Bride Fit for a Prince

For a split second his eyes glittered with some unnamed emotion that sent a dart of fear coursing through her nervous system.

“The prince will be impressed with your knowledge of Italian political history, signorina. It seems there are depths to you yet to be plumbed. Shall we get your bags?”

“I didn’t bring any.”

“Of course not,” he murmured in a silky voice. “A princess-to-be must have an entirely new wardrobe from the skin out.” He slid an index finger down her cheek. “Yours feels like velvet. No wonder Prince Enzo couldn’t resist you.”

“Is that one of your jobs? To inspect the royal merchandise?” she snapped to cover the shock wave that had just passed through her body.

“Call it a lapse I couldn’t resist. It won’t happen again. Now that you’re his fiancée, the prince won’t allow another man to touch you on pain of death.”

She flashed him an icy smile. “How feudal of your master to send you ahead to discover my fatal flaw. I’ll warn you now. I have several of them.”

A sardonic gleam entered his eyes. “I hadn’t thought to enjoy my mission this much. Except for the wedding dress which I understand was purchased some time ago, the prince told me to accommodate your every desire.

“As soon as we leave the airport, it will be my pleasure to take you shopping for your royal trousseau. Along the arcade of the Via Roma you will find our country’s most fashionable couturier salons,” he whispered in a husky tone, giving her voluptuous body a slow, frank appraisal.

Considering she was in jeans and a knit top that was several years old, the look he’d just given her was meant to be insulting. The sparring had gone on long enough.

“You won’t be taking me any place because I have no need of a new wardrobe,” she blurted with as much hauteur as she could summon.

“Then you truly are a dream come true, signorina. I will let the prince know you intend to keep him happy in the marriage bed for the entire thirty days and nights.”

“Careful, Niccolo—your true colors are showing,” she bit out as white-hot heat consumed her.

“If your lack of concern about clothes is one of the fatal flaws you were referring to, then I admit I’m looking forward to ferreting out the rest of them.”

Anxious to wipe the gloating expression from his eyes she said, “Will you please give this to the prince for me?”

Callie reached in her bag that contained her toiletries along with a change of underwear, and handed him the velvet lined box. It held the betrothal ring. After opening the lid, he trapped her hand.

“Do you know this ring dates from the early sixteenth century when the House of Piemonte and the House of Monferrato formed a valuable alliance through marriage?”

To her shock he slid it on her ring finger. After studying it he said, “I wondered why you weren’t wearing it. Now I have my answer.

“Though it’s the most valuable of the collection in terms of the Tescotti family history, I can see how this heavy gold piece doesn’t suit your delicate hand. I’ll tell his highness to pick out something more modern from the family jewels.”

At the moment, her hands were covered in a rash from washing and scrubbing them so much before surgery. She’d tried every cream in existence, but they still itched and had blotchy spots he rubbed several times. Callie pulled her hand away, shaken by his touch which had arced through her body like a current of electricity.

Pulling off the ring, she put it back in the box and shoved it at him. “I have something else you can give the prince.” Once more she reached in her bag and handed him the envelope with the check inside.

He opened it. “Ten thousand dollars. To my knowledge, the prince had no expectations of a wedding present from you. However I’m aware of something he would like, and this is the exact amount to cover it.” His eyes flashed black fire. “You’re going to make him the happiest man alive.”

Putting both items in his pockets, he cupped her elbow. “It’s a beautiful fall afternoon. Since you don’t require any clothes, I thought you might like a ride around the city to relax you. It’s only fitting that you survey your kingdom before the wedding tomorrow. Shall we get started?”

Callie jerked her arm away. “I’m not going anywhere with you and that money isn’t a wedding gift.”

He stared at her through veiled eyes. “You’re trembling. But surely there is no reason to be afraid of me. This close to the ceremony, I have sworn a sacred oath to protect you with my life. In fact I am the only person in the world who has Prince Enzo’s complete trust.”

“Then you need to let him know there isn’t going to be a wedding.”

His white smile was condescending. “I thought only the groom had what you Americans call pre-wedding jitters. You are turning out to be a surprise in so many ways, I find myself utterly captivated.”

“Look, Nicco whoever-you-are—I’m going to be honest with you.”

“You mean you haven’t been up to now?”

Callie forced herself to count to ten. “I’ve been trying to tell you something. Before you jump to any more wrong conclusions, you need to hear me out. I’m not the woman his highness picked to marry.”

The amusement in his eyes maddened her. He pulled a photograph out of his back pocket. “Then who is this?”

The picture he held up was obviously the photograph Ann had sent in with the application.

Smothering a groan she said, “I know it looks like me. That’s because I’m Ann’s twin sister, Callie.”

“Callie.” He mouthed her name. In the next breath he’d relieved her of her shoulder bag and pulled out her passport. He opened it and placed the picture next to the passport photo. “According to this, your name is Callie Ann Lassiter.”

“Yes, I know. My sister is named Annabelle, but she goes by Ann. Our father wanted both of us to have our mother’s name.”

His lips twitched. “That’s quite a lie you’ve dreamed up. Obviously you’re frightened of this step you’re about to take. For an aspiring Hollywood actress, who would have guessed it?”

She’d had enough of his barely veiled mockery. Taking a deep breath she said, “You mistake my fright for frustration. It’s because you won’t listen to me. I’m going to try this one more time. I’m not the prince’s intended!”

As if it were his divine right, he unsnapped the strap of her wallet and looked at her driver’s license.

“Callie Ann Lassiter,” he read her name aloud again.

She gritted her teeth. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. I flew over to explain to the prince that she can’t marry him because she’s starring in a new movie. The ten thousand dollars is to pay for the airline tickets and other expenses the prince incurred by choosing to be the celebrity for the benefit.”

When he didn’t say anything, she went on with her explanation.

“She’s very sorry about breaking the contract. I assure you she would have followed through with the marriage. But on the night of the benefit, her agent called with the opportunity of a lifetime. She couldn’t pass it up.”

His continued silence infuriated her.

“They started filming in Hollywood yesterday and she had to be on the set at six in the morning. So she came to see me the day before yesterday and asked me if I would return the ring to the prince in person and give him the money.”

Callie wondered if he was even listening to her.

“If it’s not enough, tell him to contact her agent who will confer with her attorney. She wrote his name and number on a piece of paper in the envelope. I think that’s everything, and now I have to go. They’re calling for my flight to Milan.”

Crowds had gathered once more, filling the terminal with noisy chatter.

“If I could have my wallet and passport please.”

To her great relief, he put everything in her bag and handed it to her with an enigmatic expression on his face. “I will convey your message to the prince.”

Finally a reaction!

“Thank you. Please tell him I’m very sorry my sister didn’t know about the movie offer in time to pull out of the benefit. But if he’s as wonderful as my sister says he is, then I’m sure he’ll have no problem finding another fiancée.

“Ann told me the first runner-up in the competition was dying to be picked. Remind the prince that she was the ravishing brunette who’s also an expert equestrian. Oh, yes, and a graduate student in architecture. She’ll make the right bride for his highness.

“If he acts right away, a private jet could be sent for her in time to arrive for tomorrow’s ceremony. Now I really have to go. Goodbye.”

CHAPTER TWO

RELIEVED to get away from him, Callie handed her boarding pass to the airline person at the gate and hurried through the door to the plane. Once she’d found her seat and strapped herself in, she could finally relax.

The whole thing had gone much better than she’d hoped. In a way she was glad she hadn’t been forced to deal with the prince. No matter how repulsed she was by his evil method to get himself a bride, it still would have been hard to look him in the eye and tell him her sister didn’t want to marry him after all.

As for Niccolo Machiavelli, she needed to put him out of her mind and forget such a man existed. He’d excited her in a frightening kind of way, probably because he was foreign and an unknown quantity. Her body still tingled from the caress of his fingers on her cheek and hands.

She’d never reacted to a man’s touch like that before. Worse, she felt a sense of loss she couldn’t account for to realize she wouldn’t be seeing him again.

It was very strange considering that lately Callie had decided maybe she and Ann had been born without a woman’s normal feelings. All of their friends had found a husband by now. Many of them already had children.

Growing up, Callie and Ann had never suffered from a lack of dates. If anything, it had been the other way around. Yet neither of them had ever had a serious boyfriend.

At college and vet school there’d been quite a few students interested in her, but she’d been too absorbed in her studies to get involved. It was the same way for Ann who’d had dates with some well known actors. Yet her hope of being an actress was stronger than her desire to settle down.

Now, suddenly, a dark stranger had made Callie aware of herself as a flesh and blood woman with needs that must have been lying dormant all these years. How ironic to think it took an Italian male to wake her up to her own sensuality.

Not just any Italian man, Callie.

Her instincts about animals and people were usually right on. The man who worked for Prince Enzo was a breed apart from other men. She’d sensed it from the first moment she’d seen him sitting there in all his splendid indifference to the world around him.

Deep inside she had the disquieting feeling he was going to be unforgettable. The thought was so alarming, she reached for her novel in a desperate attempt to get her mind on anything else besides him.

Little by little the seats filled. She tried to concentrate on the story, but it was impossible. The plane couldn’t take off fast enough to suit her.

A new flight attendant came on board. She smiled and chatted with each passenger. When she came to Callie she said, “Signorina Lassiter? If you would come with me, please.”

Callie blinked. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. There are two policemen waiting inside the terminal to talk to you.”

Oh, no. Nicco must have already reported to the prince and now she was about to be detained. She should have known this was too easy.

“As a matter of courtesy to you, I told them I would find you. I’m sure you don’t want to be embarrassed by having them come on board for an interrogation.”

“No, of course not—but the plane’s about ready to take off.”

“They said this shouldn’t take long.”

“I see. Thank you.”

With growing trepidation she got up from the seat, grabbed her bag and followed the flight attendant into the terminal. Sure enough two Italian policemen in uniform were waiting for her at the exit.

“Signorina Lassiter?” The one with the moustache spoke first.

“Yes?”

“Signorina Ann Lassiter?” the other one questioned.

“No,” she answered honestly. “My name is Callie. Ann is my sister.”

“Your passport, please.”

Once again she found herself opening her shoulder bag to get it out. The policeman took it from her and studied the picture.

“Thank you very much.” He put it in his pocket. “If you’ll come with us please.”

“What do you mean? I have a plane to catch!”

The two officers smiled at each other before the one with the moustache said, “His royal highness learned that his beautiful American fiancée has prewedding nerves, a problem he finds extremely charming. He hopes that by now you have gotten over them enough to let us take you to him.”

“No—” she cried out. “I mean, you don’t understand—I’m not his fiancée! I can prove it if you’ll just let me make one phone call!”

They broke into laughter. “He warned us you would put up a struggle. Come, signorina. No one keeps the prince waiting. However for his bride-to-be, he has made an exception this one time. We will take you to him.”

Callie sensed that if she continued to fight them, it would no longer be a joking matter. So much for her sister’s belief that ten thousand dollars would settle everything.

I promise he’s a sweetheart. All the other finalists thought he was a darling and wished they’d been chosen. There won’t be any problem with him.

She’d known there’d been a catch somewhere. Now she thought she’d figured out what it was. Prince Enzo held a title and nothing else! That’s why no royal contingent had been sent to greet her when she got off the plane and that’s why he needed to buy a bride.

It was probably the reason he’d used his celebrity status to be the focus of a huge Hollywood benefit. No doubt he needed a wife to support him! Where else in the world but America would people pay big money for charity to rub shoulders with a European prince?

What better woman for him to pick than a shallow Hollywood actress with stars in her eyes for a brain, and a bank account that could feed all the homeless at once?

His choice of bride-to-be was beginning to make a lot of sense. Everyone knew a film idol was worth millions. Enough to keep him in the manner to which he’d been accustomed before his fortune had run out or he’d squandered it.

Apparently the prince’s mouthpiece Nicco had wasted no time informing him that Signorina Lassiter had tried to back out of that damnable contract by insisting she was the wrong woman. He’d probably advised the prince to extort as much money from her as he could.

It looked as if Callie had no choice now but to meet his royal wretchedness himself, and set him straight about the farcical situation he’d brought on due to his own greed.

Once she could prove he was a has-been with nothing to show for it but an empty title, no court of law on either side of the Atlantic would require Callie’s sister to hold up her end of that absurd contract. Talk about flawed…

In order not to make a scene, Callie allowed herself to be escorted by the two policemen. They entered a nearby elevator and descended to the next floor.

To her chagrin, thoughts of the prince’s black-haired, slick-tongued envoy prevented her from concentrating fully over the impending confrontation. Undoubtedly Nicco had orchestrated the entire plot for the prince with the latter’s promise of a healthy cut of Ann’s film profits down the road.

Callie had been right all along. Nicco had Machiavellian blood running through his veins. Little did he know she had the fierce blood of her Norse ancestry running through hers…

When the elevator reached ground level, Callie’s clover-green eyes narrowed as she prepared to do battle.

The police directed her to a door down the corridor which they unlocked. It opened onto the tarmac where their police van awaited. They helped her into the back where she sat on a bench. There were no windows to see out.

After being shut in, she had to endure a twenty-minute drive without knowing where on earth they were taking her. Finally she felt the van slow down and come to a stop.

When they opened the doors to let her out, she discovered they’d driven to the rear of a medium-size apartment building somewhere in the heart of Torino.

In one of the nearby covered parking stalls she caught sight of a helmeted man getting off a motorcycle. Her eyes widened to discover it was a brand-new Danelli! That wasn’t possible unless…

But when had the company started manufacturing them again?

To her shock, one of the police officers walked over to the driver of the fire-engine-red racing bike and handed him her passport. After a short conversation, he returned to the van. It backed out of the alley, leaving her standing there in a daze.

So this was the prince.

It appeared he had a little more money than she’d thought. Unless he was in debt up to his eyeballs and hoping his benefit bride would bail him out. To own such a fabulous machine would have set him back at least a hundred thousand dollars, maybe much more.

The man removed his helmet without bothering to smooth his black hair which had become disheveled.

“Buongiorno, signorina.”

At the sound of the deep, seductive male voice she’d heard before, she let out a shocked gasp.

Nicco!

She hated it that he looked even more attractive than ever.

“Don’t tell me—” she spoke first, anxious to quell the frantic beating of her heart. “I presume this is where the prince lives because he lost all his land and properties a long time ago.”

“How very astute of you.”

Callie ignored his sarcasm. “I thought so. Thank you for being honest with me about that anyway. It’s too bad my sister’s not a famous, fabulously wealthy Hollywood actress yet. This whole thing might have had a different ending if she’d been ready to turn her back on the limelight and devote herself to a down-and-out prince.”

He gave a careless, elegant shrug of his broad shoulders. “You can’t blame a man for trying.”

“I suppose not. Unfortunately he risked everything on the wrong woman. But as she’s my sister, I can vouch for her. Ann may be a little foolish at times, but she’s a totally nice person who wants to make up to the prince for what has happened.

“After having met him, it’s her belief he’s a charming, civilized man who will understand the circumstances and be willing to work out any further financial arrangements with her attorney. I hope that’s true so this thing can be cleared up right away. I have to fly home to the States tonight.”

“Let’s go inside and find out, shall we?”

He led her through a back entrance and up a half flight of stairs to the second floor. Two doors down on the left he stopped and put a key in the lock. She heard barking.

“Basta, Valentino!”

The second the door opened, a gorgeous fawn-colored male boxer dog greeted him with such joy, it warmed Callie’s heart. The first real smile she’d seen lit Nicco’s eyes as he put his helmet on the foyer table and played around with the dog.

He spoke to it in Italian. She could just make out the words Signorina Lassiter before he turned his head toward Callie. “The dog will give you five if you’ll put out your hand.”

“Give you five” was slang for two people slapping their palms together. Nicco’s command of English was excellent. Obviously the prince had hired a modern-day Renaissance man to act for him at times like this.

She lifted her palm in the air. Valentino raised his paw and slapped hers with the right degree of strength so he didn’t knock her down. Enchanted, she bent over and hugged him around the neck, scratching the sensitive spot behind his pointed ears.

“Oh, you’re beautiful!” she cried softly.

For a reward he licked her mouth.

Callie burst into laughter. “I love you, too.” She kissed his face. “Yes I do, you magnificent creature.” Unable to help herself, she got down on her knees to inspect his white stocking feet. He had perfect coloring.

“You have the markings and bearing of a true champion.” She kissed the top of his head one more time before standing up.

“For a dog and a human who don’t understand each other’s language, the two of you have managed to cross that boundary without problem,” her host muttered in a dry tone.

The boxer walked around her, sniffing and licking her legs and hands. He could detect the scent of the vet hospital where she lived and worked.

“That’s because I’m crazy about animals. How long has the prince had him?”

“Eight years now.”

“The lucky man. Does he let you take Valentino for walks?”

“All the time.”

“If I worked for him, that would be my favorite perk.”

He flashed her a glance she couldn’t decipher. “Come into the other room.”

Anxious to meet the prince and get this over with, she followed Nicco’s tall, rock-hard physique through a doorway to the living room of the apartment.

It was modestly furnished in what appeared to be secondhand furniture, exactly like the decor of her one bedroom apartment behind the clinic.

“Prince Enzo really has fallen on hard times. I feel right at home.”

“He’ll be glad to hear it,” Nicco replied with a hint of mockery. “Please make yourself comfortable.”

She sat down on one of the chairs. Valentino curled up at her feet. A few minutes of silence passed before she was prompted to ask, “What’s taking the prince so long?”

“He’s out for the moment.”

When the meaning of his words sank in, her head reared. “What’s going on here?”

Nicco sat down on the couch opposite her. “With his wedding day tomorrow, the prince is a busy man. He’ll be along shortly.”

“The prince better hurry if he expects the runner-up to arrive here in time.”

He lounged back against the cushion, extending his long, powerful legs in front of him. “Come now, signorina. Surely you’re not still maintaining that fictitious nonsense about a twin?”

Callie was on her feet in an instant. Her action disturbed the dog who instinctively tried to herd her so she wouldn’t move from the room. Under normal circumstances she would have laughed at the endearing trait, but this situation was not amusing.

“Where’s the phone? I’ll get Ann on the line and she’ll explain everything.”

“I’m afraid the prince only uses a cell phone.”

She took a struggling breath. “Then I assume you have one, too. May I use yours, please?”

“I would offer mine, but it needs to be recharged.”

“How convenient.”

As if proclaiming his innocence, he lifted those broad masculine shoulders still covered by his black Italian leather jacket. Her sarcasm had been utterly wasted on him.

“Before Prince Enzo arrives, we might as well begin a discussion of tomorrow’s schedule. It’s my job to prepare you for your nuptials. Why don’t you sit down again and relax. Too much anxiety before the wedding ceremony will carry over into the bridal chamber.

“Ever since he saw your photograph last month, the prince has been anticipating your wedding night. He expects to find his new consort as eager as he is to begin your life together as husband and wife. It’s up to me to make certain he isn’t disappointed.”

By now Callie’s face was on fire. “And of course I don’t have any say in the situation.”

“None. Of your own freewill—in front of the attorney for the benefit as well Prince Enzo’s personal attorney—you signed a contract I drew up for the prince myself. It is airtight, signorina. No power on earth, not even the Pope himself, can break it.”

“I didn’t sign it,” she said calmly. “My sister did.”

His gaze captured hers. She fought not to look away.

“Supposing that’s true…” His voice trailed. “And you really do have an identical twin named Ann…it still won’t stop the wedding from taking place tomorrow.”