The Prince's Secret Baby Read online

  She hesitated. Eating off a man’s fork in public was tantamount to a declaration of…something. “No, thanks. I’ll take your word for it. I bet Lucky would like some, though.”

  Lucky had already finished his chicken and sat looking adoringly up at her. Her heart swelled with pride. “Lucky is such a great dog. I can’t believe he was left tied up outside that ramshackle old house.”

  It had turned out that Lucky’s owner was an elderly man who’d bought him as a guard dog and been sorely disappointed that he wound up being so small. He’d sold him to Serena for fifty dollars after she had finally located him. He’d been evacuated to a relative’s house before the storm that swept through the beachfront community she’d been staying in when she met Sandro. Rage and indignation swept through her when she thought about Lucky’s narrow escape. She still couldn’t believe his owner had escaped to safety, leaving his little dog behind.

  “He’s more proof that you were exactly where you were meant to be at Christmastime.”

  “I suppose that is one way of looking at it.” She took another bite of her pastry. Life certainly was full of surprises in the last few months. She’d been relieved to close the book on the previous year, but this one was turning out to be just as full of dramatic upheaval.

  “Do you still miss your ex-boyfriend?” Sandro watched her, and she felt as if his dark gaze could see right through her.

  “Not really.” Did she? It was hard to be honest even with herself. How could you not miss someone you’d planned to spend the rest of your life with? “I think what I miss most is my dreams of how things were supposed to be. I was living in a fantasy world. I suppose it serves me right. My happy little fishbowl of perfection felt like a suffocating bell jar to him.”

  “I think you had a lucky escape.”

  “Maybe.” People kept glancing over at Sandro—then at her—then back at Sandro. “Your admirers are making me a bit self-conscious.”

  “They’re curious about you.” A smile played at his lips.

  “I bet they are. And I don’t like it.” She was serious. “I thought we were going to be hidden away at your house.”

  “You’re right, but I couldn’t resist showing you my homeland’s beautiful town and our delicious food.” He wolfed down the last of the smoked fish. She polished off her pastry. “Let’s go. We’ll grab some supplies in the market.”

  They whisked Lucky outside, and Sandro bought an array of groceries, fresh bread, cheeses, vegetables and wrapped meat at the market stalls.

  “How do they have fresh vegetables in this climate at this time of year?” she couldn’t help asking as they bundled it into his SUV.

  “Hydroponics. Altaleone is a leading producer of vegetables and fruits grown indoors under lights, using only water and organic nutrients. One of the farms uses equipment I developed while I was in graduate school.”

  “Is there anything you can’t do?”

  He looked thoughtful while he climbed into the driver’s seat. “I’m not a very good ice skater.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  He drove them out of the town on a winding road with snow piled on either side. White fields rose above them, then dropped away as they crested a hilltop and descended into a valley. Occasional farmhouses dotted the scene but no animals.

  “No sheep or cows?”

  “They’re all kept indoors at this time of year. All the farms have big barns. The snow gets too deep for them to be outside.”

  “It’s hard to imagine this will all be green in spring, just a few weeks from now.”

  “A metaphor for life, perhaps?” He glanced at her, brow lifted.

  “Let’s hope so. I’m glad I posted a video about breaking up with Howard. And my mom knows.” Then her hand flew to her mouth. “I didn’t tell my publicist. What if people call her with questions?”

  “Why didn’t you tell her before?”

  “I didn’t want to make her a liar as well. How could she book all these shows if she knew I was a fraud?”

  “You’re not a fraud. I’m sure your book is full of excellent advice.”

  “On how to end up single and alone—and pregnant—after a two-year relationship?”

  “It takes two to make a relationship. Stop blaming yourself.” His tone was almost stern.

  “Am I?”

  “You are. And he’s the one who left. Try blaming him for a change.” His familiar grin lifted the corner of his mouth. “I think he’s a total idiot.”

  The road narrowed to a single lane track as they ascended into the next set of hills. She squinted at the glaring snow. “What happens if another car comes?”

  “It won’t.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because this is my estate.”

  She stared at the white hills around them. “You inherited it?”

  “I bought it. From my grandmother. With the money I made when I sold my first company.”

  Serena liked that. Maybe he wasn’t just a spoiled princeling waiting to have the world handed to him on a silver platter. “What did she think about that?”

  “She thought it was hilarious. She offered to give it to me. It’s one of the most remote properties in Altaleone and hadn’t been inhabited for three hundred years. The road wasn’t even passable when I first bought it.”

  That wasn’t hard to imagine. She wasn’t a hundred percent convinced it was passable right now. “What attracted you to it?”

  “I think the desolate location was part of the draw. And its history. The original villa was the seat of a retired Roman general sent into exile from Rome. He built his own small empire up in the mountains and ruled it for decades. The stone villa was a great state of ruin until I modernized and extended it.”

  They crested another hilltop and began a breathtakingly steep descent into the pure, white wilderness. If she wanted to escape from here it would be very difficult. She wouldn’t dare drive on these roads. Steep and icy? Sandro handled the car confidently, but he had years of experience with these conditions. “This would be a good place to keep someone prisoner.”

  A smile played about his sensual mouth. “Do you have anyone in mind?”

  “Not at all.” She crossed her arms over her chest, which didn’t do anything to quell the tingling sensation in her nipples. She’d spent way too much time in close proximity with Sandro. And now they were going to be all alone in his house.

  In the middle of nowhere.

  “But knowing you as I do, I’m surprised you don’t use a helicopter to get here.”

  “I do.” He lifted his chin. “Just not in winter. It’s too much trouble keeping the helicopter de-iced.”

  He drove through two big stone pillars, and the road straightened out into a broad drive—recently ploughed—that led toward a low, modern-looking house with ancient stone accents. The mountains behind it formed a breathtaking backdrop. “This is stunning.”

  “My sentiments exactly. I’m glad you agree.”

  She could feel his warmth, his pride in his home, and it touched her. “I have good taste,” she teased.

  “That’s why your followers hang on your every word. Shouldn’t you be recording this for them?”

  “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “Not in the least. I love to share Altaleone and its beauty with people around the world. Most of them have never even heard of it.”

  “All right. I’m getting my camera out.”

  She whipped it her phone and polished the lens, then hit record and chattered away—it was surprisingly easy—as they drove up to the stunning residence, its wide stone courtyard shimmering with snow crystals. “I’ll be back to give you a more detailed tour. For now my little dog and I need to unpack and settle in.”

  Sandro swept up all their bags, and she took Lucky out of his crate and put him on the leash. Why did this feel weirdly like a homecoming? It totally wasn’t! She was staying here just a few days, then going back to her regular life in New York. If she got lucky
her real estate agent would squeeze in some showings while her place was empty, and she could sell it and get out from under the big mortgage she should never have taken on.

  This was just a break. Nothing serious. So she’d better not get too attached to the place—or to Sandro.

  Her heart started beating harder as Sandro used his fingerprint to open a lock, and they walked through two tall glass doors and into the warm inside. Dark slate floors radiated warmth.

  Then an alarming thought occurred to her. Would she have her own space? Or did he intend for her to sleep in his bedroom?

  CHAPTER TEN

  Serena felt a sudden need to take charge. She’d drifted down Sandro’s snowy river far enough. “I am going to have my own bedroom, aren’t I?”

  “Yes.” He didn’t look at her.

  She felt a tiny pinch of disappointment. Had she hoped he’d argue with her? “Great.”

  Maybe he didn’t want to sleep with her again. Perhaps now that they were back in his country, surrounded by his people and family, he’d realized that nothing could really ever work out between them.

  They’d have a quiet rather awkward few days together here, and he’d fly her politely back home.

  Which would be fine. Right?

  “This room is yours.” He opened the door to a large bedroom dominated by a wall of windows looking onto the snowy mountains behind. “It should have everything you need.” He led her in, putting her bags in front of a sleek closet. The bed was a low platform, covered in pillows. “And there’s a bathroom here.” He gestured inside, where she glimpsed an expanse of polished stone mosaic and a shower the size of her entire bathroom in Manhattan. Lucky ran in and ran out, tail wagging, then jumped up on the bed and rolled among the cushions.

  “It’s lovely.”

  “Thanks. I built the newer areas of the house around the views. Saved me a lot of money on pictures.” His cheeky grin made her smile. They stood there for a few seconds, and she had no idea what to say. He looked gorgeously rumpled but barely tired even after staying awake for the long flight.

  “You must be exhausted.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I have a feeling you’d say that even if you’d been awake for a week straight.” He was pretty tough—for a prince. She liked that.

  “I might.” He cocked his head. “My sisters tease me that I have FOMO.”

  “Fear of missing out?”

  He nodded. “Sleep can be such a waste of time.”

  Naturally he was the type who wanted to be on the go all the time. She already knew he was a genius inventor who dated movie stars, as well as being a prince. He’d told her he was an adrenaline junkie. He’d soon grow bored with an ordinary girl.

  “I happen to be a big fan of sleep.”

  “Then feel free to take a nap.” He gestured at the bed, which looked dangerously inviting, even without the idea of Sandro in it.

  “I’m not really that sleepy. I caught some z’s on the plane while you were busy flying. I guess I’d better unpack.”

  “Then would you like to take a tour? It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I wouldn’t mind looking the place over to see if anything needs fixing.”

  “Sure.” The room was spotless, maintained by the cleaner in his absence. Sandro’s lifestyle was pretty jaw-dropping. If she framed it right her followers would enjoy a glimpse into it.

  Heck, she was enjoying her glimpse into it. But she was nervous about presenting herself and Sandro as some kind of item. She didn’t want to have to break the news of two different breakups in one year.

  “Text me when you’re done. I’ll come right back for you.”

  She unpacked. She could almost have come right here from Chicago, since she’d worn her fur-lined boots and down coat there. But on the stop in New York she’d sneaked some sexy lingerie into her bag. Nothing too racy, just a couple of pretty bras and some matching panties. And a slinky nightgown she’d impulse-bought to surprise Howard on their honeymoon.

  That wasn’t ever going to happen. Her heart still sank a little at the thought, though every day she was feeling less heartbroken and devastated about losing Howard. Clearly she was getting over him—and she might as well get some use out of the nightgown before she got too huge to put it on.

  “Where are you going to sleep, Lucky?” The little dog ran around the room in excited circles. Back at home she’d kept him strictly in the living room at nights, because a friend had warned her that once you let a dog sleep in your bedroom it would always want to.

  And she might want someone else in her bedroom.

  Lucky suddenly ran out of the room and down the hallway. “Hey, where are you going?” She was only half-unpacked. Could he get outside and become lost in the snow?

  Running to the door she caught sight of him turning right at the end of the hallway, so she hurried over the slate tiles. “Lucky!”

  She turned right after him and saw him duck into a room two doors down, so she followed. And walked right into the sight of Sandro peeling off his underwear.

  The vision of his muscled body, hard ridges picked out by the harsh sunlight bouncing off the mountains outside the huge window, took her breath away. He was built like an athlete, with broad shoulders narrowing to a slim waist with a flat, hard belly.

  His body hair was dark, tapering to a happy trail that pointed in a direction she tried not to look at. But it was impossible because as soon as he looked up at her—surprised—he started to grow hard.

  “I’m so sorry. I just…Lucky!” She couldn’t even see Lucky now.

  “No worries.” He stepped out of his underwear, an action that used all the well-developed muscles of his powerful thighs and calves, not to mention his tight backside.

  Either the room was getting very hot or she was about to pass out. “I’ll just—” She wanted to turn and run, but she couldn’t tear her eyes off him.

  “I’ll be ready in a second. Take a seat.” He gestured to a wide leather sofa. Everything was sleek and modern.

  She glanced at it—then back at him. “Uh.”

  “I’m going to jump in the shower.” He strode—stark naked and gorgeous as any statue in the Metropolitan Museum of Art—across the dark stone floor. “I won’t be a minute.

  Lucky darted out of the bathroom and circled his feet, bouncing with excitement.

  “Lucky, give him some space,” she called.

  “I don’t need any space from this guy.” He glanced back at Lucky with a grin. “He’s my buddy. I think he remembers me.”

  “Of course he remembers you. You rescued him.”

  “You rescued him. You’re the one who heard him barking.”

  “True, but I might not have been brave enough to walk into the floodwaters all by myself.” Lucky had been chained to the porch of the house next door to the one she’d rented, and they hadn’t seen him until water was creeping up over the lawn.

  “We’re a team, then.” He walked into the large open shower and turned on the water. She could see him clearly from where she stood in the bedroom. “And he knows it.”

  We’re a team. It would be easy to read too much into those words. They had been, though, at least for a short time while the freak storm ravaged the beautiful beachfront property they were stranded in.

  She couldn’t even imagine what she’d have done without him. She’d have been terrified as soon as the power went out, but with him there she’d felt safe and protected. Safe enough to make passionate love while the storm raged.

  She turned and busied herself studying his bedroom. It would be rude to stare at him while he washed himself. Dangerously tempting too. She might find herself rushing over to help him soap his back.

  Lord knows she hadn’t put up much resistance last time. Something about Sandro burned through all her defenses. It was just a superficial attraction to his flashy good looks, his bold confidence, heck, maybe even the fact that he was a prince.

  The water shut off, and she braced herself
not to turn around. He had a different but equally spectacular view through the wall of glass in his bedroom. A triple row of mountain peaks. His bed had a big fur throw on it—hopefully fake—and there was a minimalist clock on one wall. Other than the bed and a sofa there was no furniture in the large room.

  The sound of Lucky’s feet pattering back across the stone floor made her turn and crouch to pet him. “Lucky, what have we gotten ourselves into?”

  As if in answer, Lucky trotted back to Sandro, who was now out of the shower and toweling himself off, once again displaying his well-toned muscles. She crossed her arms over her tightening nipples.

  His phone rang. She averted her eyes as he strolled across the floor, towel tucked loosely around his waist, to answer it. “Hi, Mom.… Yes, it’s true. I am here.… Not tonight. I have plans already.” She wasn’t looking at him, but she could feel his gaze burning into her. “I have a guest here with me.”

  She shifted awkwardly. How did his mom feel about him sleeping with strange women? As a royal he would be expected to uphold the family reputation.

  “We’ll come see you soon, okay?”

  Serena glanced at him. Was he lying to his mom right now, or had he been lying to her when he promised an escape from everything? Once again, Sandro said what he thought someone wanted to hear. A timely reminder that she could trust him about as far as she could throw him. “Love you too. Bye, Mom.”

  “I guess your sister told her you’re here.” She had to say something to avoid an awkward silence.

  “Nothing stays secret for long in Altaleone. The country is too small. Even if we hadn’t run into my sister, word would have got back to her from someone.”

  “We should have come straight here from the airport.” She didn’t like the idea that people would be talking about her. Wondering who that strange, dark-skinned woman was having breakfast with their handsome prince. “Do people gossip a lot in Altaleone?”

  “No more than anywhere else, I suppose.” He smiled. And rubbed the towel against himself, which caused an uncomfortable wave of heat to rise in her core.

  “You don’t mind it?”