give too much away. He’d learned to guard his information carefully, lest someone try and trick him into divulging private information for the tabloids to spread like a disease.
“An island near Italy. No one’s ever heard of it, but we like it there,” Matteo said, nonchalant.
“Italy, cool. Gelato and wine, right?”
Matteo nodded. “Yes, we do have those things.”
“Cool. So, where can I take you?”
Another thing Matteo hadn’t considered. Where on earth was he going to stay? Usually his staff booked him into the nicest hotel available, but given that he was trying to maintain a low profile, that wouldn’t do.
“Uh, let me just look up the name. I forget it,” Matteo said. He whipped out his phone and did a web search for hotels in Harmon, Virginia. The first option on the list was a bed and breakfast that looked decent enough.
“The Harmon House B&B,” Matteo read.
Jesse nodded. “Great place. My mom’s friends with the owner—you’ll like it there.”
“I’m sure I will,” Matteo said.
“So what brings you to our little coastal town?” Jesse asked, making polite small talk.
In any other circumstance, Matteo would be excellent at maintaining conversation, as he had been taught to do all his life. This time, he really had to think of what his story was, just in case.
“I’m meeting with an old friend,” he said. The vaguer, the better.
Jesse waited for him to elaborate, and when he didn’t, he stopped talking, catching the hint.
Matteo stared out the window. He’d been to many places in the world, but never anywhere quite like this. The town was situated on the sea, but the coast was rocky. There was a white lighthouse on a small cliffside, and Matteo could make out a short dock that housed a few boats. They passed a statue of a man riding a horse, but Matteo couldn’t see any signage to tell him who the man was.
Jesse drove along the rocky coastline until he reached a small, two-story white building with a long front porch. An American flag floated on the breeze by the front door, and one teal-colored car was parked in the driveway.
“This is it,” Jesse said.
“Thank you. You’ve been most helpful,” Matteo said.
“Happy to be of service. You want a mint?”
Jesse held up a small plastic bowl of various candies, and, not wanting to be rude, Matteo took one.
“Thank you,” he said again.
“Let me help with your bag,” Jesse said.
“I’ve got it,” Matteo said.
“Well then, welcome to Harmon, Matt,” Jesse said, popping the trunk.
“Thanks,” Matteo said, wondering if he should keep up the Americanized use of his name. It could certainly help his cover. It just sounded…strange.
He had gotten so used to being treated like a king, it felt peculiar to be spoken to like a regular human being again. He found he quite liked the sensation. Matteo decided then that he should go on more secret trips, if for no other reason than to remember his own humanity when he was constantly treated like a god.
He tugged out his suitcase and waved a farewell to Jesse. When the app popped up for payment, he gave him an excellent rating, and then opened the screen door to the main lobby area of the B&B.
“Hello?” he said.
A short woman in a flower-printed dress walked in from a back room and smiled at Matteo.
“Hello! How can I help you?”
“I know this is terribly last-minute, but do you by any chance have a room?” he asked.
She stepped behind the desk and opened up a small ledger, which she scanned for a moment.
“You’re in luck! We have one room left for the week, but you’ll want to book it now before someone online scoops it up,” she said.
“Yes, I’ll take it. Thank you,” he said.
She grinned up at him, her face full of good humor. He liked her instantly. In fact, he’d liked everyone here instantly. Matteo felt a small tug of relief as he considered that so far, everyone in town had been kind and welcoming. It was exactly the kind of place he would want his son to grow up.
He frowned at that thought. Of course, that wasn’t the whole truth. He would have wanted the boy growing up with him, knowing his father, his lineage, his duty. Matteo shocked himself with that last thought, so much like a royal. He realized how much he had changed in the last two years, leaving his party lifestyle behind to run the country. Would he have thought like that, back in his wild days? Five years ago, when his son was born?
“Are you okay? You’re scowling,” the woman said.
Matteo shook his head and grinned self-deprecatingly.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a long flight. I think I might have just fallen asleep with my eyes open.”
She laughed, a musical, hearty sound.
“I can understand that, certainly. Okay, for the green room it will be one hundred and fifty dollars a night.”
Matteo kept his face carefully neutral, though he was surprised at the great deal. It was a cozy little place, for sure, but he’d never paid less than five hundred dollars a night for lodging. This was certainly an adventure already! What was the phrase? Seeing how the other half lived?
“Perfect. I can’t thank you enough,” he said, and he meant it. He had been quite spontaneous with this little excursion, and it was only now just dawning on him how little he had planned ahead. Perhaps Silvio was right to be cross with him, but there was nothing for it now.
Matteo was in Harmon, Virginia, and his son was closer than ever before.
What if he had passed the boy on the drive in, and not even known it?
The thought was dizzying. He handed the woman his credit card for her to hold for the room, and once payment went through, she waved toward the back.
“This way, Mr. Endrizzi. Also, my name is Genevieve Harcourt, but everyone just calls me Gen. Breakfast is served from seven to nine in the morning an
d dinner is not provided, so you’ll want to make arrangements there. There is a bathroom attached to your room, and if you need any amenities, just let me know,” she said.
She opened a side door and stepped back for Matteo to walk in. He did and thanked her one last time before she headed off to another part of the house.
In the silence, Matteo could hear the gentle rush of the waves, and he was instantly reminded of home. Perhaps this place wasn’t so different from his home country, after all. That was another comfort to him. The ocean was different, the beaches were different, but the sound and feel of the sea was all around them, just like it was in Golina.
Matteo set his suitcase in a corner and tested out the bedding, finding it soft and comfortable enough. It wasn’t anywhere near the level he was used to, but it almost felt a bit like camping. Matteo was trying on another life, and it was fun!
He was, however, quite used to wide-open spaces. The cramped room was clearly meant for sleeping and not much else. Matteo tucked the adoption paperwork in a drawer for safekeeping, and then stepped out of his room and made his way to the front porch. Gen was nowhere to be found, and the quiet of the house had a soothing effect on him. He headed out to the porch and inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of the briny sea.
He set off on a walk, eager to stretch his legs after a very long flight. The boarded sidewalk creaked beneath his feet as he took in the sights of the little town. There was a small stretch of businesses, boutique shops, and a candy store. He considered going into the candy shop to get something for his son.
Did his son like candy?
It was in that moment that everything finally hit him at once. Matteo stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and gazed out at the ocean, trying to collect his wits.
Gabriele had warned him to tread carefully, but he hadn’t really considered just what he would say or how he would say it until that moment. What was he going to do? Walk up to the boy and declare him the future king of Golina? What five-year-old child would accept that? Also, there was the parent to consider.
Matteo realized that if he wanted to truly connect with the boy, he would have to enter into things carefully. Far more so than he previously considered. Gabriele had worked hard to reunite many families. It was one of the reasons that Matteo had hired him in the first place. His words echoed in Matteo’s mind—one of many conversations they’d had over the years about finding his son.
“It’s best not to make any sudden moves. Let the child get to know you first, and tread carefully,” Gabriele’s voice echoed in his mind.
Those words rang true as Matteo considered his next step. There was nothing good that could come out of him bulldozing his way into the child’s life, steamrolling David with news that he was a prince. The child would likely run away screaming.
But how was he to proceed?
He had seen the adoptive mother’s name in his paperwork, but it escaped him at the moment. He’d been far more interested in all the information Gabriele had regarding his son, which, to be honest, wasn’t much. The adoption paperwork was all well and good, but what did the boy look like? What was his childhood like?
What was the adoptive mother like?
Matteo considered how to approach her. How could he reach out to her without her locking him out and throwing away the key?
Matteo ran a hand over his eyes, unsure of what to do next. He heard the clip-clopping of feet, like a small horse running in the distance. The sound seemed to be getting louder, but he was so lost and miserable that he didn’t look up in time.
“Look out! Bernie, no!”
Matteo did open his eyes then, just in time to be plowed down by an enormous Saint Bernard.
Before he could say a word, he was pommeled by a very thick, wet tongue.
What on earth?
Chapter 5
Ashley
Ashley Bedford had had better days.
Her arm nearly popped out of its socket as Bernie the Saint Bernard plowed ahead, which was unusual for him, and straight into a man she’d never seen before. She didn’t get a chance to get a good look at him, because she was so focused on getting the dog under control before the man got upset.
“Bernie, no!” she cried, rushing forward.
Bernie jumped up, and before Ashley could pull him down, one of her other charges, a yellow lab named Vinnie, ran around her and the man, effectively tying them together. In a rush, Ashley was jolted forward right into the man’s arms. With her face pressed against his incredibly firm chest, Ashley could feel her cheeks turning crimson from mortification.
This was not happening!
“I’m so sorry,” she said into his chest, the sound muffled against his crisp, white shirt.
“I think if I twist this way, and you move that leash over there, we might be freed,” he said.
Boy did he smell good. Was that a cologne she’d never come across before, or was that just how he smelled?
Ashley shook her head, reminding herself to focus on the fact that she had wrangled a complete stranger, who would likely press charges and cost her a job. She lifted the leash and ducked under it, effectively freeing herself from her ties. She took a moment to wrangle in the dogs, making them all sit neatly in a row, and then she finally looked up, ready to apologize to the poor man.
Holy smokes.
He was the handsomest man she’d ever seen, truly. He was tall, much taller than her, and his hair was jet black. He was olive-skinned, which made his stunning green eyes all the more beautiful. He was wearing a white button-down shirt and a pair of nice black slacks that might have been paired with a suit. Ashley realized then that she was staring and brushed back a strand of her honey-colored hair.
“I can’t apologize enough. They’re usually much easier to control, especially Bernie. I promise they’re all friendly.”
As if to prove her point, Bernie jumped up again and licked the man’s face. To Ashley’s utter relief, he laughed.
“It’s quite all right. I love dogs,” he said.
He had a lilting accent, though Ashley couldn’t quite place it. Not that she was worldly enough to guess, anyway.
“Thank goodness for that,” she said. She glanced down at Vinnie, her hazel eyes sparkling with humor as she patted the pup on the head and turned her attention back to the handsome mystery man.
“That’s Bernie,” she said as the man knelt and patted the Saint Bernard with open affection. Her heart swelled as she watched him, childlike in his delight, though so clearly masculine.
What a combination.
“Yes, I believe you addressed him before,” the man said. He gazed up at her then, and his smile nearly melted her on the spot. He stood straight and held out his hand for her to shake.
“I’m Matt…eo,” he said, noticeably pausing before finishing his name.
How curious. Ashley slid her palm against his and tried very hard to ignore the tingles that ran along her fingertips at the touch.
“Hello, Matt…eo. I’m Ashley,” she said.
He laughed.
“I’m sorry. I feel like the shortened version of my name is a bit easier for people here to pronounce.”
“I like the full version,” she said. “Though maybe without the pause.”
Ashley smiled up at him until she realized that they were just standing there, grinning at one another. A small black terrier, Gordon, nuzzled her ankle.
“Yes, of course. One moment, Gordon,” she said to the animal. She wasn’t about to let this very attractive gentleman out of her sight. She should have, but she couldn’t seem to get her feet moving.
“So what brings you to the US, Matteo?” she asked. His name rolled off the tongue so easily, and she found it suited him. He had to be from some European country, well-dressed with his sexy accent. Ashley fought back the urge to fan herself.
Until his expression faltered. Did she ask the wrong question?
“I am following a path laid out by my late father, though I am not cer
tain where it will lead,” he said, his tone grave.
Ashley frowned.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pried,” she said.
He shook his head.
“No, of course, it’s a natural question. I appreciate your sympathy, but he’s been gone two years now, and I have made my peace with it.”
She nodded, not sure how to continue the conversation. Dog number four, a Chihuahua named Serenity—the name did not match the animal, at all—bit the corner of her shoe. Ashley could tell all four dogs were starting to get restless. She was going to have to go on her way.
“Well, we’d better keep walking before we tackle anyone else,” she said.
Matteo’s expression faltered. Was that…disappointment? Maybe he was lost, or feeling a little alone? Ashley decided to take a risk.
“You wouldn’t want a tour of the town, would you? We make great tour guides, don’t we?” Ashley said, glancing around at the pups. Each of them wagged their tail, except for Serenity, who glowered up at her, indignant.
“I would love that,” Matteo said.
Ashley beamed up at him. She couldn’t help it. It had been ages since she’d had even a remote opportunity to flirt. She was enjoying it to the fullest.
“Wonderful. Let’s go, everyone,” Ashley said, collecting the leashes and guiding the animals forward.
The dogs trotted ahead as Matteo fell in step next to Ashley. She cast a sideways glance up at him as he stared around them.
“Have you ever been to the States before?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Many times, though never to any place that looked like this. I spent some time in New York and LA, and Vegas. You know, the usual tourist destinations.”
“We don’t quite have the same vibe as Las Vegas, though I hear there’s a pretty intense poker night that happens at the senior center on Saturdays.”
Matteo grinned down at her, and her stomach fluttered.
“I imagine those are some high-stakes tournaments,” he said.
“Oh, absolutely. You could earn some intense glares from the losers for at least a week, or you could lose your money. Either one is pretty brutal,” she said.