Chapter8
Kristin placedher blue cloth napkin on the table and smiled at the waitress who took away the empty dessert plate. Antonio had been attentive and sweet the entire meal. Through salad, pasta and chocolate cake—now she was hungry for morethanfood.
She ignored the buzz in her veins that begged for alone time where he might kiss her. The problem with a restaurant was they were in public and people stared at both of them. “I’m surprised no one is asking for your autograph or trying to get a picturewithyou.”
The server came to refill their waters. “The village is quite used to me at this point and my people respect my privacy as I respect theirs. Being royal is around-the-clock lifestyle, but then Jaka, the owner, of this restaurant also has around the clockresponsibilities.”
Antonio stopped the server and asked, “Before you go, do you likeworkinghere?”
The waitress kept her head down but nodded at the same time. “Your Highness, Jaka has trained me in service, paying me so that I can support my family in the village. We are all voting for you to continue your reign.” She held the water pitcher tight in her hands. “Under the communist regime, I was stuck in the countryside, unable to support myself or my family on the allotted land no matter how hard Iworked.”
Antonio nodded and gave her that royal smile of his that included that dimple. “Please send Jaka ourregards.”
The food had been a mix of Italian-ish spices, and some new to her palate. She picked up her glass and folded her other hand over her knee so she wouldn’t touch Antonio. "Yes. Lunch wasgreat."
He paid the bill. She gulped her water. Once he was done, he stood and offered his hand. "I want to show yousomething."
"Okay. Let's go." She jumped out of her seat to follow, and quickly walked beside him again. His hand in hers felt right. Every part of her body urged her to say yes and marry him. Renee was right in that she shouldn't doubt herself. She'd lose the chance of a lifetime, but more important, she had to listen to herheart.
Over the last three months she’d studied up on Antonio and she’d slowly fallen for his smiles, his charity work, his philosophy. Now she saw how kind he truly was in person. Perhaps her crush on him was transforming tosomethingmore.
He guided her to the village retaining wall and then down a dirt path that went toward a stand of oak trees. "The village wascharming."
“Itishome…”
The farther away from the village, the bustling town center was replaced with birds chirping in the trees. She squeezed his hand. "Where are wegoing?"
He pointed past a tree, not that she could see anything. "A spot I have claimed as my own since wemovedhere."
Her eyes widened. “How long agowasthat?”
“Well it’s over ten years now, since my father was brought back as the king.” He jetted them off in a new direction that seemeduntouched.
Her feet crunched into the grass as they went off the path. She stayed close to him as they walked into the darker forest. "That soundsinteresting."
He held back a branch for her to pass by. "I think so.Thisway."
"This is the same wall that is part of the village?" She studied the white stone. They could probably have stayed on the path, but the shortcut through the woods made her more awareofhim.
He pushed open a gate and led her to a massive oak door that he unlocked and then pocketed the key. "Yes. Centuries ago, we had guards stationed at various checkpoints in case there was an attack on ourvillage."
He pushed open the wooden door that looked medieval, complete with iron brackets. "Andnow?"
"We have satellites and drones." He winked and went inside the dark room. She took a deep breath and thanked her lucky stars she’d trusted him enough to follow him into the woods—this place was living history. She followed him and blinked in the darkness. She heard the sound of a switch and then light illuminated from a central overhead chandelier. Clearly the people in Avce loved the light fixtures. The couch and living area all housed furniture she’d seen in museumshowrooms.
Antonio said, "Anyhow, this is where the guard would have beenstationed."
She stared at the rustic decor and the chunky, masculine furniture. The walls were clean and the hall had a scent of a hunting lodge, all dust and earth. "What is it usedfornow?"
He scooted two chairs together and dusted off the brown leather couch. "Right now, not much. When we give tours this might be a good place to start, but we don't have much of a tourist industry set up yet—my brothers are against this idea. They like having our own space, but I want to bring commerce tothetown."
“It truly is beautiful.” He straightened and she tilted her head. He’d taken off his tailored suit jacket before leaving the palace. His black slacks and polo shirt placed him in the wrong century for the guardhouse, and yet he still fit here. He was so tall that his brown hair nearly touched the chandelier. He truly was handsome and this felt secluded. "So, is this yourfavoritespot?"
He tugged her arm toward a door, which opened to a huge empty room that wasn't in use at all. He flipped on a light and said, "Almost. Comeoverhere."
"Where are we?" She looked around thespace.
"This is where the guards ate together, trained together. It's the old barracks, though there was a woman murdered right here over 200yearsago.”
