Expecting the Prince's Baby (Harlequin RomancePrinces of Europe)

by Rebecca Winters

  As she climbed inside and saw who was sitting there waiting for her—in sunglasses and a silky claret-colored sport shirt and cream trousers—the blood started to hammer in her ears.

  “Vincenzo—”

  His name slipped out by accident, proving to her more and more that he filled her conscious and unconscious mind.

  * * *

  The tremor in Abby’s voice made its way to every cell of Vincenzo’s body. After she’d bared her soul to his mother-in-law that morning, he’d realized not only at what price she’d sacrificed herself to make their dreams of a baby a reality, but he’d been flooded with memories of that day when she’d lost her mother.

  Abby had been a great swimmer and handled herself well in the sea. As some of his friends had pointed out years ago when they’d seen her in the water offshore, she wasn’t a woman yet, but she showed all the promise.

  By the time she’d turned seventeen, he’d found himself looking at her a lot more than he should have. She was one of those natural-blond American girls with classic features, noted for their long, gorgeous legs. At that point in time Vincenzo had already been betrothed to Michelina. Since the marriage wouldn’t be for at least another ten years, he’d had the freedom to date the women who attracted him.

  Abby had been too young, of course, but pleasing to the eye. She’d turned into a very beautiful girl who was studious, intelligent and spoke Italian like a native. He enjoyed every moment he spent with her; her enthusiasm for everything surprised and entertained him.

  But even if he hadn’t been betrothed, Abby had been off-limits to Vincenzo for more reasons than her young age or the fact that she wasn’t a princess. Her parents had become close friends with Vincenzo’s parents. That was a special friendship that demanded total respect.

  Though her periwinkle-blue eyes always seemed to smile at him with interest when they chanced upon each other, there was an invisible boundary between them she recognized, too. Neither of them ever crossed it until the day of the squall...

  As Abby had told Queen Bianca earlier, she and her mother, Holly, had been out in a small sailboat off the coast when the storm struck. Nothing could come on as rapidly and give so little time for preparation as did a white squall.

  Vincenzo had been in his father’s office before lunch discussing a duty he needed to carry out when they’d noticed the darkening sky. A cloudburst had descended, making the day feel like night. They hadn’t seen a storm this ferocious in years and felt sorry for anyone who’d been caught in it.

  While they were commenting on the fierceness of the wind, a call came through informing the king that the Loretto sailboat was missing from its slip. Someone thought they had seen Signora Loretto and her daughter out sailing earlier, but they hadn’t come back in yet. Several boats were already out there looking for them.

  Abby—

  Vincenzo was aghast. She was out there?

  The sweet girl who’d always been there for him was battling this storm with her mother, alone?

  Fear like Vincenzo had never known before attacked his insides and he broke out in a cold sweat. “I’ve got to find them!”

  “Wait, son! Let the coast guard deal with it!”

  But he’d already reached the door and dashed from the room. Driven by fear, he raced through the palace. Once outside, he ran to the dock, where a group of men huddled. He grabbed one of them to come with him and they took off in his cruiser to face a churning sea.

  The other man kept in radio contact with the rescue boats. Within a minute they heard that the sailboat had been spotted. Vincenzo headed toward the cited coordinates, oblivious to the elements.

  The rescue boats were already on the scene as Vincenzo’s cruiser came close to the sailboat. It was tossing like a cork, but he couldn’t see anyone on board. “Have they already been rescued?”

  “Signora Loretto was found floating unconscious in the water wearing her life preserver, but there’s no sign of her daughter yet,” replied his companion.

  Vincenzo’s heart almost failed him.

  Abby had drowned?

  It was as though his whole life passed before him. She couldn’t have drowned! He couldn’t lose her! Not his Abby...

  “We’ve got to look for her! She knows to wear a life jacket. The wind will have pushed her body through the water. We’re going to follow it. You steer while I search.”

  “It’s too dangerous for you, Your Highness!”

  “Danger be damned! Don’t you understand?” he shouted. “There’s a seventeen-year-old girl out there who needs help!”

  “Tell me where to go.”

  He studied the direction of the wind. “Along the coastline near the caves!” Vincenzo knew this coastline like the back of his hand. When a low pressure over the Mediterranean approached the coast from the southeast, the weather could change quickly for the worse and its clear sky change to an east wind. If Abby had been knocked unconscious, too, she could have been swept into one of the caves further up the coast.

  When they reached the opening of the largest cave, Vincenzo dove in and swam through to the three hidden grottoes, where he’d been many times with his friends. In the second one, his heart had leaped when he saw Abby’s body floating lifelessly, like her mother’s. Quickly he’d caught hold of her and swum her out to the boat, where he took off her life jacket and began giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. At first there was no response. Her face was a pinched white. Though terrified she was too far gone, he kept up the CPR.

  At the last second there came sounds of life, and her eyelids fluttered. He turned her on her side while she coughed and threw up water.

  “That’s it, my precious Abby. Get rid of it.”

  When she’d finished, she looked up at him, dazed. “Vincenzo?”

  “Sì,” he’d murmured in relief. “You were in a storm, but I found you in one of the grottoes and you’re all right now.”

  Abby blinked. “My mother?” she cried frantically. “Where is she?”

  “With your father.” It wasn’t a lie, but since he didn’t know the whole truth of her condition, he kept quiet.

  “Thank God.” Her eyes searched his. “I could have died in there. You saved my life,” she whispered in awe. In a totally unexpected gesture, she’d thrown her arms around his neck and clung to him.

  “Thank God,” he’d whispered back and found himself rocking her in his arms while she sobbed.

  Vincenzo had never felt that close to another human being in his life. She’d felt so right in his arms. When they took her to the hospital and she learned her mother had died of a blow from the mast, she’d flung herself into his arms once more.

  That was the moment when he knew Abby meant more to him that he could put into words. Their relationship changed that day. His feelings for her ran much deeper than he’d realized. To imagine his life without her was anathema to him.

  She’d been too inconsolable for him to do anything but let her pour out her pain and love for her mother. His only desire had been to comfort her. He’d held her for a long time because her father, overcome with grief, had to be sedated.

  In front of the queen today, they’d both relived that moment. Abby’s outpouring of her soul had endeared her to him in such a profound way, he could hardly find expression. Though he knew it was wrong, he’d decided to break one of his own rules and pick her up from work.

  Bianca had put Abby through a torturous session. Despite his guilt in seeking her out for a reason that wasn’t a medical necessity, he couldn’t let it go until he’d seen for himself that she was all right.

  “I came to find out how well you survived the day.”

  The picture of her in that yellow dress when she’d walked in the room had made an indelible impression of femininity and sophistication in his mind. Bianca couldn’t have helped bu
t notice how lovely she was, along with her moving sincerity. It hadn’t surprised him his mother-in-law had been so quiet after Abby had left the room to go to work.

  “My worry has been for you.” She sat down opposite him and fastened her seat belt. “For me, work is the great panacea. But it’s evident the queen has been in absolute agony.”

  “She’s flown back to Gemelli with a lot to think about.”

  “The poor thing. We have to hope she’ll let go of her preconceived beliefs so she can enjoy this special time.”

  There was a sweetness in Abby that touched Vincenzo’s heart. “You’re the one I’m concerned about. It hurts me that you no longer have your mother to confide in.” Until now he hadn’t thought about how alone Abby must feel. Bianca’s castigations had been like a dagger plunged into her, bringing out his protective instincts.

  She flicked him a glance. “But I have my father, and I have you and the doctor. Who better than all of you to comfort me when I need it?” Except that Vincenzo wanted to do more than comfort her, God forgive him.

  He held her gaze. “I’m sorry if anything the queen said has upset you, but I promise everything’s going to be all right in time.”

  “I believe that, too. Did she say anything else?”

  “No, but her son Valentino and I are good friends.” When he’d gone with the queen and his brothers-in-law to visit Michelina’s grave once, they’d eaten lunch before he’d accompanied them to their jet. “He’s promised to keep in close touch. Now let’s change the subject.”

  “You’re taking too great a risk, Your Highness. We mustn’t be seen out together like this.”

  “The limo protects us.” Even as he said it, he was trying to tamp down his guilt over pressuring her when it was obvious she was afraid to be seen with him. He ought to be worried about that, too, but something had come over him.

  “Please, Your Highness. The fact that there are so many security men will cause the locals to speculate about who is so important, driving around in the crowded streets. Have the car turn around and take me back to the office.”

  “It’s too late for that.” Vincenzo had no intention of letting her go yet.

  “After my audience with the queen, surely you understand my fears.”

  “After the way she went after you, I have my own fears where you’re concerned. You didn’t deserve that and I want to make it up to you.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “WE’RE GOING IN the wrong direction to the palace.”

  Vincenzo ignored Abby’s comment. “Last night you didn’t eat a full meal. This evening I intend to remedy that and take you to a very special place for dinner to celebrate the Lemon and Orange Festival. Don’t worry,” he said when he saw her eyes grow anxious. “We’ll be arriving via a private entrance to a private dining room where my own people will be serving us. All you have to do is enjoy a meal free of caffeine and alcohol, with salt in moderation.”

  She kneaded her hands. “I know why you’re doing this, Vincenzo, but it isn’t necessary.”

  “Has being pregnant made you a mind reader?”

  For once she couldn’t tell if he was having fun with her or if her comment had irked him. “I only meant—”

  “You only meant that you don’t expect any special favors from me,” he preempted her. “Tell me something I don’t already know.”

  “I’ve annoyed you. I’m sorry.”

  “Abby—we need to have a little talk. Because of the sacrifice you’ve made for me and Michelina, any social life you would normally enjoy has been cut off until the baby’s born. At this time in your life you should be out having a good time. I have no doubt there are any number of men who pass through your office wanting a relationship with you. Certainly I don’t need to tell you that you’re a very beautiful woman. My brother-in-law shared as much with me earlier.”

  “I’ve never met Michelina’s brother.”

  “But he saw you this morning after you left the drawing room for the limo.”

  That was news to Abby. Vincenzo’s words had shaken her. “Thank you for the compliment.”

  “Now you sound vexed with me.”

  “I’m not!”

  “Good. Then try to understand that our relationship isn’t one-sided, with me reaping all the benefits while you lie around like a beached whale, barefoot and pregnant, as you Americans tend to say.”

  Abby burst into laughter.

  “I’m glad you think that’s funny. We’re making progress.”

  No one could be more amusing than Vincenzo when he revealed this exciting side of his nature. “I can’t believe you’ve ever heard those expressions.”

  “I graduated in California Girls 101 during my vacation one summer in San Diego.”

  She rolled her eyes. “That school. I don’t doubt it.” She knew he’d traveled a lot in his twenties. “I guess you didn’t need a booklet for the class.”

  He grinned, revealing a gorgeous white smile. “And the tuition was free. Why do you think most men congregate there when they get the chance?”

  “Isn’t it interesting that most women congregate in Arancia and Italy to attend Mediterranean Gods 101? They don’t need booklets, either.”

  Vincenzo let go with a belly laugh that resonated throughout the interior of the limo. “You must be dynamite in the courtroom.”

  “Why don’t you come up and see me some time?” she said in her best Mae West impersonation. Why didn’t he come to her apartment and stay... It was a wicked thought, but she couldn’t help it. The other night she hadn’t wanted him to leave.

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “Who were you imitating just now?”

  “Someone you’d never know. She was in American films years ago. My mother loved her old movies.”

  “Tell me her name.”

  “I’ll give you a hint. They named inflatable life jackets after her in the Second World War. If you still can’t think of it, I’ll do better and have a DVD sent to you so you can see for yourself.”

  “We’ll watch it together.”

  No. They wouldn’t watch it together. They’d done enough of that when she was much younger. He had his own theater in the palace, where she’d seen a lot of films and eaten marzipan with him. But that time was long gone and this idea of his had to be stopped right now. She was having too much fun and needed his company too much.

  Thankfully they’d left the Promenade d’Or along the coast and were following a winding road up the hillsides above the city. In another minute they rounded a curve and pulled up to, of all things, a funicular railway.

  Vincenzo got out of the limo and came around to help her. Together with some of his security people, they got on and sat on one of the benches. He told her to buckle up before it started climbing the steep mountain.

  “There’s a lovely little restaurant two kilometers higher that overlooks the Mediterranean. While we eat, we’ll watch the festival fireworks being set off in town.”

  Once Abby was settled, Vincenzo had to talk to one of his security men, leaving her alone with her thoughts for a second. During her teenage years she’d had ridiculous daydreams about being alone with him, but none of them could match the wonder of such an evening. Without question this was the most thrilling moment in Abby’s life.

  However, there was one problem with reality intruding on this beautiful dream. While he was trying to give her a special night out to make up for her being denied a social life at present, Abby could never forget she was carrying the child he and Michelina had made. The wife he’d adored was gone, leaving him desolate, just like her father.

  She remembered the night of Michelina’s funeral, when she’d wandered out onto the patio of her apartment, not knowing where to go with her pain. Before her was the amazing sight of dozens of sailboats and yachts anchored offshore
from up and down the Riviera with Arancian flags flying at half-mast in the breeze to pay respect to the prince.

  While she stood there, her cell phone had rung, causing her to jump. She hurried inside to check the caller ID, hardly able to see through the tears.

  “Carolena?” she’d cried after clicking on.

  “Abby? When the announcer started speculating on the future of the monarchy, I had to call and see if you’re all right.”

  She breathed in deeply. “Yes,” she’d murmured, wiping the moisture off her cheeks with her hand.

  “No, you’re not. I don’t know how you’re handling this.”

  “Truthfully, not very well.”

  “Talk to me. I know you told me you can’t leave the palace until tomorrow and I can’t come over there today, so the phone will have to do. Have you even talked to Vincenzo since the accident?”

  “Yes. He came for a minute last evening, worried about my welfare, if you can imagine.”

  “Actually, I can. To know you’re carrying his child is probably the only thing keeping him from going under. I never witnessed anything more touching in my life than the sight of the horse covered in her favorite flowers walking alongside that incredible-looking man. Already I’ve seen one of the tabloids out in the kiosk bearing the headline The Prince of Every Woman’s Dreams in Mourning.”

  Abby had closed her eyes tightly. “The media will make a circus of this.” She could hear it all now: Who will be the next princess? Will she be foreign? Will he wait a year, or will he break with tradition and take a new bride in the next few months? Abby had a question of her own: How will the next woman he chooses feel about the surrogacy situation? All those thoughts and more had bombarded her.

  “You really shouldn’t be alone.”

  “All I have to do is get through tonight, Carolena. Tomorrow I can start living a normal life.”

  Now, seven weeks later, here Abby was with the prince of every woman’s dreams, riding to the top of the mountain. But there was nothing normal about his life or hers. When she and her father had gone through all the what ifs before she’d made her decision to be a surrogate, the idea of either Michelina or Vincenzo dying had only been mentioned in passing. But she couldn’t have imagined anything so horrible and never thought about it again.