GIGI SMOOTHED DOWN her dress as they stepped out of the cab in front of Seattle’s famous Polar Club Hotel—the venue for the charity ball—and asked, ‘How do I look?’
Breathtaking. Lucas held his hand out to steady her in her silver heels. ‘You look radiant and beautiful. And if we weren’t in the middle of Seattle I’d peel your clothes off and make love to you right here.’
‘Tempting, although I’d freeze to death.’ She laughed. ‘Seriously, does this dress make me look pregnant?’
She was wearing an exquisite floor-length gown in the Isola Verdian regal colours of purple and silver, with a shimmering bodice, one shoulder bare, a nipped-in waist and a full skirt. Her hair was pulled up as it was in her portrait and there were diamonds worth hundreds of thousands of dollars dangling from her ears.
His chest hurt every time he looked at her...a good hurt, an ache he wanted to never wane, whether she was wearing jewels and finery, jeans and his old T-shirt, or absolutely nothing.
He inhaled the icy night air that was a far cry from the temperate climate where he’d spent the last couple of weeks. But he didn’t give a damn about the weather; his sole focus on getting through this evening when he couldn’t touch her, and without betraying himself to his best friend, because... Secrets.
They started to climb the white stone steps.
‘No way am I commenting because, whatever I say it will be the wrong thing.’ He leaned closer to her. ‘And, for the record, I prefer you wearing nothing apart from me.’
‘Lucas!’ she whispered, her cheeks burning. She let go of his hand. ‘We have to behave.’
‘What can I say? You’ve unleashed a beast.’ He’d grown too used to having her to himself, of stripping her naked whenever they were able to slip through the secret corridor... Decorum had slipped from his vocabulary.
But underneath the joky facade his gut was a tight ball of stress. There were so many people buzzing around—people he worked with, people he worked for; there were bound to be questions about what his family crisis had been about and where he’d spent the last two weeks. And he wasn’t sure how he was going to answer any of them.
Tonight was the end of the bubble they’d been living in for the last few days. Days that had been shaped by work and fun and sharing more than he’d ever shared with anyone else. Weird, really, because he’d never imagined enjoying the intimate life that smacked of family and belonging, but he had. And now reality was crashing down.
As if she could read his mind, Gigi gave his arm a squeeze. ‘Relax, Lucas, you’re all coiled up. It’ll be fine. Dom won’t suspect a thing. Plus, you’re back in Seattle now. Work tomorrow.’ He wondered if he imagined the flicker of sadness in her eyes, but then she smiled, putting her palm to her chest as they entered the Aurora Dome room amid the loud chatter. ‘Oh, this is lovely.’
He looked upwards. ‘Almost as impressive as your palace.’
She followed his gaze to the huge stained-glass domed ceiling that had been lit up in festive colours, her eyes sparkling almost as much as the chandeliers and the crystal glassware on white–linen-covered tables. ‘You haven’t seen us do Royal properly, Lucas. Trust me, that is something to behold. But this is simply stunning. Oh, there’s Max Granger. At least, I think it’s him. He looks very like the man I spoke to on video calls. I need to speak to him about Papa.’
Wishing they were still back in his house, naked, exploring each other again and again, Lucas followed her through the throng of partygoers towards the tall man loitering by the bar, and shook hands with him as Gigi introduced them.
Max smiled at Giada. ‘I heard you visited your father today.’
‘I went straight to the hospital from the airport. He looks so...vulnerable.’ She nodded, her eyes darkening but her back straight and smile in place. To anyone else she would appear perfectly composed, but Lucas could see she was hiding her pain. ‘I’ve been talking to him, but it’s hard to know if he hears me.’
‘All the research says patients respond more positively to treatment if they hear a loved one’s voice,’ the neurosurgeon said. ‘He’s doing well. We have a scan booked first thing tomorrow morning and if all is as good as we hope it is, we can proceed with the tumour surgery as planned on the fifteenth.’
‘That is great news. Thank you.’ Her hand fluttered at her throat and he wondered if her veneer of calm was starting to shatter. But she held it together. ‘I’m so sorry to have interrupted your evening with work business, Mr Granger.’
‘Not a problem.’ Max smiled reassuringly, then his eye settled on a dark-haired woman in a long green dress walking towards them, and his attention to their conversation seemed to wane. He took a step away. ‘Enjoy the ball, Your Highness,’ he said, his voice low so no one around them could hear. ‘Make sure to save room for the dessert. London Fog cake. You’ll be blown away.’
‘How would he know about dessert? We haven’t even had the starters yet.’ Gigi asked once Max had walked away.
Lucas shrugged. ‘Must have insider info.’
‘Who cares? It sounds amazing.’ Gigi rubbed her stomach. ‘I’m definitely having some.’
Lucas watched her and smiled, straddling the eternally difficult question of whether he should point out to her that when she flattened the fabric of her dress over her abdomen she did indeed look a little...rounder? But a female voice came from behind, sotto voce, saving him from that particular minefield. ‘Excuse me, Princess Giada?’
Gigi turned, frowning. ‘Yes?’
The hospital’s new Head of PR—the dark-haired woman who Lucas thought may have distracted Max—stepped forward. ‘I’m Ayanna Franklin. I’ve been dealing with your office regarding your father’s accident.’
‘You’re Ayanna! Good to meet you.’ Gigi shook Ayanna’s hand. ‘Thank you for working so hard to keep this all under wraps. I know you’ve been busy.’
‘Learning the ropes, to be honest. I’m new in the role but what with having VIP guests at the hospital and organising this ball I’ve hit the ground running. You have no idea how difficult it is sourcing London Fog cake for this many guests.’ Ayanna grinned. ‘I really hope you love it.’
‘I’m sure we will.’ Lucas nodded. ‘Sounds delicious.’
‘It certainly does,’ Gigi joined in. ‘Max was just talking about it.’
‘Max was?’ Ayanna’s eyes widened in what looked like panic.
Lucas clarified, ‘Max Granger. Yes. Do you know him?’
‘Er...we’ve met. Yes.’ Ayanna’s cheeks flamed and he was left contemplating what was going on between the neurosurgeon and the PR director. Given his own secrets, he pushed it to the back of his mind. None of his business.
Gigi replied, snapping him out of his thoughts. ‘Well, Ayanna, I can’t thank you enough for helping us at such a difficult time.’
It astounded him that she was able to be so animated and gracious after a twelve-hour flight followed by two hours at her father’s bedside. She astounded him, full stop.
Having finished her conversation, Gigi turned to him but something, or rather someone, caught her eye. She raised her hand in a small wave and muttered out the side of her mouth, ‘There’s Logan, our old bodyguard. AKA your new trauma surgeon. I can’t remember whether I’m supposed to know him or pretend I’ve never seen him before... I’ve got baby brain. Oh, he hasn’t seen me anyway. Maybe I’ll catch up with him later.’
‘How is it that I work here and yet you know more people than I do?’ Lucas laughed as he scanned the crowd, seeing nothing but a sea of faces, suits and sparkling jewels. The chatter was reaching epic volumes against the backdrop of an orchestra playing classical music. There was an excited buzz and he had no doubt the hospital charity was going to raise a lot of money tonight. ‘Gigi?’
He waited for a response but she’d paled a little and her whole body seemed to freeze. She touched Lucas’s arm. ‘There’s Dom. Should we...?’
No. His gut tightened and his first instinct was to run, but that was certainly not what he was going to do. That would only increase suspicion. ‘Sure. We have to do it sometime.’
‘Okay. Keep your distance, we’re friends, that’s all.’ She gave him a conspiratorial wink. ‘Remember, no one knows I’m Dom’s sister.’
‘Yes, Your Highness,’ he ground out through gritted teeth, not wanting to keep his distance at all. Not wanting to be here at all. ‘This is going to be awkward on so many levels.’
Luckily, Dom was standing with their colleague, orthopaedic surgeon Emilia Featherstone, and the small talk between them all was general, brief and light before they were called to dinner.
Even though they were seated at the same large circular table as Dom and Emilia, they were separated by other guests, far enough away for intimate conversation to be difficult, particularly in front of the other six diners with them. But the sharp ache under Lucas’s ribcage didn’t fade at all. He’d got away without interrogation this time, but it was going to happen. And either he was going to have to lie or front up to his best friend very soon.
He breathed out, grateful for a reprieve, and tucked into a particularly delicious Caprese salad reminiscent of Isola Verdian cuisine.
‘Do you think he suspects anything?’ Lucas asked Gigi, glancing over towards his friend.
‘I think he’s barely registered that we’re here. He’s only got eyes for Emilia.’ Giada watched her brother whisper something to Emilia. ‘How did he put it? Old friends? I bet there’s something more going on there.’
‘Do you think so?’ He had to admit that they did look cosy. Had something been going on that he didn’t know about? Were Emilia and Dom involved? He was starting to think he didn’t know his best friend at all.
Giada swallowed. ‘That dress is something else, she looks amazing. No wonder he’s distracted.’
‘It’s red, yes. Kind of nice. But not a patch on yours.’ He meant it. She was the most beautiful woman in the room.
‘You really don’t have to say that.’
But he could see her heart wasn’t in this conversation as her eyes kept darting to her brother. Lucas realised that, unlike him, she wanted to talk to Dom. ‘I’m sure he’ll make an effort to talk to you properly later.’
‘You think so? When he has a beautiful woman at his side? Domenico is smitten.’ There was no bitterness in her tone, although it was a little wistful and resigned to the fact that Dom had other things on his mind than his sister. Again.
Lucas’s heart stung for her. All her life she’d been wanting someone in her family to notice her. He couldn’t fathom how they hadn’t—she was dazzling in every way. ‘There’s been no evidence of any kind of relationship between them, other than collegial friendship, for as long as I’ve known them. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence they were chatting when we went over. Anyway, it’s none of our business.’
‘It is very much my business if she’s going to become Queen of Isola Verde.’
Okay. He hadn’t thought about that. ‘I’m really not sure that’s on her agenda. She loves being a doctor. I can’t see her giving that up. I doubt Emilia even knows Dom’s real identity.’
‘If she does know, it’s because Dom thinks she’s special. Look at the way he’s gazing at her.’ Gigi drank her sparkling water, her gaze returning to Lucas. ‘You don’t have to see the ramifications but I do.’
‘Oh, I see them all right. We only had a very quick chat with them and even then I stuffed up. Did you see Dom’s eyes narrow when I called you Gigi? And then I said Isola Verde is beautiful and I’m not supposed to have been there.’ He hit his head with the heel of his hand. ‘I am so not good at lying.’
‘Yes, you are. When you’re on duty you mask your emotions and it’s just the same for me. You learn very quickly not to let things affect you, and if they do you simply cover your reactions with a smile.’
He much preferred the animated, emotion-filled Gigi. The one he’d made love to just before she’d put on that sexy dress. The one who’d cried out his name while stealing his heart. Damn, he wished they weren’t here right now, playing grown-ups when they could be at his house, playing an entirely different game.
But all this talk about Domenico and the King reminded him that this affair with her was fast coming to a conclusion. Soon the truth would be out about Roberto’s operation—they certainly couldn’t hide it for ever and, whatever happened to the King, Dom would have to return to Isola Verde and take his rightful place there.
Gigi’s pregnancy would be obvious. There would have to be an announcement and Lucas’s part in this would break up his friendship with Dom.
What then for Gigi?
A flicker of hope lit up inside him. If Dom became King and returned to Isola Verde then Gigi would be off the hook there. She wouldn’t have the burden of shouldering the monarchy’s responsibilities like did now. Would she consider moving here? She’d be free to—
‘Hey, Lucas.’ Arvi, the paediatric endocrinologist on his right, leaned over, swirling his glass of red wine. ‘Are you going to the Seahawks game tomorrow?’
‘Er...no. Who are they playing?’
‘Vikings. Gonna be a tough one. That new quarterback...’
Not wanting to be rude, Lucas applied the mask of interest and immersed himself in football talk while his date chatted to the woman next to her.
Only she wasn’t his date. He couldn’t hold her hand, couldn’t parade her onto the dance floor. He couldn’t kiss her under the mistletoe someone had strung up, he couldn’t cradle her belly and rock in time to the music. He couldn’t announce to everyone that she was carrying his child, because that announcement had to be timed and worded carefully and sent out to the world’s media, and he wasn’t even sure his name would be mentioned.
Being with her these last few weeks had changed him. She’d taught him to look for the positives, to cling to hope. To make the best out of every situation. She’d made him laugh.
Simply, she’d made him happy.
He felt the brush of her leg against his and the rush of desire almost overwhelmed him. He slid his hand under the tablecloth and found hers. She turned her palm upwards and he stroked lazily over her skin, knowing where her sensitive places were and that his touch drove her wild. He heard her breathing quicken and felt her shift closer. As close as public decency would allow. They, like Domenico and Emilia, were old friends after all.
The first chance they had to get out of here he’d take it. If reality was going to be hitting them soon he wanted to live in the bubble for as long as he could, which meant tonight would probably be their last.
The main course was served. Beef. He was now involved in a conversation about new diabetes management technology. And almost dying of pure lust whenever Gigi turned to him and he got a glimpse of her smile, the waft of her perfume, the profile of her gorgeous breasts.
He was going mad. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Somebody gave a speech about something...he wasn’t focusing on anything but her.
Dessert was something fancy—a cake that tasted like Earl Grey tea with smoky grey icing, and indeed, as delicious as both Max and Ayanna had suggested it would be.
‘Good?’ Gigi asked as she swallowed her final piece before making a start on the rest of his.
‘Amazing. More than amazing.’ And he wasn’t just talking about the food.
She’d twisted in her seat and was turned towards him now, her knees between his, her foot stroking his leg...all hidden by the long drape of the white linen tablecloth. Her hand crept over to his thigh.
He blinked. Swallowed. ‘Gigi,’ he warned, wishing he didn’t have to say it. ‘We’re supposed to be behaving.’
‘No one’s here, Lucas. Look around, no one’s interested in us and no one can see.’
He’d been so absorbed in her he hadn’t realised that their table was empty, apart from themselves. Domenico and Emilia were on the dance floor and Gigi was watching them with a curious expression.
Judging by the way they were dancing so closely there was definitely something going on between his friend and the surgeon. And if there wasn’t...there would be soon.
Lucky Domenico. No one knew his real identity here so he could wine and dine and dance and risk being the subject of hospital gossip for a little while...and then his life would change irrevocably when he was crowned King.
Lucky? Dom’s life would never be his own again. Lucas was going to miss his friendship and camaraderie in the ER. Things wouldn’t be the same.
A bit like his own life. Who would have thought he’d be at a charity ball with a princess rubbing his leg very close to his crotch?
God, he wanted her. Wanted more than this. Wanted everything. And the fact she’d opened up to him and started to trust him a little gave him hope that they could work this out somehow. As a family. The three of them.
Whatever that meant. Even the word made him panic, but he calmed himself. Others managed it.
He touched her hand, to stop it ascending to his trouser zip more than anything. Because he wanted to sink into her, hip deep, and he wasn’t sure how tight a grip he had on his self-control. ‘Do you want to dance?’
She shook her head and smiled, her fingers wriggling under his hand and tiptoeing upwards. ‘Not the way I want to dance with you.’
His gut tightened in anticipation. He had the feeling of falling and he didn’t want it to stop. ‘You can show me later.’
‘Oh, Captain Sensible, I will.’ Her eyes danced and she scraped her chair back. ‘Do you think it’d be rude if we left now?’
‘I think it would be the best idea you’ve had in a long time.’
They barely made it from the taxi to his front door without kissing at every step. Which excited and frustrated her. She wanted him inside her, to scratch the itch that had been niggling her since she’d watched him dress in his tux earlier.
Eventually, he thrust his key in the lock and they tumbled through the door. Gigi laughed as he backed her up against the wall, her heart full of only him. ‘Oh, wow, Lucas. Happy to be home?’
‘I’m happy to be wherever I can strip your clothes off...with my teeth.’ He kissed her hard then pecked a trail across her collarbone and snagged her dress...with his teeth. ‘You were driving me wild back there. All I wanted to do was sink into you.’
‘That would give the bigwigs something to talk about.’ She tugged his black bow-tie loose and let it fall to the floor. Shame. The man looked indecently good in formal wear, but he looked even better naked. Her fingertips slid inside his shirt and she tugged the crisp white linen out of his trouser waistband then slid her hand down to stroke his erection, enjoying the way he moaned against her hair. ‘We missed the charity auction. Is that bad?’
His mouth was on her décolletage and tracking lower, his fingers unzipping her dress. ‘I’m sure they’ll make enough money without us.’
‘Once the truth is out about Papa being here, I’ll make a generous donation to Seattle General Hospital by way of a thank-you.’ It was bad. It was selfish to want this and only this. To crave being with him, to have his skin against hers, to wrap herself in a cocoon of us. But it was all she could think of.
Lucas tore his mouth from her breast. ‘We need to talk to Domenico. I need to—’
She silenced his words, her finger against his lips. ‘I do not want to think about my big brother when I’m doing this.’
‘Good point. I want you. Here. Then we work out our plan.’ The plan they’d been avoiding because they both knew it meant the end of this.
Or the start of something. Her face lit up. Maybe...?
He growled her name against her throat and tugged her into the kitchen, lifting her to sit on the counter, her dress forgotten somewhere on the hall floor. He stepped back and looked at her, his eyes sliding over her face then to her shimmery dove-grey strapless bra and matching panties. His gaze burned hot. Then he came closer and pressed first his palm then his lips to her bump. ‘God, Gigi. You are incredible.’
‘Stop looking and start doing,’ she commanded, even though the way he made her feel with just a look was just as much a turn-on as his touch. Well...almost.
She wound her feet around his waist and pulled him to her, her skin, her everything straining for him. Not just for his touch but for him, the essence of him, the imprint of him against her skin, his taste. His heart.
Wordlessly he stroked her face, her throat, her breasts and lower, withholding kisses. Making her want and want and want. He smiled. ‘I could look at you all day.’
‘You’d get very bored very quickly.’ She laughed and shook her head.
All day? All year? A lifetime? The thought stilled her. This. Him. For ever. It scared her. Excited her, too.
When she couldn’t bear it any longer she cupped his face and pulled him to her, snatching wet, hot hungry kisses, tearing at his shirt and his trouser zip until he was stripped bare.
His hand glided from her glittery sandal up her calf, her thigh, and then he ripped her panties and laughed. ‘Another set bites the dust.’
‘Plenty more where they came from.’
‘I prefer you without them anyway.’ He sucked a nipple into his mouth, making her shudder with pleasure. ‘I prefer you exactly like this.’
‘What is it about you and counter tops?’ She laughed as he pulled her to the edge of the granite, remembering their first time in his bathroom at home.
Her home, not his. The thought struck a chord of pain inside her. She was getting carried away on what-ifs when they still had so much to work out.
‘Now who’s talking too much?’ His hand was on her cheek. ‘I like to have you right here, because I love to see your face, Gigi. When...’
‘When...?’
‘Now...’ he groaned as he slid inside her, eyes locked on hers. ‘Right there. That look. The mist. The joy. Dio, you are beautiful.’
‘You spoke Isola Verdian,’ she gasped, breath catching as sensation after sensation rippled through her. Hot. Dazzling. The light in her heart was swelling and growing. She clasped his shoulders. ‘Lucas...’
He pulled her closer until there was nothing but skin and kisses and heat. And he moved and he moved and he moved. Long slow strokes that whipped her breath away and made her want more. Then she felt his pace change, angling differently, catching her...there.
And yes, yes. His grip tightened. She shuddered against him and he called her name into the darkness.
Dio. It was everything. He was everything. Her Lucas.