The Princess's New Year Wedding (The Princess Brides 1)

Was it possible Stefano had developed husbandly feelings for her, and that was why he’d come home early? Lanza’s heart almost jumped out of her chest.

“He’s not married.”

“It seemed to me he forgot you were married, too, until he noticed me walk over to the table.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He was eating you alive with his eyes. I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to meet alone with him.”

She felt a fluttering in her chest, but chose not to respond to that comment because deep down she knew Matteo did have a tiny crush on her. But more important, she’d never seen this domineering side of Stefano before.

Lanza had thought often about her short conversation with the woman at the mine. Stefano had played dumb about it, never letting on who it was. Perhaps she’d been one of the women he’d once had an affair with.

That relationship might be in the past, but he’d come home to Lanza, who was still unfinished business. Was that it? Could that be the problem challenging him? Was she his only failure when it came to seducing a woman? Her thoughts darted hither and yon.

Before long they reached the palace and the driver took them around to the east entrance. Stefano helped her out of the limo. A staff member opened the large palace doors so they could walk up the steps. Once on the second floor, they entered their apartment, the size of the average person’s house.

Ten nights ago he’d gone to one of the bedrooms to get some sleep early because he’d had to leave for the airport at five o’clock the next morning. Lanza had stayed up to talk to her sisters about her trip and hadn’t gone to bed until one in the morning in another of the bedrooms.

Tonight was different.

Stefano was in a strange mood she didn’t understand unless she was right and he hadn’t liked seeing her with another man. Had it brought out his egotistical side, and now he was feeling possessive? If so, it wasn’t enough for her.

He removed his suit jacket and undid the top buttons of his shirt where she saw a dusting of black hair on his chest.

After he pushed his sleeves up to the elbows, he hunkered in front of the fireplace to put more logs on the fire. While it crackled and the flames lit up the semidark room, she couldn’t take her eyes off his well-honed physique. Right now she was having to fight overpowering feelings of desire for him.

She stood near the long, rounded green velvet couch facing the fireplace. Its color was reflected in the background of the huge tapestries hanging on the walls depicting medieval forest scenes with animals.

“Why didn’t you phone that you were coming tonight, Stefano? I would have planned to have dinner waiting for you.”

He stood up and turned to her, putting his hands on his hips in a totally male stance. “I wanted to surprise you and take you out for a meal.”

“That would have been very nice. I couldn’t believe it when Matteo called out and said, ‘Your Highness.’”

“I know for a fact he wasn’t happy to see me.”

“You’re wrong, you know. It’s just that you’re bigger than life to everyone and it intimidates them, even Enzo, who worships you.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“No, Stefano. I witnessed it with my own eyes.”

* * *

Maybe that was true, but Lanza

had been deeply engrossed in conversation with Matteo when he’d walked into the restaurant. Even from a distance, Stefano could tell the man was totally entranced with her.

At that moment Stefano had experienced a flare of jealousy, which was so foreign to him, he’d felt violent inside. What made it worse was that Lanza seemed to enjoy Matteo’s attention. Seeing them together like that had disturbed him so much he couldn’t seem to calm down.

She was always gracious and charming with a style all her own, but Stefano had felt deflated that she hadn’t shown more excitement at seeing him tonight. Ten days away from her had felt like death.

“My father will be thrilled to know you’re home.”

“He already knows. We talked for a moment and I’ve been asked to have breakfast with him and your mother.”

Lanza smiled. “She’s anxious to give you a tour of the stables and the kennel. She is an animal lover like me and my sisters.”