There was a pause before he spoke again. “I felt sorry for you the moment you agreed to be my wife. I’m a poor substitute for my outstanding brother, who was already prepared to be a devoted husband.”
Except she’d never loved Alberto, had never desired him or wanted to feel his mouth on hers. Stefano could have no idea how she longed to lie with him all night, knowing his kisses and caresses. Just thinking about being in his arms made her shiver with excitement. Maybe tonight.
“I’m afraid that experience wasn’t meant to be. But I do realize his death was tragic when I know you two were so close. How terribly you must miss him. Losing him brought changes to all our lives, turning our worlds upside down.”
“That they were,” he muttered.
“Odd, isn’t it, that in surrendering your freedom, you’ve given me mine? Even though I’m a royal and always will be, for the first time I feel free with a husband like you. I love your rules of engagement that are giving us time to get to know each other.”
Except that in her heart of hearts, she had real feelings for her new husband and wanted him to love her. She couldn’t bear the thought that after they got home, he would leave on business without her.
His dark brows furrowed. “More and more I regret the harshness of that message I had sent to you.”
“Let’s forget that. My father wasn’t kidding when he told me I wouldn’t regret marrying you. He was right.”
In that regard, her father had been right. Overnight she’d fallen for Stefano, who had no idea how her heart was aching to win his love.
On that note she took off, wanting to beat him to a tree-lined ridge she could see in the distance. With his athleticism, he could overtake her in seconds, but curiously enough he took his time and reached the ridge long after she’d arrived to view the next breathtaking range of mountains beyond.
She turned to him. “Would you mind opening the backpack? I’m hungry for a sandwich and some water.”
“The way you move so fast burning energy, that doesn’t surprise me. When I think back on my friends who do cross country with me, I’m sure they would have trouble keeping up with you.”
“This has been the exercise I’ve needed. But considering your expertise at sports, I would imagine your friends are no different and could outski anyone.”
“Enzo is the real pro.”
Stefano was modest, too. He removed the pack from his shoulders and opened the flap so she could pull out what she wanted. Lanza noticed he was hungry, too. She relished this moment with him as they ate their fill and finished off their meal with some biscotti.
“Mmm, that tasted good.”
Stefano looked around. “We’ve come a long way and the afternoon wind has started to pick up. It might be smart to head back.”
She squinted at him. “You wouldn’t be worried about Fausto?” she teased.
“Would you be surprised if I admitted I was?”
Lanza put her empty water bottle back in the pack. “Like I told you a little while ago, I don’t regret marrying you and this is one of the reasons why.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should. Not everyone would care that a larger predator could come along and snatch him for prey.” There was a goodness and tenderness in Stefano that made her love him all the more.
“We’ll have to hope the last dumpling I fed him last night has made him strong enough to ward off his enemies.”
She laughed. “You gave him one?” When he told her things like that, she was touched by his words, but tried to hide it.
“You never saw anything disappear so fast. He has good taste.”
Stop, Stefano. Every word and gesture enamored her. Already it was killing her that he planned to live part of his life away from her when he left for his various mines. “When you’re starving, any morsel will do. By the way, what kind of meat do you have in the freezer?”
“As I recall, there are several salmon steaks and a couple of lamb roasts.”
“What sounds best to you and I’ll fix it for dinner.”
“Whatever is easiest.”
She smiled. “The steaks will thaw faster. That settles it. Now I’m ready to take off and have to admit I’d like to find out what Fausto has been up to all day.”