Italian Groom, Princess Bride. Rebecca Winters

rental car parked to the side. It took every ounce of composure to walk inside as if she really were going into the office to consult with one of the gardeners on a legitimate landscaping matter.

      Her feet stilled the second she saw Dizo standing in front of a window looking out over the grounds. In a navy crew neck shirt and dark trousers, he took her breath. He was half-turned, giving her a glimpse of his chiseled profile. His thoughts had to be dark for lines to bracket the mouth that had driven her mad with desire during the night. It sent a frisson of nervousness down her spine.

      “Dizo?”

      His dark head whipped around giving her the full brunt of his scrutiny. With no alcohol left in his system he was totally in charge. Gone was the lover who’d cried her name over and over before morning, begging her never to leave him. Her joy dissipated as she sensed his quiet fury and was shaken by it, but she didn’t dare let him know it.

      His sharp intake of breath reverberated in the enclosed space. “The fairy tale came to an end when I woke up and found you in my bed this morning.” His voice grated. “I only have one question.”

      She’d anticipated it. “We didn’t cross the forbidden line.”

      “Whose fault was that?” His eyes held an ominous glitter.

      “I flew to Sardinia to talk to you and find out why you left without telling me, but you were too drunk to do more than kiss me before you fell asleep.”

      “Grazie a Dio.” His hands formed fists. “Will you please get your brother on the line and ask him to come down to the greenhouse?”

      The blood pounded in her ears. “No, Dizo—”

      “Yes, Principessa—” he fired back. “If you don’t, I’ll call him myself right now.”

      Regina had never seen Dizo this forbidding in her life. She didn’t know him like this. His mouth had gone a bluish-white around the edges.

      “W-what are you going to say to him?” she stammered.

      He moved closer to her. “That’s my business.”

      She shook her head in terror. “Don’t make me do this.”

      “Hand me your cell phone, or do I have to take it from you.”

      Her eyes filled with liquid despite all her efforts to maintain control. “Dizo—”

      “Tears won’t work. You’re about to be married to another man. End of story!” He grabbed her purse and felt inside for her phone. “Do I surprise your brother who might not be in the right circumstances to hear my voice coming from the other end? Or do you find a way to get your brother down here without causing him any more stress than necessary? The decision is up to you.”

      He meant it—every word of it. She hadn’t expected him to go this far. Once Lucca knew…

      “Time’s up.” He pressed button one, her private line to her brother.

      In the last second she took the phone from him and put it to her ear. She could hear Lucca talking. “Regina? What are you doing? Where are you? Alexandra’s about to give Catarina her bath. Come and join the fun.”

      Her brother sounded so happy she couldn’t bear for that to change, but it was going to.

      “I-I’d love to—” she stumbled over the words “—but right now I’m at the greenhouse trying to decide on the trees to plant at Papa’s grave. Dinozzo is here.” She could feel his eyes impaling her, forcing her to carry out his demand. “If you could come f-for just a minute and help me make the final decision before he has to leave?”

      After a definite pause Lucca said, “You don’t sound yourself. Something’s wrong. I’ll be right there.” He clicked off. Her brother’s uncanny radar picked up on anything and everything. It was in full force tonight.

      Regina averted her eyes. “He’s coming,” she whispered shakily.

      Like a drowning victim she saw her life flash before her eyes. The one with Dizo. To imagine the rest of it without him was incomprehensible to her. How could she marry Nic?

      While she stood there in agony, her body started to ice up and she felt sick to her stomach. Then she heard a strange ringing in her ears. The next thing she knew Dizo had lowered her into a chair.

      “Put your head between your legs.”

      Dizo’s hand had gone to the back of her neck giving her no choice. For a minute her head swam. He leaned over. “Princess?” he whispered anxiously. She hadn’t thought there was a particle of concern for her left in him, but she was too light-headed to analyze it.

      When the world finally righted itself again she lifted her head. “I’m all right.”

      Lucca chose that moment to walk in on them. After one look at her he muttered, “You’re as white as a ghost.” He hunkered down next to her and grabbed her hand. “What’s wrong, piccina?”

      Regina didn’t know where to start. Her brother’s worried gaze shot to Dizo for an explanation.

      “Your sister has something to tell you, but before you arrived she came close to fainting. I’ll get her some water.”

      She shook her head at Dizo, unable to believe he could be this cruel. He pulled a bottle of water from the minifridge. After removing the top he handed it to her. Needing the sustenance she drank thirstily. “Thank you.”

      “I’m sending for the doctor.” As Lucca pulled his phone out of his trousers, she put a hand on his arm.

      “I don’t need medical help.”

      She must have convinced him because he ended up lounging against the edge of a table with his arms folded and waited. Dizo stood a few feet away with his legs slightly apart, his hands on his hips in the ultimate male stance.

      Regina was too devastated by his betrayal to speak. Somehow she’d believed he’d loved her enough that he would risk everything for her the way she had him. Not true. By summoning her brother, he’d caused her to question the belief system she’d clung to all her life.

      In flying to Sardinia to let him know how much she loved him and couldn’t live without him, she’d totally humiliated herself for nothing!

      Dizo was marking time until she made her little speech. She’d already shown weakness by losing it in front of him a few minutes ago, but that was the last time it would ever happen.

      She took a deep breath and stood up. Without giving Dizo a glance she faced her brother. “I did something foolish and went to visit Dizo in Sassari last night without being invited. Kind of a twist on the droit de seigneur thing, but he didn’t appreciate it. Have no fear. He sent me on my way so fast my head is still spinning. It’s clear he’s terrified I compromised him and his family.

      “Since it’s evident he’s afraid I won’t leave him alone, he flew here this evening and demanded that you be told about it. Actually I’m glad he insisted you come down to the greenhouse. That way I can swear on the love of our dead father that Dizo has no more reason to fear me embarrassing him or his family again. After sixteen years he’s free of me, so help me God.”

      Regina’s head jerked around in Dizo’s direction. “Does that satisfy you, or were you hoping I would give him chapter and verse? Before tonight I could have sworn you were my friend at least. However, all that has changed now that I’ve found out I made an earthshaking error in judgment by placing any faith in you.

      “That’s what’s so sad about growing up in one night. You discover you can’t depend on anyone but yourself. Papa gave me that warning more than once, but I thought he was talking about his own life as king.

      “Arrivederci, Dinozzo Fornese.”

      To her joy his face had gone as pale as hers beneath his tan. The bleak expression in those black slits was cause for celebration.