Whisked Away By Her Sicilian Boss

Worse, if they knew Bertina had involved a cousin in another country, let alone asked such a desperate favor of her adored cook to help solve Tuccia’s problems, who knew how ugly the situation could get. If Bertina were forced to lose the palazzo and any extra money, she wouldn’t be able to pay Lina for being her cook. Lina could be out of a job for harboring her. All of it would be her fault.

She couldn’t believe her bad luck in running into Lina’s son. Naturally he was going to wonder why she was here and question his mother. What she needed to do was get dressed and pack her bag so she’d be ready to steal from the villa at dawn before anyone was up.

Tuccia knew a full-scale search by Jean-Michel and her parents had been underway for her since she had disappeared from the salon. At least with her gone from Lina’s villa, Bertina wouldn’t be implicated.

She had saved enough money to take a bus and travel to Catania where she could get a job through a friend who would help her. If she were careful, she could subsist for a while. She didn’t dare access her bank account even though its pitiful balance had never been big enough to pay for as much as an airline ticket.

Tuccia had no idea how long she would have to remain hidden. But even if it meant being disowned and disinherited, it didn’t matter because she’d rather be dead than have to marry Jean-Michel. She was sickened at the thought of him taking her to bed, let alone living with him for a lifetime.

CHAPTER TWO

CESARE SAT AT the side of his mother’s bed, still trying to comprehend what she’d just told him. “Apparently you and Princess Tuccianna have enjoyed a relationship you never told me about.”

“Only since I started cooking for Bertina two years ago. Until tonight I’d been sworn to secrecy. She needs help desperately, Cesare.”

He reached for her hand. “Don’t you know what a terrible position this has put you in, Mamma? The authorities from two governments are looking everywhere for her. Her jilted fiancé could be dangerous. He has the kind of money and power that could crush you. If her parents found out you gave her shelter, your name could be ruined. You could lose your job with Bertina. They could make life miserable for you.”

“It’s Tuccia’s life I’m worried about, not mine. You know how I feel about titles. It’s a feudal system. No young woman should have to marry a man almost twice her age because of money and power. You can’t imagine how frightened Bertina is for her niece. The comte will impose his will on her. She’s very beautiful. And you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Cesare was afraid he did. He’d seen first-hand the trouble that kind of will had created for Vincenzo and Vincenzo’s cousin Dimi. The two had grown up together at the castello and had suffered through tragedy together because of overpowering parental dominance over both of them.

After Cesare had become close friends with the two royals he had learned their story, so he understood why the princess refused to be tied legally to a man who could do what he wanted to his young, helpless wife. Cesare was sickened by it himself, but his protective instincts had kicked in for his mother. He didn’t want her to be a part of this and he got up from the bed.

“How long have you agreed to let her stay with you?”

“Until Bertina has worked out an escape plan to get her to a distant relative in Montenegro no one will trace.”

He shook his head. “Of course they will! That’s no plan,” he bit out.

“I agree with you and I don’t like any of it, either. But the princess is desperate. Bertina has told me that the father, Comte Ardois, was promiscuous and notoriously unfaithful over the years. She has it on good authority that his son Comte Jean-Michel is exactly the same way.

“He’s had a mistress on the side for a long time. I can’t bear that kind of life for her. Neither can she! Tuccia is like a lamb going to the slaughter. To me it’s criminal!”

“What you’re telling me sounds like a repeat of the stories Vincenzo told me about life at the castello growing up.”

“So you do understand that Tuccia is a young sweet girl and needs to get far away from him while she still can.”

“Yes, but not at your expense.”

“Someone has to step up. If I lose my job because of this, I’ll find another one. If that isn’t possible, then I will let you take care of me. The point is, the marchesa and her husband have never been concerned about their daughter’s feelings. They’ve spent their whole lives doing their royal duty and expect the same from Tuccia. The princess is alone in this. If Bertina hadn’t chartered that jet for her so she could leave Paris, Tuccia would have been forced to walk down the aisle today and be married to a monster.”

His hands went to his hips. “But now she has you involved.”

“Because I want to be. I like Tuccia very much. If she were my daughter, I’d do whatever I could to save her from such a wretched life. You’re the most brilliant, clever man I’ve ever known, figlio mio. If I asked for your help this one time, would you do it for your mamma?”

Her blue eyes beseeched him. She was serious! He could see it and feel it.

“What do you think I could do?”

“Fly her to Milan tomorrow on the Gagliardi ducal jet with Ciro. Help her find a place to stay in the city where no one will think to look for her. She won’t be traced.”

His eyes narrowed. “Is this the reason you let her stay here tonight? Because you knew I was flying in and planned to use me?”

“Yes,” she answered with her usual refreshing honesty. “Have I ever asked you for a favor like this before? Time is of the essence.”

“Mamma—” His head reared in exasperation.

She sat up straighter in the bed. “I don’t see a problem. Tuccia’s crisis takes priority. That girl needs to be far away from here by tomorrow. It won’t hurt you to take her with you. Be sure she’s wearing a disguise. Signor Fragala won’t suspect who she is.”

He stopped pacing. “He’ll recognize her once we’re on board.”

“So you’ll swear him to secrecy. If he can’t be trusted, tell him you’ve changed your mind and won’t let him have the coveted chef position after all. It’s in your hands. Once you’ve settled her, you can take Ciro to the castello and get on with your business. Is that such a terrible thing to ask this one time?”

Cesare couldn’t fathom that they were having this conversation at three in the morning. “There’s no place she won’t be recognized.”

“Then take her to the castello with you. Smuggle her in a back entrance and hide her in one of the turret rooms for a few days. That will give her enough time to figure out a solid plan on her own. Besides being well-educated and well-traveled, she’s a very intelligent girl and resourceful.”

“And according to the papers, impossible,” he added.

“If you knew the truth, you wouldn’t judge her. Every time her name gets in the news, it’s because she has tried to run away from her family. But she always gets caught and is brought back. Her parents cover it up by saying that she’s an indulged, immature troublemaker. She’s the loveliest girl I’ve ever known, and it’s a tragedy how her life has been.”

Such accolades for the princess shocked him. His mother wasn’t about to relent on this. She was a fighter who had a heart of gold. That was how she’d made it through life.

“You’ll help me to help her, won’t you?”

Cesare loved and admired his mother more than any woman he’d ever known. After the hundreds of sacrifices she’d made for him and his sister growing up, how could he possibly turn her down?

Letting out a sigh he said, “Stop worrying. After Ciro arrives in the morning, I’ll take her to Milan tomorrow with us.” But not to the castello. He didn’t want the guys to know what was going on.

“If you’ll do that for me, I’ll love you forever.”

“I thought you already did,” he teased.

Her eyes had filled with tears. “Oh, Cesare. My dear son. Ti amo.” She started to get out of bed, but her phone rang. Her eyes darted to his in alarm. “Maybe something’s wrong with your sister or my little granddaughter—”

Cesare’s body stiffened. A phone call in the middle of the night could mean anything. Probably it was Bertina calling his mother to tell her the police were on their way over to the villa looking for the princess.

She reached for the cell phone on her bedside table and checked the caller ID. “It says San Giovanni Hospital.”

He stood stock-still while he waited to find out what was going on, but his mother did little talking. Once she hung up, she looked at him with haunted eyes.

“I’m afraid I have very bad news for you, Cesare.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ciro was rushed to the hospital a few hours ago with an infected lung and kidney. I thought he didn’t seem well when I visited the restaurant a few days ago and assumed he had a cold.

“He must undergo an operation to drain off the fluid. The nurse said he had the presence of mind to ask the hospital to contact me before he lost consciousness.”

“Santo Cielo,” Cesare murmured in disbelief. This whole night had turned into a bad dream. “The poor devil.”

“It’s terrible.”

“Get dressed and we’ll drive to the hospital in your car. Since he’s my responsibility, I’ll tell the hospital and take care of his medical bills.”

“Bless you. I’m getting ready now, but I’ll visit him alone and be your go-between until he has recovered. Right now you’ve got to take care of the princess. The sooner, the better. That phone call could have been Bertina alerting me that the police were on Tuccia’s trail. There’s no time to lose.”

There was no time for sleep, either, not while this situation continued. He walked to his suite to shower and change clothes for the flight back to Milan. Afterward he went downstairs to the kitchen to fix himself coffee. He found the delicious sweet rolls filled with ricotta and chocolate his mother always made for him when he came and ate several.

During his early morning feast, his mother joined him before leaving for the hospital. After she went out to her car, he contacted the pilot to let him know they’d be returning to Milan shortly, then he arranged for a limo to come to the villa. Now all he needed was for the princess to make an appearance.

* * *

It was six-thirty in the morning when Tuccia finished writing three letters at the desk in the guest bedroom. The first was her deepest apology to Jean-Michel, explaining why she couldn’t marry him and had run away. They weren’t in love with each other, and that was the only reason for two people to marry.

She put it in an envelope with his name and address on the front. When and where to mail it was the scary part and had to be considered carefully because her life depended on it.

Tuccia put the letter in her purse, then wrote two long thank-you letters to her zia and Lina. She signed them with love before leaving them on top of the dresser so Lina would be certain to see them. One of these days she would write to her parents, but that could wait.

After making the bed, she grabbed the small suitcase Bertina had loaned her and hurried through the villa to the kitchen for a piece of fruit. A ten-minute walk would take her to the shops where she could eat something more substantial and catch a bus.

“Where do you think you’re going in that disguise?” a deep familiar male voice asked as she reached the foyer.

Her camouflage consisted of a scarf she’d tied around her head like a lot of local women did to cover their hair. She turned around to see the man she hadn’t been able to erase from her thoughts, standing there in jeans and a jacket. He looked too marvelous to her this early in the morning.

“I wanted to slip out before your mother awakened so I wouldn’t disturb her. I left messages to thank her and my aunt.”

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that, Principessa.”

Of course he’d recognized her and had talked with Lina. Now he knew everything about her situation. She was so sorry he’d been dragged into her problem. “Your mother has been exceptionally kind to me. I’m embarrassed my zia asked for her assistance, and I’m ashamed I accepted it because it has placed her in danger.”

“Mamma has a big heart. It sounds like Signora Spadaro does, too.”

Tears glazed her eyes. “They’re both strong, remarkable women, but they’ve done more than enough to help me. It’s time I dealt with the mess I’ve created for myself.”

She tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t give. Tuccia looked over her shoulder. “Is there a trick to unlocking it?”

With a half smile that gave her heart a jolt, he activated the remote in his hand and the door swung open.

“Thank you.” After a slight hesitation, she said, “It was a privilege to meet the famous son of Lina Donati. In case you didn’t know it, she thinks the sun rises and sets with you.”

Tuccia felt him follow her out the door into the balmy seventy-seven-degree air where a limousine had pulled in the drive. She put on her sunglasses. Apparently he was going somewhere. When she would have walked past it, he called to her.

“Mamma says you need to get out of Palermo immediately. If you’ll climb in the limo, I have the means to make that happen.”

His comment stopped her in her tracks. “You mustn’t get involved in my problem. I’m already weighed down with guilt and couldn’t handle any more.”

He opened the rear door. “But I am involved. I don’t believe I’ve ever helped a genuine princess in distress before and rather like the idea. Come on. You’ve been living dangerously since leaving Paris. Why stop now?”

His sense of humor caught her off guard and she chuckled in spite of the fear gripping her that this freedom couldn’t last. Not wanting to hold things up, she climbed in. He set her suitcase on the bank of seats in front of them and sat next to her, pulling the door shut. His rock-hard limbs brushed against her jeans-clad legs. The contact sent a dart of awareness through her body.

She heard him tell the chauffeur to drive them to the airport. They drove through a breathtaking portion of Mondello to the main route leading out of the city. Tuccia had the sensation of being spirited away where nothing could hurt her.

It was a heavenly feeling she’d never experienced before. She’d sell her soul for it to last, but she knew this wonderful moment could only be enjoyed until they reached the airport.

“Where are we going?” she asked at last, alive to everything about this extraordinary man.

“To Milan.”

“Where you work when you’re not in New York.”

“More importantly, it’s where you’ll be safe. I fear my mother has done far too much talking about me.”

“That’s because she loves you.” Tuccia had heard about the spectacular castello restaurant he owned and ran with his business partners. His other business interests in New York City were legendary. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to know that kind of love from my own parents.”

“That’s a lonely statement.”

“Now I’m doing too much talking and sound so sorry for myself, I’m ashamed. But you have no idea what I’d give to erase the image the country has of me. I’m not the tempestuous, volatile woman everyone believes me to be. I just want to be free like other women to make the kind of life I want for myself.”

“According to my mother, you’ve run away from a fate worse than death.”

“Put that way it sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Unfortunately it’s true for me and I’ve dragged three innocent people into my personal disaster. I pray there won’t be any repercussions for you,” she half sobbed the words.

His hand grasped hers, sending a wave of warmth through her. “No one brought my mother and me kicking and screaming,” he teased gently. “If I were in your shoes and betrothed to some odious marchesa twice my age, I can promise you I would flee to the other side of the universe where no one would ever find me.”

Odious was the exact word to describe Jean-Michel.

The analogy was so ludicrous she found herself laughing. But it underlined the fact that Cesare Donati wasn’t married. Tuccia couldn’t help but wonder how many women must have flung themselves at him.

“That’s better,” he said before releasing her hand.

Soon they arrived at the airport and were driven to the area where the private jets sat on the tarmac. The limo wound around and stopped next to one in silver and blue that stood out with a coat of arms depicting the Duc di Lombardi. A thrill of excitement passed through her to know she’d be flying to northern Italy with him. Just the two of them.

Once Cesare helped her out of the limo with her suitcase, the steward welcomed them aboard. He showed her to the elegant club compartment where she sat across from her protector as she thought of him. Pretty soon the Fasten Seat Belt light went on and she heard the scream of the engines as they taxied out to the runway.

After they’d taken off and achieved cruising speed, the light went off and the steward brought them breakfast trays. She found she was starving and ate everything, including a second cup of coffee to drink.

Cesare flashed her a searching glance. “How long has it been since you had a substantial meal?”

“My aunt kept trying to feed me after I arrived in Palermo, but I was so nervous I couldn’t eat very much. Now I’m hungry.”

“How did you manage your escape so perfectly when all of your other attempts have failed?”

“I can see my aunt has told your mother everything about my past.” Tuccia heaved a sigh. “I’ve been planning this latest scheme since my first dress fitting two months ago. Yesterday morning I went to the dressmaker with my mother for the final wedding dress fitting.

“When Madame Dufy went to find the dressmaker and bring out my gown, I told my mother I needed to use the ladies’ room and hurried down the hallway. As soon as no one was in sight, I shot out the back door of the salon. I knew there was a nearby tête de taxi. From there I was driven to the airport where Bertina had chartered a private jet for me ahead of time under a fake name. And here I am.”

His gaze held hers. “That was a daring plan.”

“I’m sure you think me selfish and cruel, but it was the only way to end the nightmare of my life. I’ve written a letter to Jean-Michel to apologize. It’s all ready to be mailed except for a stamp.”

“Where is it?”

“In my purse.”

“May I see it?”

When she pulled it out, he walked over and took it from her. After examining the address, he put it in his pocket. “I’ll make sure he gets it without the police being able to trace it.”

“You must think me heartless and that I’m living up to all the falsehoods spread about me. Actually they’re not all false. I do have a bad temper that erupts at times and I’ve gotten a lot of staff into trouble who were supposed to keep a close watch on me.”

After a silence he said, “What I think doesn’t matter.” The Fasten Seat Belt light went on again. He strapped himself in. “We’re descending to Milan. Very soon I’ll take you to a place where you’ll be hidden from the world and hopefully safe for another twenty-four hours. While you’re figuring out what it is you would like to do with the rest of your life, I’ll have to leave you, but I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

Her spirits plunged at that revelation. “Where are you going?”

“To Palermo.”

“Again? I don’t understand.”

“I’m going to see the man I’d hired to be the castello’s new executive pastry chef.”

Her brows met in a delicate frown. “Why didn’t you visit with him before you brought me all this way first?”

The pilot set the jet down and it taxied to a stop. “Because he was rushed to the hospital during the night and couldn’t come with me to start his new position. He was supposed to meet my partners today and get settled in.”

“Oh, how terrible for him and you!”

“Since you needed to leave Palermo before the authorities caught up to you, I brought you instead.”

The man continued to astound her. She shook her head. “I can’t believe you would do that for me.” Tuccia loved him already for his sacrifice.

His blue eyes darkened with an emotion she couldn’t put her finger on. “Mamma said it was a matter of life and death. After learning how desperate you are to escape the life your parents and fiancé have orchestrated for you, I’m inclined to believe she was telling the truth.”

His compassion filled her with feelings that threatened to overwhelm her. “Please—you don’t have to send my letter to the comte. It’s too much. I’ll find a way to do it,” she said in a throbbing voice he could probably feel.

“It’s a simple thing that needs to be done so he’ll call off his army. There’s no one like you, and no question he wants you back. Needless to say, you’re a royal prize he won’t tolerate getting away from him.”

Tuccia shivered because she felt he truly did understand the gravity of her desperate situation where Jean-Michel was involved.

A few minutes later another limousine drove them out of the city. They swept past farms and villas until they reached a small village at the base of a prominent hill. On the top she caught sight of a massive fortress. The ochre-toned structure with its towers and crenellated walls sprawled across the summit.

“That’s the ancient Castello Di Lombardi,” Cesare explained, “now a hotel ristorante.”

The one he’d helped to make famous. Tuccia was eager to see it up close and thought they would drive up there. Instead he asked the driver to take them to a pensione in the village. Evidently he’d made arrangements for her ahead of time.

Just as he helped her out of the limo and told the driver to wait, the padrona di casa came out of another door. She greeted them and showed them inside the attractive apartment. After a few explanations she left. Cesare lowered Tuccia’s suitcase to the floor and turned to her.

“You should be very comfortable here while I’m gone. I asked her to fill the cupboards and fridge with groceries to last several days. As you heard her say, if you need anything, just pick up the phone in the kitchen and she’ll answer.”

The last thing Tuccia wanted was for him to go, but she realized he was anxious to get back to Palermo and didn’t dare keep him. What a terrible position he was in!

“I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done for me. How can I make this up to you?”

He studied her features for a minute. “I’ve had two friends who helped me when I thought all was lost. It’s nice to be on the giving end for a change.”

She could feel her eyes smarting. “I don’t deserve this.”

“I remember telling them the same thing. A word of warning. Do you have a cell phone on you?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t use it for any reason and don’t go walking in the village. The only person who knows you are here is the woman who let you in. She’s a friend and will keep silent. When I return, we’ll talk. Until then, try to relax, watch TV. A presto, Principessa.”

“Alla prossima, Cesare.” She followed him to the door and watched him drive away, causing her heart to act up until it actually hurt.

Once he was gone, Tuccia went back in the living room for her suitcase. Then she walked to the bedroom so full of emotions, she didn’t know where to go with them. She didn’t know another person in the world except her aunt who would make a sacrifice like this for her. Cesare Donati was the most incredible man she’d ever known.

While she was in the shower, her mind focused on the chef he’d hired for his fabulous castello restaurant. He had to be a spectacular cook. How sad he’d fallen ill at the very moment he was supposed to go to Milan with Cesare.

She wished she could help him in some way during the short interim while the chef was recovering. Cesare had been so good to her and she wanted to find a way to repay him. She’d much rather stay right here. But of course the whole plan was to get her away from Jean-Michel and her parents.