February 14, Valentine’s Day
IF YOU ASKED LOUISA, the palazzo had never looked lovelier, not even when the place had hosted the royal wedding party. Standing in the ballroom doorway, she couldn’t stop smiling at the crowd of people who were there to celebrate the opening of her hotel.
This weekend, the palazzo would only host a handful of overnight guests, mostly friends who had agreed to be guinea pigs and test the service. They would open to the general public on a limited basis next weekend, and she hoped to be fully operational by summer.
The crowd was here for the first annual St. Valentine’s Ball. Billed as an opportunity to experience medieval romance and pageantry, the idea was the tourist development committee’s first official success.
A flash of red sequins caught her eye. “Lindsay’s outdone herself this time, hasn’t she?” Marianna said, appearing by her side. “No wonder she does so many A-list weddings.”
“No kidding.” The room was a gorgeous display of roses and red tapestry. “We were lucky she offered to help, what with her schedule.” But then, the woman had a soft spot for the village since it was where she’d met her husband. He was here with her tonight. A quick look across the dance floor found the two of them stealing a kiss in the corner. They were caught by Connor and Isabella, who’d apparently had a similar idea. Yet another couple who had found love here.
Monte Calanetti seemed to have a romantic effect on people.
“I overheard a couple talking in the lobby about booking a room for next year’s ball,” Marianna was saying. “I hope you’re planning to take advanced reservations.”
“Of course,” Louisa replied. Talk about a foolish question. “My business partner would kill me if I didn’t,” Louisa replied. “Speaking of, where is your husband anyway?”
“He went upstairs to check on the baby and her nanny.”
“Didn’t you just check on them five minutes ago?”
“I did, but Ryan has to see for himself. Daddy’s little girl, you know.”
Louisa laughed. Sometimes she thought her two friends were competing to see who could dote on their daughter the most.
The idea of asking Marianna’s husband, Ryan, to invest in her project had happened completely by accident. Literally. Louisa had almost knocked him over the day she had taken the palazzo off the market. As luck would have it, he’d been looking for a new start-up project. Neither Nico nor Marianna had any idea until the partnership was official.
Naturally, when he found out, Nico had teased her about going behind his back. In reality, he was excited for her. It was a sign of how good things were going between them that they could joke about that terrible night last fall.
A tap on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts. “Nico told me to have you join him in the other room,” Marianna said.
It never failed. As soon as she heard Nico’s name, a shiver ran down Louisa’s spine. The man would forever have that effect on her. “Did he say what he wanted?”
The brunette waved her hand. “You know my brother tells me nothing. I think he and Angelo are up to something. I saw them and Rafe with their heads together. Their poor, poor wives.”
“You might want to include yourself in that category,” Louisa reminded her. “Whatever they’re up to, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before Ryan’s involved, too.”
“He’d better not be.”
The two of them walked toward what was now the hotel lobby. Of all the changes that the palazzo was undergoing, this was the most drastic. What had been the plain entranceway was now a richly appointed lobby. Louisa had done her best to keep the structural changes to a minimum, although she did concede to installing a small built-in counter that served as both the front desk and concierge location.
The staircase remained the same, however. Richly polished, the stairs made a welcoming statement to everyone who walked in. It was in a group gathered around the bottom banister post that Louisa found her man. He was talking with his brother, Angelo, and Angelo’s wife, Kayla, who had flown in from New York City. Rafe and Dani were also chatting.
Nico stepped to the side slightly, drawing her attention, and her heart stuttered. He sure could wear a tuxedo. Wasn’t fair. Tomorrow he would be back in his T-shirt and jeans and would look just as sexy. Worse, she’d bet he would look just as good fifty years from now, while she’d probably end up with gray hair and a thickening waist.
So you think the two of you will be together in fifty years, do you? Nico caught her eye and winked.
Yeah, she decided. She did.
At her arrival, Nico leaned in and whispered something in Angelo’s ear. His brother nodded. “There you are, bella mia!” he greeted. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her into a lingering kiss. Same as she did whenever Nico touched her, Louisa melted into his embrace. Such an overt public display of affection surprised her. She chalked it up to the champagne and the atmosphere.
“I missed you,” Nico whispered before releasing her.
“Down, boy. This dress isn’t made for manhandling.” She smoothed the wrinkles from the pink chiffon skirt before whispering in return, “I missed you, too.
“Is that why you wanted to see me?” she asked. Not that she would ever turn down a kiss, but again, even for Nico, the behavior seemed extreme.
“The kiss was merely a bonus. I was looking for you because I have a surprise.”
“For me?”
“No, for my brother, Angelo. Cover your eyes.”
Louisa did what she was told and seconds later, she felt Nico’s breath tickling her ear. “I wanted to do something to congratulate you for everything you’ve done with the palazzo. Carlos, he would be proud. I know I am.”
Warmth filled her from head to toe. She didn’t need a surprise. Nico’s respect meant everything. “Okay,” he whispered. “Open them.”
“Nico, I don’t need—Mom?”
The silver-haired woman standing at the foot of the stairs offered her a watery smile. “Hello, Louisa.”
“I—” She couldn’t believe her mother was standing the lobby. “How—”
“Signor Amatucci flew me here. He wanted me to see what you’ve done. It’s wonderful, sweetheart.”
“Mom...” She couldn’t finish the sentence. Instead, she ran and threw her arms around the woman, holding on to her as tightly as she could. “I missed you so much,” she managed to choke out. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized just how much. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, sweetheart, I am. I let us grow apart, but I promise I won’t let that happen again.” Pulling away, her mother cupped her face like she used to do when Louisa was a little girl and had a bad dream. “Okay?”
Louisa nodded. This was the best surprise she could imagine. “Thank you,” she said when Nico joined them.
“My pleasure,” he replied before looking serious “You’re not angry I went behind your back?”
“Are you kidding? No way.” If anything, his kindness only made her love him more. A pretty amazing feat, since she already loved him more than seemed possible.
She saw the same love in Nico’s eyes. “Good. Because a woman should always be able to share her engagement with her mother.”
Her engagement? A warm frisson passed through her at the words. She’d be lying if the idea of spending the rest of her life with Nico hadn’t crossed her mind during these past few months. Trying to imagine life without him was... Well, it was like staring at a blank wall.
Still, she wasn’t about to let him know that. The man needed to be kept on his toes, after all. Arms folded, she lifted her chin and said in her most haughty voice, “There you go, taking charge again. What makes you think we’re getting married?”
“A man can hope, can’t he?” Nico said, reaching into his pocket. Louisa gasped when she saw the small velvet box.
Bending on one knee, he held it out to her with a shaking hand. “Louisa Harrison, my beautiful, haughty American princess, you are the only woman I will ever love. Will you marry me?”
There was only one answer she could give. Same as there could only be one man she would ever want to be with forever. “Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I will marry you, Nico Amatucci.”
He pulled her into another kiss, and this time Louisa didn’t care how wrinkled her dress got. As his lips slanted over hers and the crowd burst into applause, she felt the last ghosts of her life with Steven disappear forever. She’d found a new life, a new home, a new love, here, in the vineyards of Monte Calanetti.
And they were better than she’d ever dreamed possible.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from PREGNANT WITH A ROYAL BABY! by Susan Meier.