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

by Rebecca Winters

  His thoughts kept going. What if Vincenzo wanted to marry a woman who’d already given birth through surrogacy? It would mean she’d already gone through a whole history with some other man and his wife. Would that change the way he felt about her?

  The more he pondered the subject, the more he couldn’t answer his own questions.

  While he succeeded in tying himself up in knots, Abby climbed the steps to leave the pool. For a moment he caught a side view of her lovely body. His heart clapped with force to see her stomach wasn’t quite as flat as he remembered, but at this stage you wouldn’t know she was pregnant. Dr. DeLuca had said that since this was her first pregnancy, it might be awhile.

  That didn’t matter. Vincenzo knew.

  The day Abby had given him that pamphlet, he’d studied it and learned she would probably start showing by twelve weeks. Michelina had lost their three babies by that point, so he’d never seen his wife looking pregnant.

  His excitement grew to imagine Abby in another month. Since he wasn’t the most patient man, the waiting was going to be hard on him. And what about her? She was the one going through the travail that brought a woman close to death. Her patience had to be infinite.

  He found himself asking the same question as the queen: What did Abby get out of this?

  Vincenzo had listened to her explanation many times, but right now he was in a different place than he’d been at Christmas when they’d talked about surrogacy as an answer. His focus hadn’t been the same back then. Now that he was no longer desperate for himself and Michelina, he had a hard time imagining this remarkable woman, who could have any man she wanted, being willing to go through this.

  How did any surrogate mother who wasn’t already a mother or who had never given birth leave the hospital and go back to her old life without experiencing changes, psychologically and emotionally? He could understand why it was illegal in many parts of the world for someone like Abby. He and Michelina must have been so blinded by their own unhappiness that they’d agreed to let Abby go through with this.

  Though they’d discussed everything before the procedure, nothing had seemed quite real back then. Those same questions were haunting him now in new, profound ways. A fresh wave of guilt attacked him. He needed to explore his feelings in depth with Dr. Greco, because he was concerned for Abby’s welfare. She was having to put off being with other men until the baby was born. That meant putting off any possible marriage. To his dismay, the thought of her getting married brought him no joy. What was wrong with him?

  * * *

  Abby put on her white beach robe over her green bikini and they sat down to dinner. “This cantaloupe is so sweet I can’t believe it.”

  “I hear it’s especially good for you.”

  “You’re spoiling me, you know.”

  He gripped his water glass tighter. “That’s the idea. You’re doing something no one should expect you to do.”

  A wounded look entered her eyes. “I didn’t have to do anything, Vincenzo. It was my choice.”

  “But you’ve never been pregnant before. My wife and I were entirely selfish.”

  Michelina because she’d wanted so much to have a child. Vincenzo because he’d wanted Abby to be the woman if they did decide to go through with it. The perfect storm...

  After drinking the rest of his water, he darted her another glance. “Though I know you would never admit it to me, you’ve probably regretted your decision every day since the procedure was done.”

  She put down her fork. “Stop it, Vincenzo!” It pleased him she’d said his name again.

  “You know the reason I did this and you couldn’t be more wrong about my feelings now. Why don’t we take Dr. Greco’s advice and drop all the guilt? Let’s agree that though this is an unprecedented case, it’s a wonderful one that’s going to give you a son or daughter. We need to keep that goal foremost in our minds.”

  Vincenzo sucked in a deep breath. “So be it! But I have to tell you that you’re the bravest, most courageous soul I’ve ever known.”

  “You mean after you. Let’s not forget you were the one who dove into that cave looking for my body during the most ferocious storm I’d ever seen after moving to Arancia. It wasn’t the men in the coast guard who’d performed that deed.

  “Their first duty was to protect you. Instead they let you risk your life to save me. If Father hadn’t been so devastated over losing Mother at the time, those men would have faced severe penalties, so I’d say we’re equal.”

  There was no one like Abby when her back got up. “All right.” He lifted his water glass.

  “Truce?”

  She did likewise. “Truce.” They touched glasses.

  After she drank a little and put her glass on the table, he could tell there was something else on her mind. “What were you going to say?”

  “How did you know?” she asked, bemused.

  “A feeling.”

  She was quiet for a moment. “Today a minor miracle occurred when I received word that Judge Mascotti is going to hear the Giordano case in less than a month. I was expecting it to be six at the earliest.” She eyed him with blue eyes that sparkled with purple glints in the candlelight. “Who do you suppose was responsible?”

  “I have no idea,” he said in a deadpan voice.

  “Liar.” No one had ever dared call him that, but then, no one was like Abby. “I’m very grateful, you know. It’s my biggest case so far with the firm.”

  “You’ve got a good one. My bet is on you to win it in the end.”

  “Please don’t hold your breath.”

  He smiled. “In my line of work I’m used to doing it. Don’t forget I have to face our constitutional assembly on a weekly basis, and they’re all stars.” Laughter bubbled out of her, but he noticed she’d drawn her beach robe closer around her. “It’s cooling off, Abby. Since you have another workday tomorrow, I mustn’t keep you up any longer.”

  She got up from the table before he could help her. “I’ve enjoyed the company and dinner very much. After your good deed in getting my law case heard sooner, I have to hope my side will prevail. Buonanotte, Vincenzo.”

  Her disappearance left him at a loss. As he walked swiftly to his apartment, Vincenzo phoned Marcello. “My mail included an invitation for the wedding of Luigi Gabberino’s son. Can you give me the particulars?”

  “Momento.” Vincenzo headed for the bathroom to take a shower while he waited.

  “Friday at four o’clock, San Pietro Church.”

  “Grazie. Put that date on my calendar. I intend to go.”

  “I’m afraid there’s a conflict. You’ll be in a meeting with the education minister at that time.”

  “I’ll cut it short.”

  “Bene, Your Highness.”

  * * *

  On Friday Abby left work at three-thirty in order to get to the church and be seated by four. She’d worn a new designer dress in Dresden-blue silk to the office. The top of the square-necked two-piece outfit shot with silver threads draped below the waistline. The sleeves were stylishly ruched above the elbow. On her feet she wore low-heeled silver sandals.

  She’d caught her hair back in a twist with pins. Once she’d bid her latest client goodbye, she retouched her makeup before pulling the new floppy broad-brimmed hat with the silvery-blue rose from her closet. After putting it on, she grabbed her silver bag and left the office with a trail of colleagues gawking in her wake. Carolena had been with her when she’d bought the outfit, and now gave her the thumbs-up.

  Outside the building she heard whistles and shouts of bellissima from the ever-appreciative male population of Arancia. She chuckled. What a gorgeous, sunny day for a wedding! There was a delightful breeze off the Mediterranean.

  The limo wound through the streets until it came to a piazza fronting the chu
rch of San Pietro, where she was let out. Abby followed a group of people inside and found a seat in the assembled crowd of friends and extended family. She recognized several employees from the palace, and of course Piero’s immediately family.

  Before the Mass began, heads turned as a side door opened. When she saw Vincenzo enter surrounded by his bodyguards, she started to feel light-headed. The exquisitely groomed prince of Arancia wore a dove-gray suit. He was heartbreakingly handsome and took her breath away, along with everyone else’s.

  He sat off to the side. Piero’s parents had to feel so honored. This was the second time Vincenzo had gone out of his way to perform a service that hadn’t been on his agenda—the first, of course, being a word put in Judge Mascotti’s ear to hasten Abby’s court case hearing.

  The prince was an amazingly thoughtful man. She’d worked around a lot of men. No man of her acquaintance could touch him. Abby knew deep in her heart he was so grateful for her being willing to carry his baby, there wasn’t enough he could do for her. It was something she would have to get used to. When he dedicated himself to a project, he went all out.

  For the next hour Abby sat there eyeing him with covert glances while Piero and his bride took their vows. When the service was over, Vincenzo went out the side exit while she followed the crowd outside to the piazza to give the radiant couple a hug. But when she was ready to walk to her limousine, one of the security men touched her elbow.

  “Signorina Loretto? If you would come with me, please.”

  With heart thumping, she followed him around the side of the church to another limousine, where she knew Vincenzo was waiting inside. The breeze was a little stronger now. As she started to climb in, she had to put her hand on her hat to keep it in place. At the same time, her skirt rode up her thighs. She fought madly with her other hand to push it down.

  Vincenzo’s dark eyes, filled with male admiration, missed nothing in the process, causing her to get a suffocating feeling in her chest. The hint of a smile hovered at the corners of his compelling mouth. After she sat down opposite him, he handed her the silver bag she’d accidentally dropped.

  “Thank you,” she said in a feverish whisper.

  “Anyone could be forgiven for thinking you are the bride. That color is very becoming on you. We can’t let such a stunning outfit go to waste. What is your pleasure?”

  Her pleasure... She didn’t dare think about that, let alone take him up on his offer.

  “To be honest, it’s been a long day. I’m anxious to get back to the palace and put my feet up. If that sounds ungracious, I don’t mean for it to be.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do.” He let his driver know and the limo started to move out to the street. His arms rested along the back of the seat. He looked relaxed. “I enjoyed the wedding.”

  “So did I. Piero was beaming. I know he was a happy groom, but your presence made it the red-letter day in all their lives. That was very kind of you, Vincenzo.”

  “I have you to thank for reminding me of my duty. Now that it’s over, we’ll concentrate on taking care of you. When we get back to the palace we’ll have dinner in your apartment and watch a movie I ordered.”

  Ordered? Her pulse raced. “I’m sure you have other things to do.”

  His black eyes glinted with a strange light. “Not tonight. It will feel good to relax. Tomorrow my father and I are leaving to visit my mother’s sister in the French Savoie. We’ll be attending another wedding and taking a vacation at the same time.”

  “That’s right. Your father usually goes away this time of year.”

  He nodded. “I’m not sure how soon we’ll be back, but I promise I’ll be here for your June appointment with the doctor.”

  June... He’d be gone several weeks at least. She fought to keep her expression from showing her devastating disappointment.

  The limo drove up to his private entrance to the palace. “I’ll come to your apartment in a half hour, unless you need more time.”

  “Knowing that you have a healthy appetite, thirty minutes is probably all you should have to wait for dinner.”

  The flash of a satisfied white smile was the last thing she saw before he exited the limo. It stayed with her all the way to her suite. Her hands trembled as she removed her hat and put it on the closet shelf. Next came the dress and her shoes.

  After Abby had put on jeans with an elastic waist band and a pink short-sleeved top, she redid her hair. While she fastened it with a tortoiseshell clip, she was assailed by the memory of Vincenzo’s eyes as she’d climbed in the limo. They’d been alive and there was a throbbing moment when...

  No. She was mistaken. The prince was a man, after all, and couldn’t have helped looking while she was at a disadvantage. Furious with herself for ascribing more to the moment than was there, she lifted the phone to ring Angelina for her dinner tray, then thought the better of it. Vincenzo had made it clear he was orchestrating the rest of this evening.

  If she wasn’t careful, she could get used to this kind of attention. But once she’d had the baby, her association with the prince would be over. By November he could easily be involved with another woman, who had the right credentials for another marriage.

  Her thoughts darted ahead to his trip with the king. Since Vincenzo had recently returned from a trip that had lasted weeks, she doubted he’d be accompanying his father because he needed another vacation.

  In all probability there was someone the king and his aunt wanted him to meet. With a baby on the way, he needed a suitable wife who was already situated at the palace to take over the duties of a mother the minute Abby delivered. But the thought of another woman being a mother to Abby’s baby killed her.

  This baby was Abby’s baby. She couldn’t possibly separate herself from it now. She’d been imagining the day she held it in her arms, the clothes she’d buy, the nursery she’d create. No other woman would love this baby as fiercely as the way Abby already did.

  But Vincenzo was the father and he’d been born to fulfill his duties. One of them at the moment was to make certain Abby felt secure while she was pregnant with the next royal heir of Arancia. She knew better than to read anything more into what was going on. He was doing his best while trying to cope with the pain of his loss. There was only one way for her to handle this and keep her sanity at the same time.

  He needs a friend, Abby. Be one to him.

  A half hour later Vincenzo arrived at her apartment. He’d changed out of his suit into chinos and a polo shirt. He looked so fabulous, she tried not stare at him. He’d tucked a DVD under his arm. She flashed him her friendliest smile. “You’re right on time.”

  “In the business I’m in, you have to be.”

  A quiet laugh escaped her lips. “Well, tonight you can forget business for once. Come right in and make yourself at home.”

  “If it’s all right with you, I’ll put this in the machine.”

  She closed the door after him and folded her arms. “Aren’t you going to show me the cover?”

  “I’d rather surprise you.” In a minute he’d inserted it so they could watch it on the living room couch when they were ready.

  “All I have to offer you is soda from the fridge in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll drink what you’re drinking.”

  “It’s boring lemonade.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She didn’t call him a liar again. He was probably used to some kind of alcohol at the end of the day, but was going out of his way to make her comfortable. This man was spoiling her rotten.

  “Excuse me while I get it.” When she came out of the kitchen, she found him on her terrace leaning against the balustrade. “In the States we say ‘a penny for them.’” She handed him a can.

  He straightened and took it from her. “I’ll give you one guess.” He popped the lid and d
rank the contents in one go. Abby was thirsty, too, and followed suit, but could only drink half of hers before needing a breath.

  “A name for your baby.”

  “It has already been picked, whether it’s a boy or a girl. Actually, I was thinking about your plans after the baby’s born,” he said on a more serious note.

  So had she... Since that terrible morning with the queen, she’d decided that living anywhere in Arancia wouldn’t be a good idea after all. “You’re giving me a complex, you know.”

  A frown marred his handsome features. “In what way?”

  “You worry too much about everything, so maybe what I tell you will help. The other night my father came over and we had a long talk. Before Christmas, in fact, before I even knew you were looking for a surrogate, Dad was planning to resign his position here and move back to the States. He says his assistant, Ernesto, is more than ready to take over.”

  Stillness enveloped Vincenzo for an overly long moment. “Does my father know about this?”

  “Not yet. He plans to tell him soon. We have extended family in Rhode Island, where I was born.”

  “But your father has family here in Arancia, too.”

  “That’s true, but he’s been offered a position at a private firm there I know he will enjoy. He won’t leave until after I have the baby. Though I had thoughts of living in Arancia and working at the firm with Carolena, I can’t abide the idea of him being so far away. Therefore I’ll be moving back with him and plan to study for the Rhode Island and New York bar exams. So you see? That’s one worry you can cross off your long list.”

  During the quiet that followed, she heard a knock on the door. He moved before she did to answer it. Angelina had arrived with their dinner. Vincenzo thanked her and pushed the cart to the terrace, where they could sit to enjoy their meal while they looked out over the view.

  Once they started eating, he focused his attention on her. “Are you close with family there?”

  “We’ve all kept in touch. Mom took me for visits several times a year.”