The Prince and the Wedding Planner

She glanced around as though checking to see if she was needed. And when there was no one around clamoring for her attention, she placed her hand in the crook of his arm. “Lead the way.”

That’s exactly what he did. Once among the other couples, he clasped her one hand with his own and wrapped his other arm around her waist. Leaving a modest distance between them, they began dancing.

“It was so nice of you to attend the wedding,” Bianca said. “Benito must be a really good friend.”

“He’s a very old friend. I’m happy he found his soul mate.”

Her finely plucked brows lifted, but again she didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t help but be curious about her reaction. “Are you surprised that I’m happy for the couple?”

She shook her head. “I’m just surprised you believe in soul mates.”

Perhaps he should watch his wording with her going forward. He didn’t like explaining himself, especially about such a sensitive subject. “I do believe in love and soul mates. I just don’t believe everyone has one.” He noticed the frown on her face. “Has your heart been broken?”

The thought of it didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t know how a man lucky enough to win her heart could turn around and break it. If it was him—

He halted his thoughts. He didn’t even know where that thought had come from. He wasn’t looking for love. He was looking for a princess. They were two mutually exclusive things.

“No, it wasn’t my heart. Not directly.”

Talk about your cryptic answers. But before h

e could delve further into the subject, the music ended and a round of applause filled the air.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Bianca said, “I have things to attend to.”

His phone chimed. He didn’t have to look at it to know his car was out front, waiting to escort him to his hotel room in Florence. But he had one more thing to do.

“Bianca, I would like to offer you the job.”

Her lush lips gaped. It took her a second to regain her composure. “Really? I mean, that was so fast. Are you sure?”

He smiled at her shocked reaction. “Would you like that I change my mind?”

She shook her head as she smiled. “No, I wouldn’t.”

“I have some business in Florence. Will you be ready to go in two days’ time?”

“Two days? Boy, you don’t give a girl much warning, do you?”

He hadn’t considered that she might have another wedding. “I could definitely make this worth your time?”

Her eyes were like windows to the wheels turning in her mind. If her request for her services was within reason, he would grant it. And then the wedding planner would be all his for the next seven weeks.

* * *

“Where are you going? You can’t just leave now.”

Bianca stopped packing and turned to her sister who was standing in the doorway. She didn’t know why Gia cared if she left. All they’d been doing was fighting. And that broke Bianca’s heart. She was starting to worry that they’d never be a real family again.

“I have to go. It’s for the best,” Bianca said, calmly and emotionless. Tensions were so high that she didn’t know what would set off one of her siblings.

“So that’s it,” her brother chimed in. “What about the estate?”

Bianca looked at Gia, then at Enzo. “I’m leaving because all of this fighting isn’t good for us. It’s tearing us apart.”

Gia crossed her arms and glared at her sister. “You’re bailing on us. And leaving me to fight it out with Enzo.”