Expecting the Prince's Baby. Rebecca Winters

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.