“Gee, and we were all so anxious to expand our winery business. What’s involved in officially acknowledging?”
“Paperwork mostly, and a presentation to the parliament. He’s taken the DNA test, Mia. My guess is he’s going to acknowledge Danny as his heir.”
“Swell.”
“Look on the bright side. If Danny’s a prince, you have to be something too, right?”
“Screwed. I believe I’m mostly screwed.”
“It’s not as bad as that.”
She leaned forward. “In all likelihood my son is going to one day rule Calandria. How long do you think he’s going to be allowed to have a normal life?”
“Whatever happens, you’re his mom. You’ll be there to protect him.”
“I know, but king. Jeez. I better get going on teaching him to tie his shoes.”
5
“What kind of a surprise?” Danny asked. “A big surprise? Is it a puppy? I’d like a puppy, Mommy. I’m big enough now.”
Maybe he was, but she wasn’t, Mia thought wryly, knowing that dealing with a puppy was exactly enough to push her over the edge.
“We talked about a puppy,” she reminded him. “It will come under consideration when you’re eight.”
Danny sighed. “I know. But that’s so far.”
Twice his life. He was already growing so fast. He would be eight before she knew it.
“What surprise?” he asked again.
“I don’t know,” she told him. Rafael hadn’t been clear. He’d only asked them to meet him at three-thirty and said there would be a surprise.
She knew he’d gone out. The huge limo was gone, as were the ever-present Oliver and Umberto. What a life-trailing after a crown prince, watching him have all the fun. Or did royal bodyguards have groupies who made things more interesting?
Just then the limo turned the corner. Danny squealed and pointed. “I can see the flags, Mommy. Can we have flags on our car?”
She had a feeling that diplomatic flags were hard to come by but might be worth the effort, especially during tourist season in Santa Barbara when parking was impossible to find. No doubt with diplomatic immunity came freedom from parking tickets.
The vehicle pulled to a stop. Umberto climbed out of the front passenger seat and walked to the rear door. When he opened it, Rafael stepped out.
“How nice to see my family waiting,” he said with a smile. “My very handsome son and his beautiful mother.”
Mia reminded herself that it was his job to be smooth on command, but still, she liked the compliment and the way his gaze lingered on her.
“What did you bring me?” Danny demanded.
Mia winced. “How about some manners? You could say hello first.”
“Hello. What did you bring me?”
Rafael walked to the trunk of the limo and opened it. Inside was a fully assembled three-wheeled bike with a horn and flags that matched those on the limo.
“Maybe they aren’t so hard to get,” Mia murmured, wondering if she could borrow them for her car when she went into town.
“Cool!” Danny cried as he raced to the bike. “Can I try it now?”
Mia cleared her throat. “Hmm, what do we say when someone gives us a gift?”
Danny wrenched his gaze from the bike and looked at his father. “Thank you very much.” He turned back to his mother. “Now?”
She nodded.
Danny sat down and immediately started pedaling. The wide tires gave him plenty of traction on the driveway.
Rafael moved next to her. “I considered a real bike, but I knew he would have to learn to ride it. I wanted this to be fun for him.”
“Making up for the scepter?”
He smiled. “You were right. He was a little young to grasp the significance.”
“I’m not sure it’s an age thing. I’m not clear on the significance. What does it do?”
“It is a symbol of the throne.”
“You’d probably do better with an action figure.”
“For Danny or for you?”
“Danny. I’ve outgrown action figures.”
“And moved up to the real thing? Or do you prefer more adult toys?”
Tempting, she thought. Very tempting. But an intelligent woman wouldn’t be sucked into the vortex of charm that was Rafael.
“Any other surprises for him in that trunk?” she asked.
His gaze sharpened, as if he acknowledged her attempt to change the subject and decided to let her. “No. I assume anything else will seem tame by comparison.”
“He’ll enjoy spending time with you. He’s very excited to finally have a father.”
“I am excited to know he is my son.”
“You don’t know that for sure. The DNA tests aren’t in.”
He stared into her eyes. “You are sure, Mia, and that is enough for me.”
“Yes, well, I wasn’t exactly sleeping around when me met. Or after. But you’ll have proof soon enough.”
He shrugged as if to say it didn’t matter. “I wish I’d known sooner. I wish I could have been here with you.”
“That would have been nice,” she admitted. “I love Danny with all my heart, but I’m not all that maternal. Developing those instincts was difficult for me. If not for my family around me, I don’t think I would have made it.”
“Of course you would have. You are steel.” He lightly stroked her cheek. “And silk. So many contradictions. I always liked that about you. How tough you were and yet so feminine. An ideal woman.”
She took a step back. “Ideal is so not me. I’m totally filled with flaws. Flaw girl, that’s me.”
He chuckled. “I do not think so.”
“Then you’d be wrong. And speaking of dinner, you do remember there’s a whole big family thing tomorrow night. You’ve met my sisters. Now it’s time to meet the husbands and kids. Brenna might even bring her dog, Max. You need to brace yourself.”
“I have survived formal state dinners. I’m sure I’ll survive your family.”
“Ha. Formal state dinners have nothing on the Marcellis. You’re gonna be scared. Trust me.”
The next evening Rafael followed the sound of conversation from the stairs into the large formal living room in the Marcelli home. As Mia had promised, most of the family had assembled to meet him.
Although he’d dressed in a suit, he wasn’t worried about making a good impression. He was, after all, Crown Prince Rafael of Calandria. How could they not approve of him?
He stood in the doorway, as yet unnoticed. He recognized Mia’s three sisters and assumed the men standing near them were their husbands. Several young children ran around, including Danny. Rafael frowned. The boy should not be allowed to be so boisterous at events like these. He had to learn to understand protocol and respect ceremony.
The Grands were by the plates of appetizers, making sure all was well with the food. Grammy M saw him and waved. Grandma Tessa saw him and quickly turned her back. He still had not charmed the matriarch of the Marcelli clan, but he would. He had yet to meet a woman he could not win.
“Rafael,” Mia said as she hurried toward him. “Are you braced?”
“More than that. I’m delighted to finally be meeting the rest of your family.”
“Not the rest, actually. My parents are still in China, which you knew. Also Kelly isn’t here. She lives in San Francisco. I left her a message, but I haven’t heard back.”
He didn’t pay attention to her words; instead he concentrated on the woman speaking them. As always, Mia was pure energy. Life radiated from her eyes, her smile, the movement of her body. She was small, barely five three, and he was a man used to dating models. She had curves to their lean lines. Her face was pretty, and he often chose women for their classical beauty. Yet there was something about her, something that drew him. In a room full of strangers, she was the only person who mattered.