Appreciating Mario’s good judgment, I picked up the keys. “Thanks. Let’s go.” I could hardly believe I would be driving a Ferrari. After Mario got in the passenger seat, I reached for the door handle. “Everyone had better buckle up. If I brake too hard, I don’t want anyone hurt.”
Ernesto walked up beside me and opened the back door for me. He slid behind the wheel. “Kelly, I know the way to the hotel. It’s best that I drive.”
Frowning, I climbed in the back seat with Mario. I heard the masterful purr of the engine, and Ernesto showed us it could turn on a dime, then pulled out of the parking lot.
At the hotel, Ernesto pulled up under the porte cochère and let a valet park the car. Ernesto and Mario escorted me to my room.
In the elevator, Mario put his arm around my waist and smiled at me, making me feel warm and welcome. He must like me. That made me feel good. Not only was he a prince and a rock star athlete, he was nice. His steps were a bit unsteady as he walked from the elevator to our room. I unlocked the door and yawned. “I’m tired. I’ll just go on in. See you later, Mario and Ernesto.”
Mario looked into my eyes and a smile blossomed on his face. He squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry I drank too much. I don’t usually do that, but the wine was great, and I enjoyed being with you. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
I smiled. “Of course not.” But I wondered if he did this often. “You did the sensible thing. You let your bodyguard drive your pride and joy.”
He caressed my cheek and moved his face closer. He was going to kiss me. I could hardly wait for his lips to touch mine.
And then his mouth was on mine. Soft at first, but then he deepened his kiss, imparting a hint of the wine he’d had. I couldn’t help responding. I loved kissing him. Almost as much as I loved chocolate. He pulled back and grinned. Then he kissed me again. This time he blew my socks off. Now I wanted his kisses more than chocolate. Good gracious. He was becoming an addiction. How could I bear to leave him when my vacation time was up?
He kissed me once more, warming me down to my toes. Would I be able to finish my degree here in Monterra? If I could do that and occasionally travel with him, I could write articles in every city where he played. I had a trust fund I could dip into as soon as I turned twenty-five, which was in a few weeks. What a possibility.
I hugged and kissed him. If I could travel with him, I wouldn’t have to deal with his family unless we were married. And maybe sooner or later, I could get them to warm up to me. I could compliment his mother’s cooking and ask his father to show me some of the houses or buildings he’d designed.
Mario kissed me again, bringing me back from my daydreams. “I need to get some sleep so I can practice well tomorrow. I want to look good to the owner of the team. After our captain retires at the end of this season, I want to be the next one. I need to practice, practice, practice if I’m going to impress him more than Gino. It’s friendly rivalry, but I’m going to beat him out for the position.”
I took his hand and squeezed it. “I’m sure you’ll make it. Will Monterra play this weekend?”
Mario shook his head. “Why do you ask?”
“I want to visit the pyramids in Egypt, take pictures, and write articles. Would you consider going with me? I could take your picture and if it gets printed, it would get you more publicity. That should make your owner take notice.”
Mario lifted my hand to his mouth and pressed a tender kiss on it. “I don’t think that would impress the owner, but if I practice hard the rest of this week, I can fly you there. However, I have to be back for practice Monday.”
The next morning, I didn’t see Ernesto or Mario at the breakfast brunch. I guessed he’d gone to practice instead.
I was eating lunch when I finally got a call from Mario at one o’clock.
His voice sounded groggy, but his words all made sense. “How are you? he asked.
“I’m fine because I didn’t have too much to drink last night.” I damned my wayward tongue for blurting that out so rudely before I had time to think.
“I’m not fine, but I’ll come downstairs to join you.”
Ten minutes later, he strolled to my table and eased into a chair. The sun illuminated his face, enhancing the firm lines of his cheekbones and chin. Then he immediately rose, took another chair, and moved it into the shadow. “I can’t take such bright light this morning.”
“Are you hung over?” I asked.
He nodded, then rested his forehead in his hands. “I thought drinking a lot of wine wouldn’t be like shoveling down several shots, but I was wrong.” His eyes met mine over the table. “Did I say anything inappropriate? Last night seems like a blur. If I said anything to offend you, I apologize.”
“No. You didn’t,” I said. Had he no memory of kissing me last night? I sure wouldn’t want to forget those glorious kisses we’d shared. I hoped he’d meant them.
I patted his hand. “I’m sorry you feel bad. I hope you feel better soon.”
A waiter approached. “Bring him some tomato juice and coffee,” I said.
After Mario drank the tomato juice and half of the coffee in his cup, I asked, “Do you feel any better now?”
He shook his head gently. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m never going to drink too much again. It was embarrassing having to let Ernesto drive my Ferrari. Not only that, I had to call and say I wasn’t coming in to practice today.”
“What about Gino?” I asked.
“I called another player just a little while ago. He said Gino was there, but coach yelled at him for not managing to kick the ball into the cage until he’d tried five times.”
“I guess he wasn’t feeling too chipper either.”
Mario ordered a sandwich. When it came, he said, “I’m going to eat all of this, even if it tastes like shit. Then I’m going to head for the field and do afternoon practice. When they see how I look, they’ll probably shoot me full of Vitamin B-12. It’s supposed to be good to get my body in playing shape.”
“Good for you,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll do better than Gino after resting awhile and getting something to eat.”
Mario nodded. “I’m heavier than he is. Maybe the effects will wear off sooner with me.”
He signed the bill and rose. “I’ll call you tonight, Kelly. I’ll probably be too tired to be good company.”
I blew him a kiss. “Knock ‘em dead.”
He smiled and waved, then headed out the door.
I was looking forward to seeing Mario the next day.
In the morning, I’d finished my makeup and was brushing my hair when Mario knocked on the door. I opened it, glad to see him standing there, looking fresh. He smiled and took my hand. “Come. I want to spend some time with you before practice today. The coach wants us to get in two more days of practice before the weekend.”
He held my hand in the elevator and on the way out of the hotel lobby. He drove carefully to a small coffee shop and led me inside. Ernesto followed.
An apple-cheeked young waitress greeted us and smiled. “Right this way, Prince Mario.” She seated us in a booth with butter-soft leather cushions. The smoky aroma of bacon filled the air. A trailing stem of philodendron leaves hung down from a ledge beside us, almost touching the gray granite table top.
Mario studied the menu. “I’ll order some of their chocolate croissants and coffee, but would you like some bacon and eggs, too?”
“No thanks. I’d just like the croissants and coffee.”
“I’ll have the same,” Ernesto said, and continued his surveillance of the area.
The waitress returned, holding three mugs and a coffee pot.
“Yes, please,” Mario said. We’ll each have some chocolate croissants.”
As she poured, the steam rose, and the smell of fresh coffee swirled around us. I sipped. It tasted as good as it smelled.
She left the table and came back with three plates. Each held two croissants. I bit into one and savored the chocolatey goodness. I should only eat one, but the first tasted so delicious, I couldn’t resist eating the second. “I wish there were places in the U.S. that served these.”
He took hold of both my hands. His were warm and comforting. “Maybe you can talk a bakery into making some. A sweet woman like you would have no trouble talking some baker man into doing that.”
I had to smile. “Compliments like that will keep me wanting to stay friends with you.”
“What if I want to be more than a friend?”
“There’s this big problem of where we’d live. I can’t just fly over here every few weeks. And I’m sure you have a busy schedule with your team. How many years do you plan to stay with them?”
He grinned and leaned back against the chair. “As long as they’ll have me.”
I tapped his arm with my finger and felt his solid flesh. “I hate to say this, but you won’t stay young and agile forever. Do you have any plans for when you retire?”
He took a bite of his croissant. “I guess I’ll work with my dad. I try to keep my hand in the business enough to improve my skills. Armando has suggested they might need a safe room built into the castle.”
I gasped. “What? Why would they need that?”
“There have been a few protest marches lately. So far, after the bomb they set on the palace grounds that Armando disabled, there hasn’t been anything serious going on, but it’s better to be prepared.”
“When was a bomb left on the palace grounds?”
“That was about a year ago, but there was also one that went off at Nico and Kat’s wedding. In the interest of caution, Armando thinks we need a safe room at the palace.”
“Is that a project you’re considering?”
“Not yet, but I plan to visit my aunt and uncle at the palace after the football season is over. I’ll look the place over and try to figure out where to put a safe room. For now, I want to concentrate on practice and performing in games. I hope to be considered good enough for the owner to appoint me as the next captain.”
“Your friend, Gino, says he hopes to be chosen.”
“He’s good, but I will outshine him at practice this afternoon.”
The waitress refilled our coffee mugs. Mine warmed my hands, and I took several sips until it was cool enough to take swallows. Since he would be at practice tomorrow, I’d take in the museum and buy some souvenirs for my family and Stephanie. I’d seen something in one of the shops I thought she’d like. I hoped it would still be there.
Mario leaned forward, his strong chin lit up by sunshine coming through the windows. “I’ve had my mechanic check out my plane for our trip to Egypt. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow morning.”
“But I thought you had practice until noon on Saturday. I was going to look around Imperia and shop.”
Mario shook his head. “That will have to wait. I got permission to skip practice in the morning, and I’ve already filed a flight plan. You said you wanted to see the pyramids. Why can’t you be ready by seven?”
“I want to pick up a painted teapot for Stephanie. There was only one left, and I’m afraid it will be gone if I don’t go to the shop tomorrow.”
“Painted teapots are common in Monterra. You can hunt for one this afternoon. It’s all arranged. We’ll spend two days there, and I’ve reserved a room for one night, so you can take plenty of pictures. We have to go tomorrow while the current government allows tourists to go inside. The authorities might change their minds by the next day. Besides, after reading your last article, I’m sure you’ll write another good enough to get some editor’s attention.”
“I planned to wash underwear and stockings tonight. I’m not sure they’ll be dry by morning.”
Mario shrugged. “That can’t be a problem. I’ll buy you some more.”
“I hate to have you buying stuff for me. You have already been very generous with your time and money.”
He touched my wrist, sending a little jolt of electricity up my arm. “Then you’ll be ready at seven in the morning?”
“Wait a minute. Did you only reserve one room?”
“Of course. I want us to be together at night.”