Stefano didn’t want her to go to bed yet, but after he’d brought a halt to their lovemaking, what did he expect? He sat there in shock while she left the living room.
The thought of her traveling with him and having his baby was exciting to him. If any woman was meant to have children it was Lanza. He knew she wanted him. He had proof of that in the way she’d clung to him. Otherwise, she would have pushed him away and run to her bedroom the second he’d put his arm around her.
In hindsight Stefano recognized that a part of him had put off marrying anyone and having children because he hadn’t met Lanza yet. But there was more to it. Deep inside he’d known he couldn’t escape the fact that he’d been born royal. Bringing a child into the world wouldn’t exempt it from being titled, no matter how he much he wished it otherwise. But he didn’t feel that way any longer.
Their marriage had already made a big change in him. The more he thought about it, the more he admitted what a coward he’d been. For the first time in his life he felt shame at what he’d done by running away. He’d left it to Alberto and his sister to carry on. To his chagrin, his actions had resulted in unintended consequences.
Lanza honestly hadn’t believed he’d wanted children. How could she when he’d made it clear they would be living separate lives when he wasn’t helping her father? By promising her fidelity to him, she’d set herself up to exist in a childless marriage. How selfish was that!
He’d hurt her in ways he’d hadn’t dreamed of and now he had a huge problem to repair. As he got ready for bed, Stefano realized this was going to take time to fix, including figuring out a job she could do if she went with him on his trips. So far he’d practically kissed her into oblivion and was already aching to get her in his arms again.
After a restless night, he got up early, took Fausto outside where he could eat and play, then made a big breakfast. Not wanting to knock on her door when she didn’t come to the dining room, he phoned her.
“Are you up? I’ve made breakfast.”
“I just washed my hair and am drying it.” All that glorious hair... “I can’t come for a half hour.”
“Fine. I’ll keep it warm for us.”
“Thank you.”
While he waited, he walked back to his bedroom and got on the computer. He spotted Enzo’s email first.
Hi, Stefano. Electricity will be restored by the end of the day. No news yet on the road opening. Hope you two are all right.
Stefano smiled to himself. They were more than all right.
He knew what his friend was really asking. The last time the two of them had gotten into a serious talk, Enzo knew Stefano was dying inside over having to marry his brother’s fiancée.
In fact, he’d been dreading it and couldn’t face a vacation in the sand and sun with a woman he could never love. He and Lanza had been on the same wavelength about a beach vacation being the place if you were in love.
He’d brought her to the chalet because it had been his wedding present to Alberto, but he hadn’t believed she would like it here. With the diversion of a driving tour, they’d somehow be able to get through the two weeks of ennui.
It was incredible how wrong he’d been about everything. Nothing was as he’d assumed or imagined.
You’re a great friend. It’s all good news, amico. Thanks for keeping me posted. S.
No doubt Enzo would be in shock when he received this email. One day soon Stefano would confide in him about the true state of his feelings over his marriage.
He pressed Send and moved on to the next message. Farther down he saw a return message from Alicia Montoya.
Tell me it isn’t true that you’re married, Stefano. I asked the head boss. He said it was, but nothing else. I don’t understand.
Stefano had kept his royal identity a secret all these years except from his head mining engineers. Unfortunately, Alicia couldn’t let this go.
Alicia, I am married to a woman I met very recently. It was sudden and I’m happy. I hope in time you will be, too.
He wouldn’t respond to her again.
Once that was sent, he checked his other messages before going back to the living room. Lanza had gone to the kitchen to take their plates out of the oven. She was wearing a pair of tan pants and a print blouse.
Stefano couldn’t take his eyes off her figure or her hair. She’d put it in a becoming braid that made her look younger than her twenty-three years. Whether on top of her head, flowing over her shoulders or fixed like this, she was a vision.
He took one of the plates from her. “How did you sleep?”
Her eyes swerved to his. “Too well.” They walked to the dining room table and sat down. “I awakened with aches and pains from our workout yesterday and the day before. Today I’m going to lie near the fire and read.”
“Sounds good. After we eat, I need to make some repairs around the chalet. The wind loosened some of the shutters and there’s a basement window that needs fixing.” They tucked into the scrambled eggs and sausage he’d cooked. He was glad to see her appetite hadn’t suffered.