I Want You for Christmas: The Prince's Lost Princess - a Heartwarming Snow-Capped Holiday Romance (7 page)

Luca was still practically a stranger. While she might think she was getting to know him, she hadn’t even known him a full day. It would be impossible to fall for someone in so short a time, wouldn’t it? And besides, she was lonely too. Two lonely people in a beautiful villa in Italy made for a dangerous combination, and she would be glad to head home, where she could keep her heart safe.

Gaby brushed her teeth one more time before heading to bed. Unable to resist, she pulled out her phone and dialed the number for her family’s restaurant.

“This is Il Lupo, how can we help you this evening?”

It was her father. Gaby smiled broadly upon hearing his voice.

“Papa? It’s Gaby,” she said.

She heard her father hoot. “Gabriella! How’s Italy? How are you? How is everything?”

“It’s going really great, Papa! It’s just beautiful, and I’ve actually got to spend time with a prince!”

Gaby’s father chuckled. “I won’t tell your mother that, or she’ll start planning the wedding already.”

Gaby thought about what it would be like to marry the Prince of Campania. An image of him standing at the altar while she strode toward him flashed into her mind’s eye, and she quickly erased it. What was the matter with her?

“See that you don’t. I don’t need any weddings in the near future,” Gaby said, smiling.

“I’m glad you’re safe and happy, my dear. Take good care of yourself and have lots of fun. Everything is going just fine here.”

“Party of seven! Alberto we need you in here!”

Even from thousands of miles away Gaby could hear her father’s sigh.

“It looks like I must go, my darling, but you have a great time, okay? We’ll see you soon.”

“See you, Papa. Give my love to Mama, will you?”

“Always,” he said.

“I love you,” Gaby said, the words choking her slightly as she said them.

“I love you, too, baby girl. Stay safe.”

“I will,” she promised, and her father ended the call.

When she hung up her phone, Gaby was surprised to find tears on her cheeks. It was then that she realized just how much she’d needed to get away from the restaurant, if only for a short time. She felt like she was seeing the world for the first time.

Gaby snuggled deeply into her fluffy comforter and nestled her head into the large, fluffy pillow. The bed was like sleeping on a cloud, and within minutes she was fast asleep.

Once again her dreams were infiltrated by Luca’s face. She dreamed of kissing him, his perfect mouth pressed against her own as they kissed with wild abandon. She dreamed of him scooping her up in his arms and carrying her across a white, sandy beach, his muscles smooth and strong beneath her. She laughed harder than she’d ever laughed before, and then she made love to him on the shores of that sandy isle.

It was the best night’s sleep Gaby had ever had.

ELEVEN

Gaby awoke to Tuscan sunlight streaming through her terrace doors. She stretched and yawned, feeling suddenly awkward. How was she going to face Luca after such vivid dreams?

Rising, Gaby opened the door to the balcony and stepped out into the sunshine. She shivered at the unexpected cold, and went back to get her bathrobe; even though it was thin cotton, it was better than only pajamas. She watched the sun rise higher over the patchwork of colors that quilted the landscape. In the distance, not too far from the villa, she could see the terracotta rooftops of Florence.

She wondered what Luca had in mind for their day. She thought about kissing him again, and rubbed her palms into her eyes, as though to erase the sensual images her imagination had conjured up the night before. The Prince was going to be harder and harder to resist the longer she stayed, and she wondered if they would be able to get that plane fixed any sooner.

A gentle knock at the door stirred her from her musings, and Gaby ran to the door and opened it. A small tea service with breakfast on a silver platter was waiting for her just outside.

Delighted, Gaby picked it up and brought it over to the small table on her terrace, pouring a steaming hot cup of tea and adding plenty of cream and sugar. The hot beverage on a cool winter morning was just the thing to rejuvenate her for the day, and Gaby found herself enjoying the mild temperatures of Florence. She would never have been able to enjoy tea on her porch back home in late November.

Gaby lifted the lid on the silver tray and found some hard-boiled eggs and fresh toasted bread with a few little jars of jam and butter alongside. There was also a small bowl of mixed fruit. She took another sip of her tea and enjoyed the delicate breakfast on her porch, pretending that that was a normal thing that could happen every day. Gaby realized then that it had been ages since she’d woken up on her own, without her mother yelling at her to get some chore or other done. It was one of the best feelings in the world, to wake up naturally.

There was another knock at the door, and Gaby was quick to answer it, hoping to see Luca, while also hoping it wasn’t him. It would be better if it wasn’t. Still, that didn’t stem her disappointment at seeing a butler holding a silver tray with a note on it.

“For you, signorina,” the butler said.

“Thank you,” Gaby said, taking the note and closing the door.

She sat on her bed and pried open a wax seal—how old school was that? To Gaby’s delight, it was a note from Luca.

Dear Gabriella,

If you would do me the honor of joining me for a day of fun and frolicking in Florence, I would be the happiest man on earth. Meet me in the front hall at nine o’clock, and we shall begin our adventure from there.

Thank you again for your delicious midnight meal. I look forward to many cooking lessons in the future.

Ever yours,

L

Gabriella’s stomach filled with butterflies at his words. She tried to stamp them out, but it simply wouldn’t do. He wanted to take more cooking lessons from her? They hardly had enough time as it was, before she’d be gone, and this would have all been a dream.

Gaby looked at the clock. She had one hour to get ready for her day with Luca. It was time to put all thoughts of the future behind.

She had an adventure to go on.

TWELVE

Gaby was nearly skipping by the time she left her room an hour later. Tracing the hallways back to the main hall, her breath caught in her throat.

Luca was standing by the front door doing something on his phone, but when he heard her enter he looked up, his amber eyes shining as he smiled at her. He was wearing a tailored black jacket and blue jeans, and he looked like a black-haired James Dean.

“Hi,” Gaby said, feeling her blush as his gaze continued to burn into her skin. It was a pleasant burn. Warmth in the approaching winter.

Luca replaced his phone in his pocket and approached her. “Morning,” he said. “Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?”

Gaby grinned. “Always.”

“Follow me,” Luca said, opening the heavy front door.

The gravel crunched under Gaby’s shoes as she followed Luca toward a garage she hadn’t noticed before. He tapped in a code by the door, and one of the doors opened to a vast chamber filled with sports cars, jeeps, and a limo.

When Luca glanced back at Gaby, he laughed. “One must be prepared for any possible situation; wouldn’t you agree?”

“Uh-huh,” Gaby mumbled as she gaped at the collection of Jaguars, Porches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

Luca turned and waved a hand in front of Gaby’s face. “It’s okay, you can wake up now,” he said jovially. “Tell me, Gabriella, which one would you like to take out today?”

Gaby blinked. “We’re taking one of these?”

“Well we can’t exactly walk, though it would be an excellent workout.”

Gaby smiled at his teasing. She glanced around, wondering which car to pick. It was very likely she would never get the chance to do this again, so she pointed to a bright red Ferrari. “This one.”

Luca’s grin was wicked. “I was hoping you would say that.”

Luca opened the passenger side door for Gaby and she slid into the sleek, beautiful car. A lifelong New Yorker, she had never really driven…ever. She didn’t even have her license. The only cars she’d been in were cabs, and they were nothing compared to this.

Luca plopped into the driver’s seat and turned on the engine, revving it for effect. The vibration of the car, the scent of luxury that permeated the inside, all of it had Gaby’s senses reeling. When she looked over at Luca, he gave her one last mischievous grin.

“Ready?”

Unable to speak, Gaby nodded, and Luca peeled out of the garage and down the long drive to the main road. Gaby burst out laughing as he maneuvered the car with perfect precision, the terracotta skyline of Florence getting closer and closer.

“Where are we going first?” she asked, staring out at the city as they drove in.

It was so different from New York in every way possible, and yet somehow she still felt as though she were home. It was a strange sensation.

“You’ll see,” was all Luca said, and Gaby sat back, enjoying the ride as he navigated narrow streets, avoiding pedestrians and stands of food and clothing meant for tourists.

Finally, they pulled into a private parking lot that Gaby would never have noticed. Rolling down the window, Luca typed in a code to open a secret door and pulled in. Inside the garage were a series of expensive cars, lined up with a good distance between them.

“This is where a few of my friends and I park when we come to the city. There’s a five-year waiting list to get access for one vehicle.”

Luca parked the car and exited, opening Gaby’s door before she had a chance to do it herself. “My lady,” he said, holding out his hand in a grand gesture.

Gaby placed her hand in his, and hid the shiver that ran down her spine. When she stood, they faced one another, and Gaby could almost feel Luca’s breath against her neck. Then he stepped back, released her hand, and the magic was gone.

Well, not entirely gone.

Luca led Gaby out into the Tuscan sunlight, though the air was still chilly. Gaby had managed to find a lighter coat in one of her room’s dressers, and she straightened the borrowed jacket around her and followed Luca into a market square. The ground was covered in beige brick, and they were surrounded by tall buildings that were laced at the bottom with arches. Beneath the arches, locals and tourists sat at a series of café tables, though it still seemed to be a quieter part of the city.

“There are places in Florence that most tourists will never find. Of course, some make it through, but this place is for Italians,” Luca said, guiding her toward a delicious smelling stand. An old man in a jacket was stirring something in a silver basin. He looked up when Luca approached.

“
Due, per favore
,” Luca said, and the man pulled two cones from a tower and filled them with steaming brown nuggets.

Luca paid him and handed one to Gaby as they turned to walk along the perimeter of the square. The cone was warm in Gaby’s hand.

“What is this?” she asked, and Luca grinned.

“These are roasted chestnuts. Don’t you have a song about them back in America?”

Gaby looked back down at her cone. “We do, but I’ve never seen them in real life before. How do you eat them?”

Luca showed her how to peel the loosened shell from the soft nut inside, and Gaby took her first bite of chestnut. Paired with the cold air around them, it was the perfect treat.

“They may have hot waffles in Belgium, but we have roasted chestnuts, and those are even better.”

“You’re telling me!” Gaby said as they strolled around the square.

Beneath the arches were several shops, and Gaby gazed upon beautiful shoes, scarves and decorative art. The windows were covered with Christmas drawings and decorations. Gaby stopped in front of one particularly beautiful red scarf.

“This is stunning!” she breathed, then blushed. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

Luca grabbed her hand. “We must see it, then!” he said, pulling her into the tiny boutique.

The Prince batted away all of her protests as he swiftly picked up the scarf and purchased it, along with a green one. They were thin enough to pair together, and after he made the purchase he turned to Gaby and wrapped them both gently around her neck.

“Now you are in the Christmas spirit, yes?”

His eyes were like crystals as he clung lightly onto the end of the scarf. Gaby realized then that she really, really wanted to kiss him, and she took a step back, the better to clear her head.

“Thank you,” she said with a shy smile.

Luca looked a little dazed, too, but he recovered quickly. “You’re welcome. Consider it an apology for bringing you here under false pretenses.”

Gaby nodded as they headed out the door. Their chestnuts were finished, to her chagrin, and they disposed of their cones in a trash bin before Luca grabbed them a table at one of the cafés.

“What are we trying now?” Gaby asked, excited.

Luca thanked the waiter as the man brought them two menus, and he ordered something she didn’t understand. Or did she?

“Did you just say something about chocolate?” she asked, leaning in.

Luca nodded. “Very good! Yes, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve ordered you a
cioccolata denza
. It’s the way hot chocolate is meant to be tasted. I remember in America having some hot chocolate when I was skiing once, in Aspen. Disgusting!”

Gaby had a hard time believing that anything in Aspen could be disgusting, but she simply smiled and waited with anticipation for her Italian chocolate to arrive. So far, everything she had tasted had been a little slice of heaven, and she couldn’t wait for more.

When the chocolates arrived, Luca ordered some pastries for them and Gaby took a sip of the thick, steaming beverage. The Prince was right—it was above and beyond anything she’d tasted in her entire life. She closed her eyes and moaned.

“I take it you agree with me then?” Luca said, and she could hear the grin in his voice even as she kept her eyes closed, just relishing the sensation of a warm, delicious drink outside on a chilly day.

Taking a deep breath, she felt alive for the first time in ages.

When she opened her eyes, she found Luca staring at her, and she grinned at him. “I agree with you.”

They enjoyed flaky pastries and the rest of their hot chocolate before it was time to move on.

“Is there anything that you absolutely wanted to see while we’re here?” Luca asked.

Gaby thought for a moment, remembering something her brother had said before she’d left.

“There’s a cathedral my brother said I should go see,” she said.

Luca lifted a playful eyebrow. “This is Italy, Gabriella. You’re going to need to be a little more specific than that.”

Gaby sifted through her brain for the name. “Santa Maria?” she guessed.

“Santa Maria Del Fiore?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Luca nodded. “Sure, we can do that. It’s about a thirty-minute walk from here, if that’s all right.”

Gaby agreed, enjoying the fresh air and the chance to take in the cream-colored buildings. She fell in stride next to Luca and they walked in comfortable silence for some time. Gaby was amazed at the feel of the city. It was so…relaxed. Everything seemed to move at a slower pace, even as people swarmed them the closer they got to the cathedral. Gaby could tell they were getting close, because the dome was towering over all the other buildings. It was impossible to miss.

“You certainly know the city very well,” Gaby observed.

Luca gazed ahead, focusing on their destination. He shrugged. “I had a fair few nannies growing up. They all thought that taking me to the city would be a good idea to teach me culture, and maybe some manners.”

“Were they correct in thinking that?”

Luca cast a sidelong glance at Gaby. “Not exactly. After they’d take me into the city I would always find a way to escape them and wander the streets for hours. I made some friends in town and had a blast doing it, but then my parents stepped in and said they’d cut me off if I ran off again, so I had to give those friendships up and stick with the last nanny I had. She wasn’t so bad. I just hated being reined in.”

Gaby tried to imagine running wild all over the streets of New York against her parents’ wishes. It was impossible to even conceive of.

“Why did you do it?” she asked, glancing up at Luca.

He met her gaze, lifting a quizzical eyebrow. “Do what?”

“Run away.”

Luca sighed and turned them down another winding side street. He thought for a moment before answering. “I wanted to be free, even for just a moment. My parents had such high expectations of me that I felt I was never living up to the ideal son they had envisioned. I figured, if I couldn’t be that child, then I would simply be my wild and free self, and they could live with it. I remember envying my old friends from the streets, which is funny, of course. Why would a prince envy a pauper? But they had the one thing I didn’t—freedom to come and go, do as they pleased. I was desperate for what they had, even when they had nearly nothing else.”

Gaby thought about that. She considered her own lack of freedom. Was she really so tied down that she would act out just to see what it felt like? Her parents had had expectations for her, of course, but she’d never felt so pressured that she had to escape them.

“That must have been very hard for you,” she said.

Luca’s smile was full of irony. “I’m a prince, remember. My life is a dream.”

“It can be,” Gaby said, and Luca stopped, placing a hand on her arm as he pulled her to the side while tourists walked around them.