The evening air held a chill though Amy was still quite warm next to Lucio. The edge of the moon began to shine in the sky while the sun dipped behind majestic mountains. They walked on a small village road full of cute shops, arm in arm.

Lucio was patient as she peered into the windows—a bakery, a coffee shop, a gift store. Another pebble caught in her heel and she stopped to release it, leaning against Lucio. "I should have changed into sneakers as the cobblestones don't like my wedges."

He waited until she was standing again and then turned around. "We'll head back to the castle then. We don't have to be out all night."

The walked in companionable silence as the air around her cocooned her like a bubble. She was with Lucio and today had been better than she’d ever dared to dream. They walked further up the street but this time instead of music from the tavern on the corner, they saw people staring at a news station. She tugged on Lucio's arm, "What's going on?"

He had his eyes glued on the TV through the window too, and he must have wondered the same thing. He kept her close and held the door open for her while he said, "I don't know. Let's find out."

"No word from the royal family yet, as this breaking news unfolds."

The television reporter stopped speaking. Amy looked to Lucio, then around the bar. Why was everyone so sad?

"What news?" Lucio asked the man at the nearest table.

The man lowered his head, overcome, but his wife wiped tears from her eyes. "Your Highness, it seems gunmen have taken over an elementary school. The children are still inside."

"It's evening." Lucio spoke as if in shock. "School ended hours ago." He backed up, took her hand, and said to the frightened patrons, "I had no idea." To her he said, "We must go, quickly."

Memories of the rude man who’d ordered a report on Avce in London sprung in her head. She'd have never recommended violence in a school, but she'd mentioned flaws in the education system. She touched her pearls as she walked faster beside him. "Lucio, I recently wrote a report-"

"I have to call my parents." He talked over her and led her to the gardens outside the castle, his mind obviously speeding ahead. "I’ll have to help save the children. What could the gunmen want?"

Lucio in danger made her heart skip a beat, but she tried to be reasonable. If she’d somehow caused this because of that report, she needed to fix it but she could see he was in no mood to listen. "Yes, someone in the royal family should be there to counter this." He pulled her up the marble steps. "I think my report-"

"I need you to be safe." He opened the doors to the castle himself and urged her inside. "Let's talk in our quarters."

Right. She should have realized people might listen to them. Her face felt hot at her mistake, but she nodded. "Yes, good idea, let's talk there."

"Your Highness, your father is on the phone." Nino, the estate manager, held out a cell phone.

Lucio stared at him while ushering her up the stairs. "Send the call to my room."

"Excellent." Nino turned away.

They raced to their quarters and her blood was truly pumping when they arrived. She headed for the living area to sit on the couch and catch her breath.

She slipped off her wedges and tapped the coffee table to make sure he looked at her. "Lucio, flaws in education was my first line item in a report on your country that I handed off yesterday."

He sat beside her and picked up his phone. "This isn't about a flaw. This is just evil people holding children hostage." She silently agreed as he placed his hand on her leg. "Let me talk to my dad." She nodded and heard him say, "Father?"

She lifted her heel and massaged a bruise from the cobblestone.

Lucio clicked the phone on speaker and took the injured foot in his strong hands and helped massage it.

King Leopoldo said, "I'm assuming you saw the news about the school. Babik has organized a team and your brother Marco is there already. It’s being handled, son. Stay put."

"Keep me informed." Lucio applied just the right pressure on the ball of her foot and her stomach heated.

The king said, "We will and we're looking forward to meeting your future bride soon."

Visions of marrying Lucio where she walked down the rose-petal covered aisle as she stared straight into his eyes wearing a white dress played in her mind.

Lucio scoffed. "You sound like Mother."

"She asked me to say that," his father admitted.

He kept the pressure on her foot and it felt wonderful as he said, "Good night."

On the couch, just the two of them. Silence clung in the air and he reached for her other foot, applying the same pressure in the middle of her arch. She bit back a moan. "So, uh, what do you want to do? I’m so glad we spent the day together."

His brown eyes heated but he said nothing and she sat up quickly, her heart beating to a different rhythm just from being close to him. She stood.

Her gaze was pulled to the bedroom door and she imagined herself lying next to him tonight, hip to hip. "I'm going to shower and we can settle in for the night. Will you figure out where we'll sleep?"

"You agreed in the same room." He didn’t move a muscle.

She nodded and hugged her waist. "I did. I expect that, but there is only one bed." Would he sweep her into his arms and take her? Did she want him to?

"I'll take the floor." He reached for his phone again.

She stepped toward the door, but then turned and asked, "Lucio?"

"Yes?" He looked right at her, his sensual expression melting right through her cautious brain.

She took a deep breath, unfastened her necklace and held it in her hand. Without looking at him, she said, "This was the best date I've had in years. Thank you."

He stood, his shoulders straight as he stared at her. Amy removed her stud earrings, her fingers trembling. "It was my pleasure. Now go shower while I wait for news."

"Let me know what happens!" She walked into the bathroom and put her jewelry in a porcelain dish above the sink.

She needed the refreshment of the quick shower, but she kept imagining spending the night next to Lucio, in his arms, while she fell asleep. Her body was warm, even in the cold water she splashed on herself.

Once dry, she dressed in blue polka dot lounge pants and a silky tank top. She opened the door to the main part of the suite and called out, "Lucio?"

No one answered. She peeked out on the balcony and checked all the rooms. He wasn't there. Apprehension grew. What if something had happened to the children while she’d been showering? She was about to change into jeans and go find the housekeeper, when her phone rang from her purse by the side of the couch. She grinned. "Hello, Suzie?"

Her friend's bold American accent had flicks of laughter in it as she spoke. "You're marrying Prince Lucio Aussa? That's the rich and handsome man I told you to marry?"

"Yes, how do you know?" Amy massaged her neck while she sat down on the arm of the couch. She hadn't told anyone yet other than her family.

"It was on the news right after Prince Marco rescued all those children."

Safe, thank goodness. But that meant that the Aussa family couldn't have been the source either. "What did the news say exactly?"

Suzie scoffed. "That my best friend is marrying royalty. I'm invited to this wedding, right?"

"Naturally." Suzie was a better sister than her own though they weren't technically related. She leaned back and lifted her feet up to massage them again. "I'll want you to be my maid of honor."

The two doors of the wing opened and Lucio walked beside Nino who pushed a rolling cart full of fruits and two chilled bottles of wine. Lucio called out, "Who's your maid of honor, Amy?"

She stood fast and looked at the offering. Had she ever been so spoiled? "My best friend I mentioned in London, Suzie."

Nino filled two wine glasses and set them on the tray.

Lucio waited and took them from him while he said, "I'll send the jet for her tomorrow if she wants and she can meet us at my parents’ castle."

Suzie yelled in the phone. "Tell him yes! I'll be there."

Amy covered the speaker as she took the glass Lucio offered her. "She said thank you and she appreciates it."

"I want to make you happy." He clinked his glass with hers. Nino left and closed the two front doors, leaving them almost alone.

Suzie said, "Sounds like a keeper. I'll let you go to him."

"Goodbye, Suzie. See you tomorrow." Amy turned off her phone. No more distractions for tonight on her end.

She held the stem of her wine glass. Lucio still wore black pants and his leather shoes—he’d relaxed and taken off his suit coat. Taking a small sip of wine, she said, "We're going to your parents’ tomorrow?"

"Yes, my mother insists we all stand united for the press tomorrow."

Education flaws had been her first item on the list of suggested improvements. Using the country's resources and proximity to Italy to bring in more tourists was her second item. She hoped her report wasn't responsible for anything. "It's a good idea to double back on your brother's heroics. What type of wine is this? It's sweet."

"It's a local Sauvignon." He shrugged and sat on the couch. She followed, wanting to be near him. "You said you liked a glass before bed so I have wine, strawberries and other small snacks."

How kind. Tonight was theirs. Tomorrow there was pressure. She put her glass down on the table in front of them and then took his from him and placed it next to hers. She turned toward him, uncertain on how to take the lead. "Lucio, kiss me."

A laugh escaped his throat. He did laugh, but rarely, and she reveled in the sound. Lucio wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. For once her fantasies weren't wrong, and his kiss was even better than she imagined. His hard lips on hers made her weak, and she craved him, all the way to her soul itself.