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“He’s not my Prince Christian,” Noelle muttered, letting her irritation show.
“And now he knows he has a son.”
“An illegitimate son.” Noelle wanted to take back the reminder as soon as her mother’s eyes lit with malicious delight.
“And here you are single and Sherdanian. Not to mention still harboring unrequited feelings for him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to marry Christian so that he can claim Marc as his heir.”
Her mother didn’t look convinced. “Wouldn’t it be your dream come true?”
“You were living in Italy when I met Christian, so you don’t know what it was like between us. He’s not husband material, and I’m not going to marry him because he needs an heir.” Noelle heard heartbreak beneath the fervor in her voice. Five years had passed, but she hadn’t fully recovered from the hurt dealt to her when Christian pushed her out of his life.
It wasn’t something she intended to forgive or forget.
* * *
The café table on his cramped, third-floor balcony was big enough for a cup of coffee and a small pot of hot pink petunias. Christian sat on one of the two chairs, ignoring the laptop balanced on his knee while he stared down the narrow street whose details were lost to shadow at this early hour. Thoughts on the encounter with Noelle the night before, he watched the light seep into this old section of Sherdana’s capital city of Carone.
Although Christian had rooms in the palace for his use, he rarely stayed there, preferring the privacy of his own space. He’d lost track of how many homes he owned. He did business all over Europe and had apartments in the major cities where he spent the most time. He owned two homes in Sherdana: this cozy two-bedroom apartment in the center of the capital where he could walk to bakeries, cafés and restaurants, and a castle on a premier vineyard two hours north of Carone.
After discovering he was a father, Christian had lain in bed, staring at the ceiling while his thoughts churned. Eventually he’d decided to give up on sleep and catch up on his emails. Nic and Brooke had gotten married on a Wednesday, which meant Christian had lost an entire day of work. He usually worked from home until late morning. His active social life kept him out late most evenings, and if he saw the sun come up, it was more likely that he was coming home after a long night rather than getting an early start on the day.
Despite his good intentions, he couldn’t concentrate on the reports that had been compiled by his CFO regarding his purchase of a small Italian company that was developing intelligent robot technology. The columns of numbers blurred and ran together as his mind refused to focus.
Noelle had borne him a son and hidden the truth for five years, a pretty amazing feat in this age of social media. Last night, as he’d driven back to the apartment, he’d been furious with her. It shouldn’t have mattered that he’d let her believe he wanted their relationship to end. She’d been pregnant with his child. She should have told him. And then what? He’d thought letting her go to pursue her dream of being a designer in Paris had been the best thing for her. What would he have done if he’d known she was pregnant? Marry her?
Christian shook his head.
It wouldn’t have crossed his mind. She’d known him well. Better than he’d known himself. As the third son, he’d had little responsibility to the monarchy and could do what he wanted. So he’d partied to excess, made a name for himself as a playboy, indulged his every desire and thought no further than the moment.
The accident had changed all that. Changed him. He’d risked his life to save someone and had been permanently scarred in the process. But the fire that had ravaged his right side had wrought other changes. His selfless actions had impaired his hedonistic proclivities. Made him aware of others’ needs. Before the accident he’d enjoyed being selfish and irresponsible. Losing the ability to act without recognizing the consequences to others had been almost as painful as the slow mending of his burns.
Thus, when he arranged for Noelle to train in Paris, he’d known that letting her think he no longer wanted her in his life would break her heart. Hurting her had pained him more than sending her away, but he’d known that if she stayed with him, he risked doing her far greater harm.
And now, thanks to his discovery of their son, she was back in his life. He ached with joy and dread.
Showing up on her doorstep last night had been a return to old patterns. When they’d been together before, he’d often popped by unannounced late at night after the clubs closed.
He’d met her at the café near his apartment where she waitressed. Unlike most of the women he flirted with, she hadn’t been intrigued by his title or swayed by his charm. She’d treated him with such determined professionalism that he’d been compelled to pursue her relentlessly until she agreed to see him outside of work.
They didn’t date. Not in a traditional sense. She was too serious to enjoy his frivolous lifestyle and too sensible to fit in with his superficial friends. But she was exactly what he needed. Her apartment became his refuge. When they finally became lovers, after being friends for six months, she was more familiar to him than any woman he’d ever known.
Not that this had stopped him from taking her for granted, first as a friend and confidante, and then as the woman who came alive in his arms.
Christian closed his eyes and settled his head back against the brick facade of his apartment. The breath he blew out didn’t ease the tightness in his chest or relax the clenched muscles of his abdomen.
Last night he’d suggested that they should marry. The ease with which the words had slipped off his tongue betrayed the fact that his subconscious was already plotting. Speaking with her at the party had obviously started something brewing. Why not marry Noelle? The notion made sense even before he’d found out about Marc.
Years before they’d been good together. Or at least she’d been good for him. Sexually they’d been more than compatible. She’d been a drug in his system. One he’d tried numerous times to purge with no luck.
Discovering they’d created a child together, a much-needed potential heir to the throne, pretty much cemented his decision to make her his princess. He didn’t need to scour Europe trying to find his future wife. She was right under his nose.
He should have felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but long ago he’d developed a conscience where Noelle was concerned. After the way he’d broken things off five years ago, she didn’t want him anywhere near her. Persuading her to marry him would take time, and once the media got wind of his interest, they would interfere at every turn.
He’d have to work fast. She’d loved him once. A few intimate dinners to remind her of their crazy-hot chemistry and she’d be putty in his hands. Christian shoved aside a twinge of guilt. Being cavalier about seducing Noelle was not in keeping with the man he’d become these past few years. Scheming was something he reserved for business dealings.
Christian headed inside to shower and get dressed. For his country and his family, he had to convince Noelle to marry him. If it benefited him in the process, so much the better.
Three
An extravagant arrangement of two dozen long-stemmed red roses awaited Noelle in her office at the back of her small dress shop in Sherdana’s historic city center. Coffee in hand, she stopped dead just inside the door and sucked in the rich, sweet scent of the enormous blossoms. She plucked a small white envelope from the bouquet, but didn’t need to read the card to know the sender. The scarlet blooms signaled Christian’s intent to stir up her quiet, perfectly ordered world.
Knowing she would get nothing accomplished with the roses dominating her efficient gold-and-cream space, Noelle called her assistant.
“Please get these out of here.” Noelle waved her hand dismissively. When curiosity lit Jeanne’s eyes, Noelle realized she’d let her irritation show.
Jeanne scooped the vase off the low coffee table. “Should I put them in the reception room?”
Noelle wanted to tell Jeanne to drop them into the trash out back. “Why don’t you put them in the workroom? That way the seamstresses could enjoy the flowers.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to leave them here? They’re so beautiful.”
Noelle’s temper flared, sharp and acidic. Lack of sleep and frayed nerves were to blame for her reaction. She shook her head and strove to keep her voice calm as she tried to put a positive spin on her request. “Everyone has been working so hard. The flowers are for all of us,” she lied, feeling only the mildest twinge of guilt at deceiving her employee.
Once the flowers were gone, Noelle opened her office window to the beautiful morning and let in the fresh air, but after an hour she could swear the scent of the roses remained. Restless and edgy, Noelle slid her sketchbook into her briefcase. She would go to her favorite café and work on the designs for next winter’s collection.
The bell on the front door jangled, announcing a visitor. Because of her location among the quaint shops in the historic district, occasionally someone passing by would pop in, stirred by curiosity. Noelle’s shop carried no ready to wear wedding dresses, but because her wealthy clientele could often be difficult to please, she had several bridal gowns on hand that had been rejected for one reason or another.
Jeanne’s greeting carried down the hall as she approached whoever had entered the shop. Noelle gathered several pencils and froze in the act of dropping them into her briefcase. A deep voice rumbled in response to her assistant’s inquiring tone. The pencils clattered as they fell from Noelle’s nerveless fingers. Strong footsteps rang on the wood floor of the narrow hallway leading to her office. Feeling much like a cornered cat, Noelle glanced up and saw Christian’s imposing shoulders filling the doorway.
Cross that he’d followed up the flower delivery with a personal appearance, she spoke with unusual bluntness. “You were supposed to call me at ten not show up unannounced.”
“I came to see if you liked the roses.” He took in her pristine office and frowned. “Didn’t you receive them?”
“Yes. I put them in the workroom for my employees to enjoy.”
Not one muscle twitched in his face to betray his reaction, but she could tell her answer displeased him. She hated the way guilt rushed through her.
“I sent them to you.”
All the time they’d been together, he’d never once given her flowers. She’d understood her role in his life. First as a sounding board for all his frustrations and woes. Eventually, she’d become his lover, a convenient one that he could drop in on whenever he was feeling lonely or in need of comfort. She’d made no demands, expected nothing, and he’d given her mind-blowing sex in return. To be fair, while they’d been physically intimate she’d also enjoyed a great deal of emotional intimacy, as well. But out of bed, Christian donned the charming persona he maintained to keep people at bay.
The roses had reminded her how susceptible she’d once been to his charm. What if nothing had changed in the past five years? She needed to determine if she could trust her head to guide her. He mustn’t be allowed to think he could sway her with romantic gestures. For gestures were all they were.
“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?” He crossed the threshold, crowding her office with his powerful presence.
“Why should I?” Noelle liked having her elegant desk as a buffer between them, but didn’t want her entire staff hearing this conversation. Stepping out from behind the desk, she gestured Christian away from the door and closed it, trapping them together in the small space. “Five years ago you wanted nothing more to do with me. Now, you’re desperate for an heir and you want my son.”
“You forget that I came to see you last night knowing nothing about Marc,” he grumbled in his deep, beguiling voice. His intent was clear. He intended to throw every trick in his abundant arsenal at her. “I saw you at the wedding and knew I’d made a mistake letting you go all those years ago.”
His claim was so ridiculous she should have laughed in his face. But the words made her chest ache. How many nights had she lain awake, praying for his knock on her apartment door in Paris? Dreaming that he’d burst in, sweep her off her feet and declare he’d been a fool to let her go and that he couldn’t live without her. Too many. In fact, she hadn’t given up all hope until Marc’s first birthday.
“I don’t believe you.”
“If you give me a chance, I’ll prove it to you.” His dark gold eyes glittered with sensual intent.
A hysterical laugh bubbled up in her chest. She clamped her teeth together and fought to appear unflustered. No easy task when the masculine scent of the man awakened buried memories. A tingle began between her thighs as she relived the joy of his hands on her body, his lips on hers.
Last night she’d stood up to him, an alarmed mama bear protecting her cub. Today she was a woman confronting a man who intended to persuade and seduce. Heat bloomed in her cheeks. She scowled, angry with herself and taking it out on him.
“If you want me to take your interest in Marc seriously, you’d be better off demonstrating that you have what it takes to be a father.”
“I agree.” He nodded. “Which is why I sent a gift to Marc, as well.”
Noelle bit back a groan. “What sort of gift?”
“A small thing.”
“How small?”
“A child-sized electric car. My assistant said her son loves to drive his cousin’s. He is about Marc’s age.”
She hissed out a breath. “You can’t just do that.”
“Of course I can.”
Once upon a time she’d have teased him about his arrogance. Once upon a time she’d been madly in love with him.
“An electric car is an expensive toy. I want Marc to value art and stories and music. Not things.”
“He’s a four-year-old boy,” Christian scoffed. “They want to get muddy and have adventures.”
Noelle knew it was ridiculous, but she could feel Marc slipping away from her with each word Christian spoke. Her son would love this thrill-seeking prince and want to go live in a palace, and never once miss his mother. “And you’re an expert on four-year-old boys?”
“I was one once. And he’s a prince. He should always get the best.”
Panic rose. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That’s not how I’m raising him.”
“We need to be together for Marc’s sake.” Christian caught her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “He shouldn’t have to grow up without a father.”
Christian seemed sincere enough, but Noelle couldn’t ignore that he needed an heir and knew just how stubborn Christian could be when he wanted something. She tugged her hand free and squared her shoulders.
“I can’t possibly be with you,” she said. “I’m involved with someone and we’re quite serious.”
* * *
Christian absorbed Noelle’s statement with a slow eye-blink, his thoughts reeling. He’d come in too confident, certain that he could win over Noelle with a few roses and a bit of persuasion. She’d always been there any time he needed her. It had never once occurred to him that she might be in love with someone else. Acid burned in his gut at the thought of her with anyone besides him.
“You didn’t mention anyone last night.”
Her expression, once so transparent and open, betrayed none of her thoughts. “All I thought about was Marc and the effect your sudden appearance in his life would have on him.”
“Who is this man you’re seeing?” The question sounded more like an interrogation than a friendly inquiry.
“Someone I met shortly after I moved to Paris.”
Five years. Had she run into his arms after Christian had sent her away? A knot formed in his chest.
“I’d love to meet him. Does he live in Sherdana?”
“Ah.” Suddenly she looked very uncertain. “No. He splits his time between Paris and London.”
Christian was liking this more and more. “Long distance affairs are so difficult,” he purred. “As I’m sure you’re finding out.”
“Geoff loves Marc.”
Christian saw resolve blazing in the depths of her chestnut-colored eyes.
“And Marc loves Geoff. They have a great time together. We are good together.”
He wondered at her vehemence. Was she trying to convince him that this Geoff character was father material or convince herself that he was husband material? Either way, Christian saw a foothold that would allow him to breach her defenses.
“When does he plan to come to Sherdana next?” A long unused oubliette beneath the castle on Christian’s vineyard might be the perfect place to stash Geoff until Noelle came to her senses.
“Why?” Noelle regarded him with narrowed eyes.
“I’d like to meet him. Does he visit regularly?”
“Of course.” But she didn’t sound all that sure of her answer. “That is, when his cases permit. He’s the managing partner of a very successful law firm specializing in human rights law and extradition.” Pride softened her lips into a fond smile. “And of course, Marc and I travel to London and Paris quite often to visit him.”
“How serious are you?” The more Christian heard, the less concerned he became that Geoff was going to prove a hindrance. If something of a permanent nature was going to happen between Noelle and her absent suitor, it should have occurred in the past five years. “Do you plan on marrying?”
She glanced down at her clasped hands. “We’ve discussed the possibility, but haven’t made anything official.”
What sort of man waited five years to claim a woman like Noelle? A very stupid one. And that was just fine with him. Christian had no qualms about stealing Noelle out from beneath the man’s nose.
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
Her eyes widened at his abrupt invitation, but she shook her head. “I can’t. Geoff—”
“Isn’t here and from the sound of things isn’t likely to visit any time soon.” A half step brought him close enough to hear her sharp intake of breath and feel the way her muscles tensed as he traced his knuckles along her jawline. The old, familiar chemistry sparked between them. “You deserve a man who will appreciate you every minute of every day, not whenever his business dealings permit.”
Noelle batted his hand away. “What would you know about how I deserve to be appreciated? When we were together, the only time you concerned yourself about my needs was when we were in bed.”
“You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.” He spoke lightly, hiding his regret that he’d hurt her. He’d been a selfish bastard when they were together and hadn’t grasped her worth. How ironic that finally understanding her value had compelled him to send her away.
Yet was he behaving any less selfishly now? After ignoring her for five years, he’d suddenly decided to drag her back into his life because he needed her once again. Was it fair to disrupt the tranquil, comfortable world she’d made for herself? Probably not, but now that he’d begun, Christian couldn’t bring himself to stop. They’d made a child together. He had a son. That wasn’t something he intended to walk away from.
“Christian, you weren’t good for me five years ago, and you’re not going to be good for me now. I was so madly in love with you I was happy with whatever scraps of your life you were willing to share with me. That’s not enough for me anymore. I have a son who deserves to be loved and nurtured. He is my primary focus. Every decision I make is with his best interests foremost in my mind.”
Christian’s temper flared. “And you don’t think his mother being married to his father is the best thing for him?”
“Not if the only reason his parents marry is so the Alessandro line continues to rule Sherdana.”
Christian wasn’t accustomed to cynicism coming from Noelle. She’d been sweet, innocent and as trusting as a kitten. His opposite in every way. It was why he hadn’t been able to give her up even when he started to see shadows darken her eyes and her smiles become forced.
“Making Marc my heir is not the only reason I want to marry you.” Although it was an important one to be sure. “I can’t forget how good we were together.”
Noelle shook her head. “I’m not sure you were good for me.”
“I’m no longer the man I was.” In so many ways that was true. He’d lost the ability to be frivolous and irresponsible. “The accident saw to that.”
She flinched. “And I’m not the woman you once knew. Who’s to say it would even work between us anymore?”
“Who’s to say it wouldn’t be better?”
As if to demonstrate his point, Christian slid his fingers around the back of her neck and drew her toward him. Without giving her a second to process his action, he lowered his lips to her and drank in her sweetness. A groan gathered in his chest at the way her mouth yielded to him. She gasped softly as her lips parted. He remembered all the times he’d held her in his arms and indulged his need for her with long, drugging kisses.
With other women he’d been quick to get to his pleasure. He liked his lovemaking hot and frenzied. Being with Noelle had brought out a different side of his personality. He’d never been in a rush with her. Her warm, silken skin and the gentle rise and fall of her slender curves had been worth appreciating in great detail. He’d adored her every gasp and shiver as he learned what pleased her. After a month he knew her body better than any woman he’d ever been with and yet she continued to surprise him.
Desire buzzed in his veins, the intensity rising as Noelle leaned into him. He freed her lips before longing made the kiss spiral out of control. Heart thumping madly, he inhaled her light floral perfume. The fragrance was more sophisticated than what she used to wear, reminding him that time and distance had made them strangers. His lids felt heavy as he lifted his lashes and regarded her flushed cheeks.
“You didn’t stop me from kissing you,” he murmured in satisfaction, wondering if it could really be this easy.
“I was curious how it would feel after five long years.” Her neutral tone dampened his optimism.
“And?”
“Your technique hasn’t diminished.”
Christian stepped back and gave her a lopsided smile. “Nor has my desire for you.”
“Yes...well.” She didn’t sound as if she believed him. “I’m sure you can find any number of women eager to distract you.”
“It’s not like that anymore.”
“The tabloids say otherwise.”
“The tabloids exaggerate. Any drama attributed to my love life is concocted to sell newspapers.”
“So how do you explain the twin models from Milan photographed topless on your hotel balcony in Cannes?”
“They needed a place to crash and I spent the night on the phone to Hong Kong.”
Noelle’s lips thinned as she nodded. “And the Spanish heiress who ran away from her wedding with you?”
“It was an arranged marriage and she was in love with an architect from Brussels who happened to be doing some work on my apartment in London.”
“You’re asking me to believe you’re in the habit of rescuing women these days?”
He understood her skepticism. Five years earlier his playboy reputation had been well earned. But the day he’d arranged for Noelle to study in Paris was the day he’d begun to change. She’d been the first woman he’d saved. And the only one who’d needed to be rescued from him.
“There’s a long list of women I’ve helped. I could put you in touch with some of them if it would help improve your perception of me.” She wasn’t going to take his pursuit seriously if she thought he hadn’t changed.
“I’m sure there are scads of women who would line up to sing your praises.”
“Have dinner with me.” He repeated his earlier invitation, determined to convince her this wasn’t a ploy or a scam. “We have a great deal to talk about.”
She shook her head. “The only thing that concerns me is your intentions for my son. We can talk about ground rules here or at your office. There’s no reason for us to become more than civil acquaintances.”