Sarah & Vittorio (Royals of Valleria #9)

by Marianne Knightly

  He pursed his lips, then nodded. “Just clearing out what I can for the next few weeks. Agent Adrienne came in a few minutes ago. The press are now camped out outside. They also said your home isn’t clear yet.”

  Her brother was so infuriating! “My brother’s trying to force me to go back to Valleria to ride out the storm.”

  He tensed, his hands fisting on the arms of his chair. “Was it your family’s idea to fake it for a month?”

  She shook her head. “No, that was mine. I haven’t told them yet, actually.”

  He relaxed a little. “Well, my place is still out.”

  “Are you worried about people breaking in?”

  He shook his head. “There are very few items of worth there. If someone wants my things that badly, they’re welcome to them.”

  “Well, we need to go over schedules. See where we can overlap and where we may need to shift things around.”

  “Of course. Would you like something to eat first? I know I’m famished.”

  “My agents can get us food.”

  He rose from his chair. “I have a fully stocked kitchen on this floor, complete with a stove.”

  “Really?”

  “I had to fight the zoning board for it—which meant I just paid them a high-enough bribe to shut up about it—but I wanted a modern kitchen. I’m here more often than at home and prefer to cook my own meals when I can.”

  She nearly choked on her words. “You, uh, cook?”

  The corner of his mouth tilted up. “I take it you don’t?”

  “No.” She was useless in the kitchen. Unfortunately, most of her siblings were. It just wasn’t something they were taught growing up in a palace.

  “Antipasti fine to start with?”

  “Antipasti isn’t cooking.”

  “That’s why I said to ‘start’ with. I’ll make you a panino for lunch after we’re finished. Any preference for fillings?”

  “A sandwich isn’t exactly cooking, either.”

  He stepped to her and leaned down close, so close. “I haven’t time today to make you an extravagant meal. I will sometime during the month. You can look forward to that.” His thumb brushed her lips, his fingers caressed her jaw, and then he was gone.

  * * *

  Three hours later, Sarah sat back against the couch in Rio’s office. After some hefty negotiating, they’d planned out their month and she’d signed his NDA. Business dinners, charity events, events in both Italy and Valleria…the only thing they were still quibbling on was the first event to attend.

  He thought they should keep things low-key. “Whatever tone we set in the beginning is the tone the rest of the world will follow.”

  She thought they should make a splash. “Maybe, but if we make a splashy entrance, they’ll get whatever photos they want of us together and leave us mostly alone.”

  “You know better than that. That will only fuel their fervor.”

  She nearly groaned. They’d been going back and forth like this for at least fifteen minutes. “This conversation’s going nowhere.”

  “That’s because I’m right and you don’t want to admit it.”

  “More like you know I’m right and don’t want to admit it. Do you remember what you agreed to? I call the shots on this.”

  He leaned back against the couch, one long arm stretching along the top. His fingers met her bare shoulder and he started drawing soft patterns on her skin.

  Just a gentle brush of his fingertips had parts of her waking up. Who knew the shoulder was so sensitive?

  “Hmmm. It seems I did agree to that. Perhaps, in this case, you can find a compromise. Somewhere we are guaranteed to be seen, but where we will also seem to want privacy.”

  Her voice came out breathier than she’d wanted it to. “You think this magical place exists?”

  “I think you’re very good at conjuring magic.”

  The odd statement shook her out of the sensual stupor he was creating. Her? Conjure magic? “What do you mean by that?”

  His hand pulled back. “Perhaps someday I’ll tell you.”

  She didn’t like that. She wanted to know now. Her grandfather apparently used to say that her Nonna had a magical hold over him, but no one had ever said that about her. She wanted to know what she and her Nonna had in common.

  Her Nonna.

  She almost smacked her head for not thinking of it before.

  She held up one hand while the other tapped the screen on her phone to bring up a video call. “I’ve got it. I know the abso-perfect place.”

  She held the phone in front of her with a big smile on her face. “Nonna!”

  A friendly, loving voice rang out. “Sarah, my darling girl!”

  They gave each other air kisses aimed towards each cheek; double cheek kissing was a traditional Vallerian greeting.

  “Nonna, I need—”

  “—my help?”

  “How did you know that?”

  “My dear, I wasn’t born yesterday, and I do watch the news. Not to mention, I’ve been speaking with the family.”

  A heavy weight settled in her gut. “Oh?”

  “Hmmm. What say you?”

  Deep breath. She could do this. If she could convince her Nonna this was a good idea, she could convince everyone else. ‘Grandmother’ was just one of her titles. As the former queen of Valleria, Victoria was very well-known and loved. Even when her husband had died, and Sarah’s father had taken the throne, people the world over still doted on her. Nonna held a lot of sway with the family, too. Just because she was ‘retired’ didn’t mean her influence had diminished. Both of her parents went to Nonna often for advice.

  “I’ve come up with a plan.” She detailed the basics of their fake relationship—details suitable for her Nonna’s ears—and finished with her request. “So, you see, we need a place to be seen without acting like we want to be seen. We thought your home might work for that, but it would bring you into the spotlight.”

  Nonna smiled. “Well, then, you’d better come over. No better place than my island. And don’t worry about me; I’m used to spotlights.”

  Sarah smiled. “Wonderful. Thank you, Nonna.”

  Nonna waved the thanks away. “Of course, my darling. Is he with you?”

  Sarah glanced over at Rio. “Of course, Nonna. Rio? Come meet my grandmother.”

  Rio stepped over, and they angled their bodies so they could fit in the video feed.

  “Nonna, may I introduce Prince Vittorio dei Principi Mapoli, eighth prince of Baziano. Rio, this is Her Royal Majesty Princess Victoria, formerly Queen Victoria.”

  Rio bowed his head in deference, though technically he wasn’t required to do so.

  “Your Majesty. It is an honor to meet you.”

  Nonna nodded back, then gave him a small smile. “Thank you. I must say it is delightful to meet you. I look forward to greeting you in person.”

  He glanced at Sarah, then back to Nonna. “You are very kind to lend us your home, Your Majesty. We shouldn’t intrude on you for but one night.”

  One night may not be enough. Sarah opened her mouth to speak but her grandmother got there first. “You’re welcome as long as you like. My island is your island, so to speak. Sarah, dear, you know your father is anxious for you. Has he summoned you yet?”

  Sarah stiffened slightly. “No one summons me, Nonna. However, Papa has not yet requested my presence.”

  Her grandmother laughed. “Oh, you are my granddaughter. And your mother’s daughter, too, come to that. Well, since your presence has not yet been ‘requested’, you’ll come to my island. Do be quick about it, dear. You wouldn’t want to miss dinner.”

  Nonna blew her a kiss, gave him a wink, and ended the call with a smile on her face.

  “Your grandmother is extraordinary.”

  She gave him a small smile, one that was reserved for pride and love. “Yes, she is, isn’t she? Most know her as the stoic queen, but she’s a lot of fun when it’s just the family.”

&
nbsp; Come to think of it, her grandmother usually wasn’t so open with strangers. Why had she been so now with Rio?

  Rio broke into her thoughts. “She’s on Ilva, isn’t she?”

  She nodded; the small island off Italy’s coast was part of Valleria. “She loves it there. We all try to visit as often as we can, but since I’m in Italy and closest to her, I usually see her the most.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “I wonder if perhaps it’s best if you go alone. We can split up and meet there later. It might confuse the press, at least for a time.”

  “I think it’ll be fine. Ilva’s very secure, it has to be since Nonna’s living there. We just need to get to the island, and my transport won’t take long to arrange. Not to mention, you’ll get through the island’s security faster with me.”

  “I’m still not convinced.”

  “We’ll likely be followed to the island either way, so we may as well show we’re together.” Her face set in firm lines. “How can we fake a relationship if we’re apart?”

  “That is a good question.”

  She waved her phone. “Not to mention, my grandmother is now expecting you. I suggest you pack your swim trunks and let’s get out of here.”

  “I don’t have any swim trunks.”

  She blinked, opened her mouth then shut it without speaking.

  “Problem?”

  “You, um, don’t have any? Do you swim in the nude?”

  “Sometimes.”

  She recalled him dripping wet after his shower. The image morphed to him on a sunny, sandy beach, emerging from the sea. His long, toned body on display, dripping wet once again, his cock shifting, hardening as he walked towards her, his gaze dark and intent.

  Oh my.

  She wanted to start fanning herself again.

  “Sarah?”

  “Hmmm?”

  He grinned. “My trunks are at my apartment, not with me.” He shifted closer and trailed a finger along the square neckline of her dress, skimming over her collarbone. “Though, truth be told, I do enjoy Europe’s nude beaches. Does Ilva have a nude beach?”

  Her vision went even hazier. “Er, what?”

  He shifted closer, his finger still skimming her skin. “Does. Ilva. Have. A. Nude. Beach?”

  “Uh, no.” She cleared her throat. “No, it doesn’t.”

  “Pity.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  He smiled, then leaned down to kiss the base of her neck, that small spot in the center of her collarbone. Who knew that was an erogenous zone?

  “Do you need to inform your security that we’re leaving?”

  “Hmm? Oh. Yes. Let me just talk with my agents and arrange things. I’ll call my family and let them know what’s going on, too.”

  She headed for the door; her security was still outside, guarding them. After speaking with them, she went across the hall to an empty office and called Alex again.

  “You’re going to Nonna’s? With him?”

  She rolled her eyes. Information traveled far too fast in her family. “I literally just told the agents. How did you find out so quickly?”

  “Nonna called me.”

  Though Nonna had approved of the plan on the phone, if she had any reservations about it, she would have communicated those to her family. “Oh?”

  “She seems to think your idea of faking a relationship is a good one.”

  Her body relaxed; she hadn’t realized how tense she’d been waiting for his answer. “Oh. Good.”

  “I disagree.”

  “Why?”

  “You know nothing about this man and you’re going to fake it with him?”

  “I already spoke with Marcello. He told me some of the things he’s found out.”

  “But not all of them? Did you know—”

  “I don’t want to hear it. This can work. You know it can. We’ve got it all sorted out.” She gave him the overview of their plan, and an outline of the events they’d attend together. “You know this can work. It’ll be a month. The press have short attention spans anyway. In a couple weeks, they’ll move on to something else. Then, we’ll have another couple weeks to wind things down. This can work.”

  He grumbled on the other end. “I don’t know.”

  She rolled her shoulders back and put on her political face. She had to sell this, really sell it to Alex, otherwise he wouldn’t advocate for her to their father. “You know I can manage this situation. I’ve already done so. There’s a plan in place. Rio’s agreed to it. Nonna’s agreed to it. Her island is the perfect place to start. This will placate the Italian prime minister, which means we should be able to proceed with the trade deal. I can keep my post as ambassador, and the public will just think we were hiding a royal romance until we were ready to reveal ourselves, which is what they expect from us anyway. You know this is the best solution for us right now.”

  She held her breath while waiting for Alex’s response. He took several moments before responding.

  “What happens after this month is over? The public fervor’s growing because they think you two are actually a couple. Once they realize it was a deception all along, those tables will turn on you.”

  “Not if I can help it. You know I’ll be able to manage that, too.”

  “And the prince? Will he be able to manage it?”

  “Rio…Rio will be fine. He’s getting a lot out of this deal, too.”

  “I bet,” Alex muttered. “Look, you’ve clearly thought this through. I still don’t agree with it, but I’ll speak to Papa about it.” Another pause. “He’s waiting for you to call him, you know.”

  Her gut tightened. “I know, but I’m not ready to speak to Papa yet. You know he’ll just call me back to Valleria.”

  “And you don’t want to come back?”

  “Not permanently. Not yet, anyway. You know I love and miss you all, and I miss Valleria, but I just feel there are certain things I need to do before I settle back there for good, if that’s even where I’m meant to settle down.”

  “We do miss you, you know.”

  Her political voice fell away, and the familiar sister voice took its place. “I know.”

  He sighed. “It’s not the same here anymore. We’re all spread out now. You’re hardly here, Arianna’s in Brazenbourg, Lorenzo and Carolina’s lives are in Masillia, Ethan’s always gone, Cat’s in Chames, Marcello’s been spending time in England with Grace…I wish we could all get together more often.”

  She smiled. “We’ll have another family dinner soon.”

  She didn’t need to see him to know he was smiling. Family dinners were usually filled with teasing and taunting each other and, until their father’s heart attack, it was something they’d always felt wary about.

  Not anymore, though. Funny how feelings changed with time and perspective.

  “Yes, we’ll have another dinner soon. Papa will like that. It’s not as boisterous with just Rebecca, myself, Zinnia, Nate and Charlie most days.”

  “Soon,” she promised.

  “We’ll want to meet the prince as well.”

  “I’m sure Rio would like to meet you.”

  He chuckled. “I wouldn’t bet on that.”

  “You’ll behave when you meet him.” It was an order, but she wasn’t sure he’d comply.

  “Hmmm. We’ll see.”

  “Alex.”

  “Don’t worry, sister dear, we’ll treat him exactly as he deserves.”

  That didn’t bode well. She gave him a warning tone. “Alex, he is a prince.”

  “You’re more important than a prince with a perfunctory title. Always.”

  A warmth settled in her heart. Sometimes she forgot how lucky she was to have a caring, protective family, even if they did annoy her. Repeatedly. “Thanks, Alex.”

  “Take care of yourself, Sarah. You know we’re here at a moment’s notice if you need anything.”

  “I will. Thanks, Alex.”

  “Love you, Sarah.”

  “Love you, too. Lo
ve to the family.”

  After they hung up, she sagged against the wall in relief. Things were back on track. She and Rio had arranged everything. And, while Alex may not agree with her plan, he was going to go along with it. Which meant he’d convince her father to go along with it, too.

  No turning back. This was it, the start of her and Rio’s month together. The start of their fake relationship and, at some point, the continuation of their physical one. She shivered just anticipating the latter. After taking another moment, she went back to Rio.

  He packed the extra clothes and toiletries he kept in his office, and soon they were on their way to Ilva.

  Chapter Five

  Rio leaned a hip against the railing of Vallerian Royal Yacht and took in the view as they approached the island. He’d seen photos of Ilva but had never visited. Here was where their story—their fake story, he reminded himself—would start. It wasn’t a bad place to begin.

  The pale sand was plentiful. The water was a mix of blues, greens, and shadows of purple, and he guessed it would all be clear if he stepped into it. Sailboats dotted the landscape, some moored, some sailing free. Three rows of umbrellas dotted the shoreline, the soft blue of one hotel, the brown brick color indicating the hotel next door, small cabanas separating them. Green was everywhere, too. Lush, dark, vibrant green of the trees stretching over the island. The only gaps for the roads, buildings, or walking paths.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  Sarah had her forearms on the railing and she was leaning over it slightly, movie star sunglasses on her face, her hair blowing around her in the breeze. “It is. I love it here.”

  “You mentioned you come here often.”

  “Yes. Ever since we were little. It’s a small island, but to all of us it was always a grand adventure. There are beaches, of course, where we’d run and play and laugh. It was the closest thing our family ever came to a vacation, one of the only places we could be free—well, as free as a royal can be—unless we visited one of the lesser royal holdings.”

  “Has it changed much over the years?”

  She shook her head. “Little changes, but that’s it. Most of the change has just been increased security, but the year-round islanders don’t mind that; they love Nonna and us, for the most part, so they don’t see it as an inconvenience. Not to mention, Ilva’s a big draw for tourism because of us, so we bring in a lot of money to the local economy. Valleria has a two-week break in August, similar to Italy, and during that time the island becomes overrun with tourists. Some of the locals can live half a year or more on the money earned from those two weeks alone.”