This business trip wasn’t like any other she’d taken with Raoul before. They boarded the royal jet and zipped off at mid-morning, after saying goodbye to the children.

Normally, they’d have coffee on the plane, go over the itinerary and any documents that needed reviewing before any meetings or engagements.

Instead, Raoul popped a bottle of champagne and presented a plate of pastries and fruit for them to munch on as they made the short flight. She’d spoken to the resort owner’s assistant yesterday and had discovered that Raoul had been given a suite and that her smaller suite was next door to his. She was glad to have her own space; not only was their relationship not at a “share rooms” level, but for discretion’s sake, this was better.

“You’re quiet,” he said, as he topped up her champagne glass. “We’re spending a week away in one of the most glamorous places in the world. I thought you’d be happier. You’ve needed a vacation for a long time, Steph.”

She looked up at him. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been deep in thought, that’s all.” A smile touched her lips. “Confession. I’ve never been to Cannes, or Nice, or Monte Carlo.”

“I haven’t been there in years, either. I’m looking forward to it.” He leaned back in his chair. “Perhaps we can head over to Monte Carlo, play a little roulette or try the dice.”

She chuckled. “Now you’re getting carried away.”

“When was the last time you took a real holiday?”

They both knew the answer to that. The job was a busy one, and had only gotten more so in the months since the accident and Raoul had been deep in his grief. Then there was the whole incident with Diego’s former assistant, and training Sofia . . .

“Still,” she said, reaching for a piece of melon. “That might be a little conspicuous. Isn’t the idea to fly under the radar?”

Raoul grabbed a plump berry and popped it in his mouth. “Let’s keep an open mind, then. We’ve got a basic itinerary, but there are lots of windows of opportunity for . . . other activities.”

Her cheeks heated, and she looked out the window at the layer of clouds beneath the plane. She was sure he hadn’t meant any innuendo, because that wasn’t his style. Still, intentional or not, the possibilities were before them. There were no meddling family members around now. It was just the two of them.

Marco popped in from the cockpit, where he’d been sitting with the flight crew. “Excuse me, sir. I thought we could go over the transportation arrangements one final time before we land.”

“Certainly, Marco.”

While the two of them talked, Stephani looked out the window. They’d started a slow descent, and the clouds got closer, then they were in them, the wing disappearing in a swirly, soft mess. A minute later and the clouds were above, and little drops of moisture showed on the window. A spring shower? The coastline was visible now, and it wouldn’t be long before they arrived at the Nice airport and then the short drive to their hotel.

“We’ll be on the ground soon.” Raoul’s voice broke through her thoughts. “It’s cloudy now, but the forecast is good for the rest of the week.” His smile was wide. “And despite your protests, I do have a few little surprises up my sleeve.”

Warmth spread through her body at the intimate way he looked at her. Maybe part of her problem today was that this didn’t seem like it should be real. She’d wished for this for so long, it had become a dream that played on a continuous loop in her head, but one she’d been sure she would never have. Now she felt as if she might wake up at any moment, or that the tenuous grip she had on the future she wanted could slip out of her grasp at any moment.

He cared about her. He wanted her. Both of those had been impossible only a few weeks ago. Was it possible that he could fall in love with her, too? Or was that a wish too far?

They landed with a small bump and a smooth glide down the runway. For better or worse, they were here. And in a week they’d likely know which direction their relationship would take.

* * *

Raoul watched as Stephani surfaced through the clear water of his personal pool. He ran a hand over his chin, a familiar tension taking over his body. She was more beautiful than she realized. She wore these conservative, totally appropriate suits and dresses to the office. She was impeccably dressed for every official engagement. But the aqua-colored bikini revealed honey-gold skin that he longed to touch. And so far he hadn’t, even though they’d been here two days already.

She rested her arms on the edge of the pool. “You coming in?” she invited, water glistening on her lashes. “It’s lovely.”

“I thought I might. A morning swim is a nice way to start the day.”

So is something else, he thought to himself, but didn’t say it. Clearly the chemistry between them was good. The dinner at her apartment had made that plain. This trip was for more. It was about compatibility. About romance.

She smiled. “Join me. We have time before today’s meetings.”

He’d intended to anyway, so he untied his robe and dropped it on a nearby chaise, then stepped down into the cool water of the pool.

Her smile widened and she pushed away from the side, floating on her back. He couldn’t look away from the twin points her breasts made out of the water, or the way her long, dark hair spread out around her. Watching her the last two days had been gratifying to say the least. She greeted every little thing with wonder, even though opulence was no stranger to her. She’d sighed with happiness at her suite, even though it was only half the size of his. The balconies outside the rooms looked over the cerulean sea, and she couldn’t seem to get enough. They lived in their own corner of paradise, but Stephani was anything but blasé.

She was appreciative. She found enjoyment in the smallest things. She reminded him of what it was to take pleasure in moments, something that hadn’t happened in a long, long time.

They had only kissed since arriving, sweet little stolen kisses. They hadn’t slept together, and even so, Raoul was starting to feel as if she was giving him back himself.

“Where did you go? You’re lost in your head.”

He blinked and met her gaze. “Sorry. Just thinking.”

“Well, don’t hurt yourself.”

He smiled. “I like it when you tease me.”

“It’s easier when we’re not in the office. I wouldn’t want to be insubordinate.” She flashed him a saucy grin, then dove under the water, giving her toes a little flip that splashed water up and over his face and chest.

Scamp.

He got the rest of the way in and swam a bit, though it wasn’t big enough of a pool for him to do laps or anything. Still, it was refreshing, and he got the pleasure of being near Stephani. Once he reached out and pulled her close, felt her cool skin rub up against his. He kissed her and then let her go, but the hazy look in her eyes told him all he needed to know. Maybe later. He had something special planned, in her suite where she’d be sure to have privacy.

“We should probably get ready for the day,” she said, rather reluctantly, he thought.

“If you want to take some extra time, why don’t you? I can handle this one.”

She shook her head. “No, I want to be there. I’m being indulged sufficiently, Your Highness.” She put a sassy little inflection on the title. “The least I can do is my job.”

“Fair enough.” He moved to the steps and got out, dripping water while reaching for a towel. She followed behind, and he swallowed at the sight of her skin glistening with water, then the way she efficiently used the white towel to dry off.

She paused and looked out over the terrace. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it? I mean, I spend the majority of my time in a palace, but this . . . maybe I needed a vacation more than I thought.”

“You look more relaxed,” he offered.

“So do you.” She went over to him and touched his cheek. “You needed to get away, too. You’ve shouldered everything for years now. It’s better now that Diego has stepped up, but he’s also been busy with his charity and getting married.” He held his breath as her fingers stroked his skin. “No one really understands how hard you work, and how much you worry.”

“Apparently you do,” he replied, his voice sounding strangled. He couldn’t think straight when she touched him this way.

“I’ve noticed. I just wasn’t at liberty to say anything before.”

He held her gaze, then dipped his head and kissed her cool, soft lips. They tasted like salt from the pool, and a little bit of sweetness that was uniquely hers.

When the kiss ended, she licked her lips and sighed, another one of those replete sounds that he loved so much.

“Make sure you eat something before our meeting. I’ll come get you in forty-five minutes, okay?”

“Perfect.”

She walked back through the sliding doors to his suite, her damp feet leaving little prints on the terrace floor. She’d go next door and shower off, he realized. He’d do the same. And they’d dress in different suites . . .

Yes, maybe it would be tonight. He only had so much restraint, and the waiting was beginning to affect his thinking.

* * *

The meetings filled the day until nearly four in the afternoon, but for Stephani, it wasn’t hard work. They spoke with the architect of the resort, who agreed to work up a proposal for a resort on the Marazur west coast, among the limestone cliffs and with spectacular vistas over the ocean. They had a delicious lunch, sampling chef specialties until she couldn’t possibly eat another bite. Particularly when Raoul kept insisting she try something else and she would love it. Invariably she did, though she avoided anything with the word “tartare.” It was a taste she’d never managed to acquire.

The mango sorbet, though, was the perfect finish.

She took notes with regard to services offered to guests, the shopping available on-site, and the pricing structure. It was the latter that stopped her up every time. While the resort was solidly booked, the sheer number of euros required nearly stopped her breath. She was enjoying herself so much, but she also knew she could never have an experience like this without Raoul footing the bill. He wanted a five-star exclusive resort. She wondered if he’d be open to something a little less glamorous and slightly more affordable. With the current economy, perhaps having a slightly lower price point would bring in more people.

During the afternoon, they toured one of the two villas on the property, both with three full bedrooms and all the amenities. The other, they were informed quietly, was not available for touring, since it was occupied by a certain famous actor and her family.

By the time they finished, Stephani had taken several pages of notes and wanted to get back to her suite to put them in some sort of order, filling in blanks and recording full thoughts and impressions. It was three thirty and she was ready to take off her heels and sink her bare feet into the thick carpet of her room. Raoul left her at her door with an intimate smile and an assurance that he would see her later for dinner. She put her keycard in the door and stepped inside.

She had taken off her shoes and opened a bottle of water when there was a knock on the door. She assumed it was Raoul, and she hurried to answer, wondering if he’d decided he couldn’t wait until the evening to see her. Her heart pounded an excited tattoo, but instead she was greeted by a lovely French woman who smiled and offered a quiet “Bonjour, Mademoiselle Savalas.”

“Bonjour,” she replied, then noticed the foldable table at the woman’s side.

“You ordered a massage, oui?”

She hadn’t, but she knew who had. She tried to feel badly about not transcribing her notes and couldn’t. “Please, come in.”

“May I set up on the terrace? It is so beautiful this afternoon.”

It felt as if her whole body sighed at the mere thought of a massage while the soft Mediterranean air caressed her skin. “Oh, that would be fantastic,” she replied. The notes could wait. “Shall I put on a robe?”

In less than five minutes she found herself face down on the massage table, a sheet covering her from feet to tailbone. Her face rested on a soft pad, and the masseuse, who she’d now determined was named Mariel, opened a little bag and took out a selection of oils.

“What scent do you prefer, mademoiselle?”

“What do you suggest?”

“I do love the lavender. It’s a special blend made just for us from the fields in Provence, and is very calming.”

“That sounds perfect.”

What followed was a solid hour of bliss. At one point, she nearly fell asleep as Mariel kneaded and soothed the muscles of her lower back. She gave a little start when the masseuse shifted the sheet and worked on her buttocks, down her thighs and calves, but it was utterly blissful. She rolled over and groaned as the muscles in her neck released beneath capable fingers. The perfume of the lavender oil teased her nostrils. Why had it taken her so long to do this? If she could, she’d book a massage every week for the rest of her life.

“There,” Mariel said, standing back from the table. “Take your time getting up. You might feel a little lightheaded at first. I will wait inside.”

Stephani sighed, wishing it wasn’t over. Still, her body felt so limber. So soft. She sat up and reached for the robe that Mariel had left at her feet, pulling it up over her shoulders and belting it loosely around her waist.

She went inside and retrieved her water, drinking the rest of the bottle in short order. Mariel was packed up and gone as quickly and quietly as she’d arrived, but just as she was leaving another woman arrived at her door.

Raoul was giving her the royal treatment, and she was starting to feel rather princessy about it all.

This time it was a facial and a pedicure. She knew that the spa offered such things, of course, and she’d planned to tour those facilities as well this week. But this room service was incredible. By six o’clock, her face glowed when she looked in the mirror, and her toes were a delicious shade of deep red. She chose a dress for dinner, a little ivory dress that she loved. Neutral colored sandals accentuated her calves and showed her newly painted toes, and she put her hair up, a combination of braids and twists that looked more complicated than it was.

Once it was anchored with pins, she frowned. It was missing something. Jewelry? The boat neckline required something long, but she knew she’d failed to pack anything that would suit. Instead she dug in her case until she found the half-dozen gold bangles she’d packed. Then, with a flash of inspiration, she plucked a showy hibiscus blossom from the bouquet of lilies, hibiscus, and plumeria on the side table in the living room. She tucked the crimson petals into the side of her twist, then anchored it with an invisible pin. It gave an exotic flavor to an otherwise simple outfit. Satisfied, she tucked her keycard and her tube of lipstick into a red clutch. That, with the flower, was the dash of color she’d been missing.

Instead of waiting for Raoul, she left her room, took the ten steps to his door, inhaled sharply for fortification, and knocked.