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“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re usually bubbly but lately you’ve been really down. Is it your parents?”
“No. I mean, I miss them a lot.”
“So something else is bothering you?”
Maria had always been good at reading her. And she was the closest thing Noemi had to a big sister. If she didn’t talk to someone soon, she was going to burst.
Noemi worried her bottom lip. “Can I tell you something?”
“Sure. You know you can always talk to me. Is it about the reading of your parents’ will?”
Noemi shook her head and then realized Maria couldn’t see her. “It’s not that. But if I tell you this, you have to promise not to say a word to Sebastian.”
There was a slight pause on the other end of the phone.
“Never mind,” Noemi said. “I never should have asked you to keep anything from my brother.”
“It’s okay. You need someone to confide in and I promise your brother won’t hear a thing from me. Sometimes he can be a bit overprotective where you’re concerned.”
“And when he hears about this, he’s going to hit the roof. He’ll be just like Papa—” She stopped, recalling how poorly her parents had taken the news of her pregnancy.
Even though her parents had had a child in their teens and had given him up for adoption, they’d still been disappointed with her unplanned pregnancy. What was up with that? It wasn’t like she’d set out to wreck her life. She’d thought that out of all the people in the world, they would have been the ones to understand. They hadn’t. And it had hurt Noemi deeply. Worse yet, they’d died before she could ever put things to right.
“Relax.” Maria’s voice drew Noemi out of her thoughts. “We’ll figure out how to deal with him.”
“Thanks. But I’ll deal with him.”
“Whatever you want. But you still haven’t told me your problem. Maybe I can help. Perhaps it isn’t as big as you’re imagining.”
“No. It’s bigger.” Noemi’s insides quivered with nerves. By saying the words out loud, it was going to make this pregnancy real. Just like the reading of the will had made her parents’ deaths startling real. Once she told Maria about the baby, there would be no more pretending. In less than six months, she was going to give birth.
“Noemi...”
“I’m pregnant.”
Silence. Utter and complete silence.
Noemi’s heart raced. Her hands grew clammy. And her stomach churned. What was Maria thinking? Was she disappointed in her, too, just like her parents had been?
“Are you sure?”
Noemi nodded. “I took three home pregnancy tests and then I went to see the doctor. It’s official.”
“I don’t know what to say.” There was a pause as though Maria was searching for the right words. “How do you feel about it?”
“I knew I wanted kids someday, but not yet—not now. I’m only twenty-six.”
“And the father, how does he feel?”
“I... I don’t know.”
“Noemi, you’ve told him, haven’t you?”
She inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her nauseous stomach. And then she launched into how she’d met Max and how stupid she’d been that night. She’d been hurting and not thinking straight. And she thought it would be a good time without any strings.
“Don’t worry. Everything will be all right,” Maria said, though her voice said otherwise.
“Even you don’t believe it. What am I going to do? I’m not going to be able to hide my condition much longer. Most of my clothes don’t fit.”
“I know.” Maria’s voice rose as though she’d just discovered the answer to all Noemi’s problems.
“What?” She was desperate for some good advice.
“You need some retail therapy.”
Noemi’s shoulders drooped. That was the very last thing she wanted to do. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I’m very serious. What are you doing right now?”
“Maria...”
“Tell me what you’re doing?”
“Pacing in my room.”
“And that is helping you how?”
“I’m thinking.”
“And so far it hasn’t gotten you any answers. You need to get out of that chalet. The fresh air will do you good. Shopping is just what you need.”
“Is that what you did when you and Sebastian separated?” And then realizing that she was touching on a very painful subject, she said, “Forget I said that. I’m just not myself today.”
“Actually, it is what I did.”
“Did it help?”
“Temporarily.” Her voice filled with emotion. “Enough about me. I hope you know that if I could manage it, I’d be there with you, but trust me, after you buy some Christmas presents and new clothes for yourself that are comfortable, you’ll feel much better. There’s nothing worse than squeezing into clothes that don’t fit.”
Maria had given birth to Noemi’s nephew, Frankie, nearly two years ago. She knew a lot more about pregnancy than Noemi. Maybe she was right. She glanced over at her discarded jeans on the bed. She’d barely gotten them buttoned, but she hadn’t been able to pull up the zipper. And no matter how much she enjoyed her leggings, she couldn’t stay in them forever.
“You’ll do it, won’t you?” Maria prompted.
“Yes, I’ll go.”
“Good. Call me later and let me know how it goes.”
After the conversation ended, Noemi still wasn’t certain that shopping was the right thing to do, but what else did she have to do considering she was at the chalet alone? Her gaze moved to the discarded jeans on her king-size bed. No way was she going to put those on again. Her black leggings would have to do.
She moved to the walk-in closet, hoping she could find something to wear besides her T-shirt. She sifted through the hangers until she strayed across a white long-sleeve V-neck knit tunic. It was loose but not too baggy and it’d go great with her leggings as well as her knee-high black boots.
With her wardrobe sorted, she was ready to head into the village. She would search for some roomier clothes and see what she could find for Christmas, which was only a few weeks away.
He didn’t want to be here.
Not really.
Crown Prince Maximilian Steiner-Wolf, known to his friends as Max, sat in the back seat of his sports utility vehicle as one of his three bodyguards maneuvered it along the windy road in the Swiss Alps. His bodyguard and friend, Roc, sat in the passenger seat while Shaun, a bodyguard of similar stature and looks, sat next to him. He couldn’t go anywhere without at least a small security detail.
Being the crown prince came with certain nonnegotiable restrictions. One of them was his safety. He may insist on traveling but the king demanded that his safety always be taken into consideration. It was a hassle but the guards were very good at becoming invisible unless their presence was required.
Max turned his head to the window and stared out at the snowy landscape of the mountainous region with some of the best slopes in all Europe. He was planning to spend a week or two skiing at Mont Coeur before returning to the palace in the European principality of Ostania.
He hadn’t been home in months, but the approaching holidays were a big thing, not only at the palace but also throughout Ostania. And his mother had called, insisting he spend Christmas with them. After all, he was still the crown prince, even though he would never be king. However, the royal family was still keeping up appearances with the public.
Though Max was the firstborn and had been groomed from birth to take the throne of the small European country, no one had foreseen that he would be diagnosed with cancer in his teens. Although his treatment had been successful, doctors informed him that the cure had very likely rendered him sterile. Royal decree stated that the ruler of Ostania must produce an heir verified by a paternity test. From then on, Max knew it was impossible for him to take the throne.
So as not to cause the nation to panic over the future of Ostania, the palace had kept Max’s infertility quiet while attentions turned to preparing his younger brother, Tobias, to become the future ruler of Ostania. No one outside of the court circle knew, and meanwhile, to the world, Max was still the crown prince.
While all of his parents’ attention was showered on his little brother, Max roamed the world. He wasn’t as much of a party animal as the press claimed him to be, but he did know how to have a good time. However, that was all about to change.
The truth was he was tiring of his partying ways. Moving from city to city, beach to beach and resort to resort was growing old or maybe he was getting old. In the beginning, it had been fun. The freedom had been intoxicating, but now he was starting to get a hangover from too much partying. He needed to do more with his life and to do that he had to go home—he had to officially step down from his position as crown prince in order to find his future.
That acknowledgment stabbed deep into his heart. He’d always been competitive. His parents had raised him that way. And stepping aside to let his younger brother take his place didn’t come naturally to him. But it was more than that—it was knowing he was letting down his family—his country.
His stopover in Mont Coeur was to be his last. After he hit the slopes and cleared his head, he planned to return to Ostania to have a difficult talk with the king and queen. It had been put off long enough. Then he would lead a quieter, more productive life.
The SUV slowed as they entered the heart of the resort. Max instructed the driver to pull to a stop outside a ski supply shop. He’d lost his sunglases at the end of last season and he needed a new pair of shades before hitting the slopes.
Not waiting for his security to get the door for him, he let himself out. He’d just stepped into the narrow road when someone with a camera pointed at him. Max inwardly groaned. It was going to be one of those trips where he was besieged for photos and autographs. Normally it didn’t bother him, but right now he had a lot on his mind.
“It’s the Prince of Ostania!” someone shouted.
Everyone on the sidewalk turned in his direction.
Quickly his security guards flanked him. None spoke. They didn’t have to. The serious look on their faces said they meant business. Being recognized didn’t happen all the time. However, it happened more than Max would like.
Security escorted him around the vehicle. He forced a smile as he passed the tourists and then dashed into the shop. He hoped the people wouldn’t follow him.
Inside the shop, the walls were lined with snowboards and skies. In the background, “Let It Snow” played. Colorful twinkle lights were draped around the checkout where the workers wore red Santa hats with white pom-poms on the tips.
Figuring it might be easier to search for the sunglasses on his own, he bypassed the people at the checkout who were openly staring. He turned into the first aisle and nearly collided with a pretty young woman. She flashed him a big toothy smile. He intentionally didn’t smile, not wanting to encourage her attention. He gave a brief nod and excused himself as he made his way around her.
Ever since he’d met Noemi, no other women had turned his head—not the way she had. And yet, he’d let her get away without even getting her number. He’d thought at the time that he would get over her quickly. That’s the way it’d been with the other women who’d passed through his life. But there was something different about Noemi.
She acted tough, but inside where she didn’t want anyone to see, there was a vulnerability to her. She’d let him get close enough to gain a glimpse of her tender side. Much too soon, she’d hidden behind a big smile and a teasing comment.
He could clearly recall her beautiful face. Her brown eyes had gold specks like jewels. And when he closed his eyes, he could feel the gentle touch of her lips pressed to his. With a mental shake, he chased those thoughts to the back of his mind.
It didn’t take him long to find what he wanted and then he strode to the checkout where the pretty woman was standing, pretending to check out a display of lip balm while she stared at him.
He pretended not to notice as he paid the clerk. All he wanted now was to get to his private chalet and unwind. However, when he pushed open the front door and stepped onto the sidewalk, the crowd had multiplied. Flash after flash went off in his face.
CHAPTER TWO
MAYBE SHOPPING HADN’T been such a bad idea.
Noemi clutched the colorful shopping bags stuffed full of goodies and headed for the door. She’d purchased some jeans in a bigger size that had spandex in them, making them so much comfier. They fit her a lot like her leggings. She’d pulled on the waistband and was surprised by how roomy they were without being baggy.
She’d also found some loose blouses and sweaters that hung down to her hips. For a while, they would hide her growing baby bump. It wasn’t the figure-flattering clothes she normally wore, but it was so much better than what she had before. And she just wasn’t ready for maternity—not yet.
As Maria had suggested, Noemi had taken time to do some Christmas shopping, including purchasing two designer sweaters. One for her newfound brother, Leo, and one for Sebastian. She and Sebastian might disagree—heatedly at times—but she still loved him.
With big black sunglasses and a gray knit beanie pulled low, she stepped outside the store and started up the sidewalk toward her car. The snow clouds had passed and the sun shone once more. Up ahead a crowd of people swarmed the sidewalk and spilled out into the roadway. She glanced around, wondering what was going on.
She would love to turn and avoid the crowd, but they were standing between her and her vehicle. And her numerous bags weren’t light. She kept moving toward them. Surely the crowd would part and let her through.
She was on the edge of the group when an excited buzz rushed through the crowd. Noemi paused and turned to a young woman who was holding up her cell phone as though to snap a picture.
“Do you know what all the fuss is about?” Noemi asked.
The young woman with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail smiled brightly. “It’s the best thing. Crown Prince Maximilian Steiner-Wolf has just arrived.”
Noemi had heard the name before, but she knew nothing of the man. It seemed as though she was in the minority as the crowd continued to grow.
Noemi glanced around, curious to see the prince.
The young woman pointed to the shop in front of them. “He’s in that store. Right there. Can you believe it? But his bodyguards aren’t letting people in.”
Noemi felt sorry for the guy. As the face of Cattaneo Jewels, she’d had her fair share of exposure to publicity, but the crowd of people forming around the store was extreme even to her. “And everyone is just standing around waiting for him to come out?”
The young woman gave her a look like she’d just grown a second head. “Well, yeah. Of course.”
Noemi nodded in understanding, even though she didn’t. Her arms ached from the weight of the bags. She continued to make her way to her car.
“Excuse me,” Noemi called out, finding it difficult to thread her way through the crowd.
A cheer rose in the crowd. Then the crowd rushed forward. At last, there was room to walk.
Thud!
Someone ploughed right into Noemi. She lurched forward. In an effort to keep herself upright, she lost her grip on the packages. They fell to the ground in a heap. Her arms waved to the side as she tried to steady herself. Suddenly there were strong hands reaching out, gripping her by the waist.
Once she’d regained her balance, she turned and found herself staring into intriguing hazel eyes. It was Max. Her heart lodged in her throat. What was he doing here? Waiting to see the prince?
“Noemi?” His eyes widened with surprise. And then a smile lifted his lips. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
He bent over and started to pick up all her bags. She hadn’t realized until then just how many packages there were, but Christmas was her favorite holiday. She had to make sure she bought something for everyone. Maybe more than one thing for everyone—especially her young nephew. It was going to be a difficult Christmas without her parents. And she felt driven to do everything possible to make the holiday bearable.
But right now, her thoughts centered around the father of her baby. And here she’d been thinking she would never see him again. She averted her gaze from him as she knelt down next to him. She scrambled to gather her packages.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He scooped up most of the packages and straightened. “I was planning to go skiing.”
When she straightened, she had to lift her chin in order to look him in the eyes. And that was a dangerous thing to do because every time she gazed into his eyes, she forgot what she was about to say.
Just then a flash went off. And then another. And another.
“What’s going on?” She glanced around as everyone was looking at them. And then the lightbulb went on in her mind. “You.” Her gaze met his again. “You are the prince?”
His jaw flexed as his body stiffened. “Yes. I am Prince Maximilian Steiner-Wolf.”
Her mouth gaped. Realizing that everyone was watching them, she forced her mouth closed. How was this possible? Was she really that out of touch with reality that she’d missed the father of her baby was royalty?
She had so many questions for him, but they lodged in her throat. This wasn’t the time or the place to rehash the not-so-distant past.
“Come with me,” he said.
Not waiting for an answer, he took her hand and led her to a waiting black SUV. With the help of two men, they reached the vehicle without people stepping in their way.
She wasn’t sure it was wise being alone with him, not when he still filled her dreams, but it beat being in public where everyone was watching them and eavesdropping. Once inside, she turned to him. She needed answers. She needed to know why he’d kept his title from her. She needed to know so much.
“Not now,” he said as though reading her mind. Turning to the driver, he said, “Go.”
“My vehicle is back there,” Noemi said.
“Don’t worry. We’ll come back for it. Later.”
The driver, as though used to driving through crowds, safely maneuvered the SUV past the sprawling mass of people.
She turned to the window and stared blindly at the passing shops. This had to be some sort of dream. Perhaps she’d fallen back there and hit her head. Yes, she thought, grasping at straws. She’d hit her head and this was all a dream. Because there was no way that she was pregnant with a prince’s baby.
“Noemi?” Max’s voice cut through her thoughts.
She had absolutely no idea what he was asking her. She turned to him. “What?”
“I asked where you are staying.”
“Um...” She thought about returning to her vehicle and decided that Max was right. Later would be better to pick it up. “Take a left at the next intersection.”
His dark brows rose. “Those are private residences.”
She nodded. Her neighbors were some of the most prominent actors and actresses, athletes and notable figures in the world. Since she’d been coming here all her life, she took it all for granted. But now, seeing it from a stranger’s perspective, she realized that it might be impressive. But to a prince? Nah.
He was probably wondering why she lived in such an exclusive neighborhood. Apparently she wasn’t the only one in the dark. He didn’t recognize her even though her face had been plastered on every glamour magazine as well as television promos for a number of years.
She gave the driver directions to her family’s chalet. When they reached the gate to the exclusive community, she put her window down and assured the guard that it was okay to let them through.
“I’ve never been to this part of Mont Coeur,” Max said. “I’ve always preferred to have my accommodations close to the slopes.”
As they passed the large and impressive chalets, she noticed that most displayed Christmas decorations. Some sported a door wreath while others had a bit more. Normally their chalet was the most festive of them all—but not this year. Her father had always taken care of the outside decorations. However, this year Noemi had done it by herself and the twinkling lights weren’t quite as spectacular as prior years.
Her palms grew damp as her heart raced. She couldn’t relax, not with Max next to her. She didn’t know what made her more nervous—the fact that they’d spent the night together or the fact that the man she’d slept with was royalty. When Maria heard this, she was never going to believe it.
He longed to kiss her berry red lips.
The memory of their sweetness taunted him.
Max gave himself a mental jerk. Now that he’d found Noemi again, the last thing he wanted to do was scare her off. What were the chances of them running into each other again?
Slim.
Had she figured out his true identity and planned this reunion? Not possible. He hadn’t decided on coming to Mont Coeur until last night. Even then, he’d only told his trusted staff.
Max gazed over at Noemi. Her posture was stiff and she kept her face turned away. He wondered if the source of her discomfort was from their collision, the run-in with the fans, learning he was a prince or all of the above.
Normally learning that he was the crown prince had women falling all over him. But Noemi had pulled away. In fact, if she sat any closer to her door, she’d fall out. Most interesting. He’d thought they’d both enjoyed their time together.
But it wasn’t too late. He still had a chance to find out if there was truly a spark between them.
When the SUV pulled to a stop in front of a luxurious chalet, Noemi said a quick thank-you followed by goodbye. It’d be so easy to just let her go. He’d still have his good memories, but he’d never know what had been real and what had been part of his wishful imagination.
As he watched her head for the front steps, he told his security team to wait for him. He hopped out into the snowy driveway and followed her.
“Noemi, wait.”
For a moment, he didn’t think she was going to stop. Her hand reached for the doorknob, but then she hesitated. She turned to him but didn’t say anything. Her gaze didn’t quite meet his. She stood there waiting for him to have his say.
“You didn’t even tell me your last name. I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.” When she sent him a puzzled look, he added, “Letting you get away without knowing your name.”
“Oh. It’s Noemi Cattaneo.”
“Your name. It sounds familiar.”
“You’ve probably heard of our family business. Cattaneo Jewels.”
Of course, he’d heard of them. Who hadn’t?
“Your family’s business has the distinction of handling some of the world’s finest and rarest jewels.”
“Have you done business with us?”
“Not me personally, but my family has.” He was getting off point. “Anyway, I wanted to say...” his Adam’s apple bobbed “...I’m sorry. I’ve handled this all wrong.”
“It’s not your fault that people recognized you.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Not that. I’m sorry for before, when I insisted that we keep things casual and not exchange phone numbers.” He stepped closer to her. “I’ve been thinking of you—”
“Don’t.” She shook her head. “I don’t need your pity.”
“It’s not pity. I—I just handled things poorly before. And I want to apologize.”
Her gaze momentarily widened but then she glanced away. “We did the right thing. Our lives are too diverse. I mean you...you have a country to run. And I am... I mean, I have things to do.”
He’d never witnessed Noemi nervous before, not that they’d spent a lot of time together. But in the time he’d known her, she’d come across as confident and fun. The Noemi standing before him was different and he wanted to know what had changed her. Why did she avoid looking at him directly?
He is a prince?
How is that possible?