Diamonds are Forever: The Royal Marriage Arrangement / The Diamond Bride / The Diamond Dad

His mother’s brown eyes brimmed with tears before she hurried around the low table to clap her hands on Lucca’s cheeks. “You’ve made me the happiest mother in the world,” she said in English before switching to Italian. The muttered endearments needed no translation. After hugging him hard, she turned to embrace Alex.

“Welcome to the family, Alexandra. Except for when the children were born, this is the most joyful day of our married lives.”

“It certainly is,” Lucca’s father concurred, and leaned closer to kiss Alex on both cheeks. She could detect his shallow breathing. “However, I know half a dozen young women who’ll want to scratch your eyes out, as my little Regina would say.”

“Rudy,” his wife scolded him with mock feeling. “Lucca’s made his choice. Let that be the end of it.”

Lucca caught Alex from behind and pulled her against his chest where she could feel the strong solid beat of his heart. “The truth is, from the moment she and I met in New York, it was love at first sight for both of us.”

Alex swallowed a groan. How gallantly he played the part when he knew his parents were aware he’d chosen her out of duty. But being nobles themselves, they would pretend this was a love match and treat her accordingly. Only one person would be able to intervene for Lucca’s personal happiness. That would be his arranged wife, Alex.

His father’s eyes flicked from the diamond to his son’s face. He nodded solemnly. “I can tell. There’s a light in your eyes that was never there before.”

The king’s playacting was beyond comprehension.

“I see it, too, Rudy. Have you told your sister?”

“Si, Mama.”

All three of them should be given the Oscar that had always eluded Alex’s mother.

Lucca let go of Alex long enough to help his father be seated once more, then he pulled Alex down next to him on the opposite couch and grasped her hand in a gesture of ownership his parents couldn’t fail to notice. “They met this morning after the plane landed in Nice. Alexandra will be staying in the blue suite next to Regina’s until our wedding.”

“That’s as it should be,” his mother emoted. “Now we’ll all have time to get acquainted before the ceremony.”

“Regina’s wonderful,” Alex interjected, knowing something was expected of her. In this case she’d told the truth. Lucca’s sister had the same charisma as her brother. Already Alex liked them all too much.

Lucca’s thumb started making lazy circles against her palm, sending sensations like shooting stars through her veins. “Alexandra is everything I could ever want. With her at my side, I look forward to taking over from you, Papa. In fact, I wish the wedding could be moved up a week. Not only for your sake, but for mine,” his voice ended on a husky inflection. The next thing Alex knew he’d brushed his lips against hers.

Ohh.

His father cleared his throat. “What do you think, Betta?”

“You’re still the king. It’s for you to say. Why not?”

He slapped his hand against his knee. “Then so be it. A little Russian blood in our grandchildren will be an exciting addition.” Help! “You want children?” His father eyed Alex frankly.

Since she knew it wouldn’t happen, she said, “Of course. Having been an only child I’d love three or four.”

The king’s face lit up. “That settles it. We’ll have a wedding here in three weeks.” His wife nodded in obvious delight.

“Grazie, Papa.” Lucca stated as his hand slid up Alex’s back and around her shoulders. “Because we can’t wait any longer.”

“He always was in a hurry,” his father confided to Alex. “If I’m going to hold one of them on my lap before the end, that’s probably a good thing.”

“You’ll hold more than one, Papa!” his son vowed, forgetting that theirs was a marriage in name only, but Alex understood that he’d blurted the declaration out of fear over his father’s fragile state of health.

“Yuri gave Alexandra an envelope with Grigory family memorabilia. I’ve been working with my secretary on it since we arrived. He’s already delivered a list to yours so the invitations can be finished and sent out immediately.”

If that was true, then Lucca hadn’t had an opportunity to see his lover yet.

To Alex’s surprise he rose to his feet and drew her with him. As they started to leave, his father called out, “Wait … we’ve barely visited yet. Where are you going?” The longing in his voice was a beautiful thing to witness. Lucca had a father’s love. Alex envied him that.

“Out,” Lucca said in that commanding voice. “After this news you need to rest while Mama and Regina get the ball rolling.”

“He’s right, Rudy,” his mother said, patting her husband’s arm.

“There are things I want to show my bride-to-be, but we’ll be back,” Lucca said from the double doors. “I’m home to stay, Papa. Every day until the wedding you and I will spend a little time going over your affairs. I’ll never be able to fill your shoes, but when the time comes, I promise to be ready to take on your cares.”

Alex felt his avowal to the depths of her soul. Before he shut the doors behind them, she saw his father weep against his wife’s shoulder.

Outside in the hall Lucca turned to her, grasping both her hands. His dark eyes traveled over her features with such intensity she was witless. “How do I thank you for what you did in there? They love you already.” He kissed her fingertips.

She’d said too much, but she’d had no choice. “I was never given the opportunity to do anything for my parents, but I felt your parents’ happiness, Lucca. This is the next best thing.” Alex cleared her throat. “Besides, I haven’t forgotten the pact we made. With your help I’m going after a career that will pay off all my debts including the one to you. So you don’t need to thank me for anything.”

His chest rose and fell with visible emotion. Not wanting to prolong the moment, for fear he could see into the deepest corners of her psyche, she said, “And now if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a walk around Capriccio before dark by myself. I’m in the mood to explore. Is that permitted?”

Though his facial expression didn’t change, she felt a stillness steal through him. Slowly he released her hands. “Of course. You’ve been assigned bodyguards, but they’ll be unobtrusive. Always come and go through the north doors of the palace. Follow the road out to the west gate.”

“I’ll remember.”

After another sweep of his eyes he said, “Do you have enough money in case you need to buy something?”

“Yes.”

The fact that he didn’t put up an argument or insist that they be together on their first night in Castelmare underlined the depth of his eagerness to be somewhere else, with someone else. She wasn’t about to deny him that joy. The sooner she and Lucca began leading their separate lives the way it had been decided on the plane, the better. To accept the status quo with grace would be her motto starting now.

He stayed with her until they reached the grand staircase. “Have a pleasant evening, Alexandra.”

Suddenly there was an aloofness emanating from him. It was a feeling foreign to her. “Thank you, Your Highness. I’d better get used to saying it.”

Lines marred his arresting features. “You’ve never called me that before. Please never do it again.”

She blinked. “I’m sorry. I meant n—”

“My name is Lucca,” he broke in on a terse note. “Except for our wedding day where you’ll have to address me as Your Majesty when you pledge your loyalty to your sovereign king and husband, I never want to hear anything else. Capisci?”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. She understood that word well enough. Alex had angered him. “Capisci.”

“Lucca,” he corrected her.

Alex repeated the words aloud, then continued on to her bedroom. With every step she felt his piercing gaze on her retreating back. He really disliked being reminded he was royalty. In retrospect she realized it came from years of knowing he would have to put his personal happiness aside to follow in his father’s footsteps.

But now that had all changed for him. By getting engaged to Alex, he’d become a free man. Ironically it now appeared she was the one in bondage. Her hand moved instinctively to the diamond pin. Before she went anywhere else, she needed to take it off.

The loss of her mother’s real diamonds hadn’t been Alex’s fault, but heaven help her if something happened to Lucca’s prized possession. On the plane she’d sensed it had a significance for him beyond its monetary value.

Once she’d removed it she felt better. After putting it away she reached for her purse and left the suite. She was glad she didn’t bump into Regina. His sister would ask questions. Alex dreaded having to explain why she and Lucca weren’t together on his first night home.