Lucio stared at him while ushering her up the stairs. "Send the call to myroom."
"Excellent." Nino turnedaway.
They raced to their quarters and her blood was truly pumping when they arrived. She headed for the living area to sit on the couch and catch herbreath.
She slipped off her wedges and tapped the coffee table to make sure he looked at her. "Lucio, flaws in education was my first line item in a report on your country that I handed offyesterday."
He sat beside her and picked up his phone. "This isn't about a flaw. This is just evil people holding children hostage." She silently agreed as he placed his hand on her leg. "Let me talk to my dad." She nodded and heard him say, "Father?"
She lifted her heel and massaged a bruise from thecobblestone.
Lucio clicked the phone on speaker and took the injured foot in his strong hands and helped massageit.
King Leopoldo said, "I'm assuming you saw the news about the school. Babik has organized a team and your brother Marco is there already. It’s being handled, son. Stayput."
"Keep me informed." Lucio applied just the right pressure on the ball of her foot and her stomachheated.
The king said, "We will and we're looking forward to meeting your future bridesoon."
Visions of marrying Lucio where she walked down the rose-petal covered aisle as she stared straight into his eyes wearing a white dress played in hermind.
Lucio scoffed. "You sound likeMother."
"She asked me to say that," his fatheradmitted.
He kept the pressure on her foot and it felt wonderful as he said, "Goodnight."
On the couch, just the two of them. Silence clung in the air and he reached for her other foot, applying the same pressure in the middle of her arch. She bit back a moan. "So, uh, what do you want to do? I’m so glad we spent the daytogether."
His brown eyes heated but he said nothing and she sat up quickly, her heart beating to a different rhythm just from being close to him. Shestood.
Her gaze was pulled to the bedroom door and she imagined herself lying next to him tonight, hip to hip. "I'm going to shower and we can settle in for the night. Will you figure out where we'llsleep?"
"You agreed in the same room." He didn’t move amuscle.
She nodded and hugged her waist. "I did. I expect that, but there is only one bed." Would he sweep her into his arms and take her? Did she want himto?
"I'll take the floor." He reached for his phoneagain.
She stepped toward the door, but then turned and asked, "Lucio?"
"Yes?" He looked right at her, his sensual expression melting right through her cautiousbrain.
She took a deep breath, unfastened her necklace and held it in her hand. Without looking at him, she said, "This was the best date I've had in years. Thankyou."
He stood, his shoulders straight as he stared at her. Amy removed her stud earrings, her fingers trembling. "It was my pleasure. Now go shower while I wait fornews."
"Let me know what happens!" She walked into the bathroom and put her jewelry in a porcelain dish above thesink.
She needed the refreshment of the quick shower, but she kept imagining spending the night next to Lucio, in his arms, while she fell asleep. Her body was warm, even in the cold water she splashed onherself.
Once dry, she dressed in blue polka dot lounge pants and a silky tank top. She opened the door to the main part of the suite and called out, "Lucio?"
No one answered. She peeked out on the balcony and checked all the rooms. He wasn't there. Apprehension grew. What if something had happened to the children while she’d been showering? She was about to change into jeans and go find the housekeeper, when her phone rang from her purse by the side of the couch. She grinned. "Hello,Suzie?"
Her friend's bold American accent had flicks of laughter in it as she spoke. "You're marrying Prince Lucio Aussa? That's the rich and handsome man I told you tomarry?"
"Yes, how do you know?" Amy massaged her neck while she sat down on the arm of the couch. She hadn't told anyone yet other than herfamily.
