LITMIR.BIZ

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      Already Alex loved Regina for being so devoted to him. This was the way family should be, all for one and one for all. Lucca’s happiness was the goal that would bind her friendship with his sister.

      Over Regina’s heaving shoulder, Alex met Lucca’s gaze. His dark orbs were thanking her. She smiled slowly at him, letting him know he could trust her to be his friend. He smiled back. The moment was so piercingly sweet she closed her eyes to savor it.

      In the next instant Regina moved out of his arms. “Forgive me,” she said, wiping her eyes. “What a beginning!”

      “Being an only child I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a sister,” Alex confided. “I’m no longer nervous.”

      Regina laughed gently, but was still shaking her head, bewildered. “How did it happen? Where did you two meet? When? Mama and Papa know nothing! This has to be the best-kept secret of the century.”

      Better stick to the truth as much as possible. “In a roundabout way through my mother.”

      “That’s right. On business,” Lucca added. “Let’s eat while we talk, shall we?” By tacit agreement the three of them sat down at the table.

      Breakfast for a king, that’s what had been ordered. Alex was starving. She filled her plate with a little bit of everything and ate her fill. Lucca’s healthy appetite told its own story this morning, but Regina was too excited to eat more than a peach.

      “Men are never good with the details, so I want to hear the whole thing from you, Alexandra.”

      Alex flashed Lucca a signal of distress but he was no help and bit into another roll with those beautiful white teeth of his. Apparently he and his sister had few secrets … except the biggest one.

      “My mother died a little more than five months ago leaving a large debt. Her attorney advised me to sell her diamonds and suggested the House of Savoy in New York. I flew out and—”

      “And that’s how we met,” Lucca took over. “The attraction between us caught us both by surprise. It will interest you to know that Alexandra’s mother was Kathryn Carlisle, the film star. Her first husband was Alexandra’s father, Prince Oleg Grigory.”

      Regina cocked her head and studied Alex for a full minute. “With those Russian roots, I think you’re even more beautiful than your mother and that’s saying a lot considering I’ve seen several of her pictures. Trust my brother to find the cream over in America.”

      She breathed deeply. “Thank you, Regina. I feel the same way about him. We complement each other in the ways that are most important.” What else could she say? Theirs wasn’t a love match or anything close to it, but Lucca expected her to reciprocate his affection in front of the public and his family. That’s what he’d said.

      “With many discoveries still to be made,” Lucca imparted unexpectedly. His hand closed over hers across the table. “Isn’t that right, bellissima?”

      A glorious word to hear from a man if he truly loved you.

      Alex crinkled her nose. “That’s what has me worried, Regina. I sing off-key, I’m messy and I don’t know if I snore. There, Lucca.” She squeezed his hand before letting it go. Hers was on fire. “That’s my confession for today. Tomorrow, three more.”

      Lucca threw his head back and laughed. Regina joined him. When it subsided she said, “I could tell you a lot of things about my brother.”

      “But you won’t,” he clipped out. “Let Alexandra discover them one at a time so I don’t scare her off.”

      “Is there a reason why she’s not wearing the betrothal ring yet?”

      “Si, piccina. All the reason in the world. I didn’t happen to be carrying it around with me when I left on business weeks ago.”

      “Besides, Lucca knows I don’t like rings,” Alex inserted before he could say anything else. “In between working toward my degree, I’ve been a makeup artist at a movie studio for the past eight years. Rings and bracelets just get in the way.”

      “Even so,” he supplied, “we’ve decided on a simple gold wedding band at the ceremony. That’s all two people need to symbolize their true feelings.”

      “I agree,” Regina murmured as if she had something else on her mind. “What did you major in?”

      “Biology.”

      “You’ve led an amazing life.”

      Alex’s gaze collided with Lucca’s before she looked away. “I was rather thinking the same thing about you, Regina. My father died before I was a year old, and I was raised by nannies. I didn’t grow up in a palace like Castelmare with two doting parents and grandparents and a loving brother like Lucca.”

      “Which brings us to the subject at hand,” he stated in a way Alex was coming to recognize as his monarch voice. He’d used it at the store when she’d tried to get away from him. “Alexandra will be living at the palace from now on. Until the ceremony I’ve arranged for her to sleep in the blue suite next to yours, Regina.”

      “I hoped you’d suggest it. I’d love it if Alexandra were close to me. It’s lonely down that hall.”

      “I thought you might like the idea.” Lucca grinned. “She’s eager to learn Italian, and I can’t think of a better way for her to pick it up than to spend time with you after her lessons.”

      “I’ll ring Professor Emilio. He’ll be the best teacher for her, Lucca. Between sightseeing and shopping, it won’t be long before she’s rattling off Italian with me.”

      “Bene. I knew I could count on you.” He sounded inordinately pleased with his sister’s ideas.

      Alex smiled at her, reassured by her warmth and generous nature. “You and Lucca speak impeccable English. I’m very impressed.”

      “Thank you. We had excellent teachers and spent time in England.”

      “It shows. How many languages do you speak?”

      “Five.”

      “Now that’s incredible.”

      “Not really. Papa speaks a dozen.” Regina’s expression suddenly grew sober. “Has Lucca told you how sick he’s been?”

      “Yes. I’m so sorry.”

      “When he hears the news about you two, he’ll be overjoyed. Mama and I are convinced it will add years to his life.”

      “Knowing Lucca is going to take over will come as a major release for him, I’m certain of it,” Alex assured her.

      On that note her husband-to-be got up from the table and came around to place his hands on her shoulders, massaging them gently. “What do you say we fly on to the palace. I’m anxious to get you installed and comfortable. This evening will be soon enough to present you to our parents.”

      Her relief was so great that he was going to give her the rest of the day to get her bearings that she wasn’t prepared when he leaned over without warning and kissed the side of her neck. Regina was getting the totally wrong impression of the way things really were, but that was the whole idea.

      The feel of his mouth against her hot skin was positively erotic. Liquid fire ran its course through her body. She wasn’t sure she could leave the cabin on her own power. Her weakness increased when Lucca put his hand behind her neck and guided her out of the jet into a lovely warm June midmorning.

      They walked a short distance to the waiting helicopter. Regina and her own bodyguards had gone ahead of them. Lucca’s bodyguards stayed close. Paolo was the last one inside the ten-passenger interior before they lifted off.

      Alex didn’t know why, but all of a sudden the upward movement seemed to break the trance she’d been in for the past twenty-four hours.

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