“A broken one that was arranged by both our families, not by me or Valentina.”

  Her head reared. “You’re saying—”

  “I’m saying exactly what you know I meant. Valentina and I were forced to meet only a few days before the engagement happened. Our families met at a regatta on Lake Garda where it was made official. Love had nothing to do with any of it.

  “We were both guilted into making a commitment by our parents. We never slept together or came close. That was a commitment I made to my dying father. To Valentina’s credit, she had the honesty to break it off while I’ve been trying to find a way for us to get out of it. Now we’re both free and I’ve never been more relieved.”

  “Daniel told me how happy you were.”

  “He knows me very well. He also realizes that neither you or I could help that we’ve met each other, Francesca. You think I don’t understand why you waited this long to tell me? I get it. Just remember that one day soon Valentina will be betrothed to someone else and none of this will matter anyway. In the meantime, it shouldn’t stop us from enjoying a moment together here and there.”

  She shook her blond head. “It won’t be here and there, Vincenzo, and you know it!” He watched the color flood into her cheeks. “I’m terrified to consider a relationship with you no matter how short-term.”

  “Why short-term?”

  “Once word gets out about us and my true identity, it will bring grief to all the families, especially your mother. You said she cares for Valentina.”

  “That will fade with time, and we’ll be discreet. Unless...” a dark brow lifted, “you’ve already had enough of my company.”

  “I wouldn’t be here with you right now if that were the case.”

  “Grazie al cielo.”

  “Vincenzo, we need to use our heads.” Staring straight into his eyes she said, “I don’t want to see you after today.”

  “You’re lying. I can tell by that nerve throbbing at the base of your tender throat.”

  She moaned. “Don’t say anything else. You’re not an ordinary man.”

  “But I am.”

  “No. You live in a different world, the same one my father left. You know I’ve enjoyed being with you to say goodbye to Karl. I feel honored that you would have allowed me to take care of him when I’m aware of your relationship with Daniel over the years. I’ll make that video next month, but that’s all there can be.”

  “I don’t accept that. We feel an attraction that isn’t going away.”

  “Even if you speak the truth, we can’t act on it. Think about your mother.”

  He sat forward. “What’s your greatest fear, Francesca?”

  He heard her sharp intake of breath. “My father gave up one life to marry my mother and move away for good. I don’t want my actions to create a new crisis for them. What’s yours?”

  Vincenzo finished off another helping of pasta and put his fork down. “That you’re too concerned over my mother’s attachment to Valentina to give us a chance.”

  “It’s more than that. I’m her cousin. That fact alone will bring terrible pain to your mom.”

  “I’ve already accomplished that feat by not fighting for Valentina. I’ll warn you now that I have no intention of this being our last day together, and I’m not talking about making the Biosphere Reserve video.”

  “But Vincenzo—” she blurted, “to go on seeing each other would be playing with fire.”

  “I’m more interested in the fire we feel when we’re together,” he countered. “It happened that first day. What we need is more time together, though no amount of trying to assuage our longing for each other will be enough for me.”

  * * *

  Our longing? Vincenzo had just identified what was wrong with her. Francesca couldn’t stay still and got up from the table. Artur followed her over to the fireplace. She hugged her arms to her chest and stared into the flames. Soon another pair of arms slid around her from behind.

  Vincenzo pulled her against his tall, hard body and rubbed his cheek against hers. “I’ve been aching to do this since I discovered you at the clinic desk.”

  She’d been aching for it too. “Vincenzo,” she moaned his name.

  “Do you know at that moment my heart kicked against my chest? Who was this exquisite woman I wanted to take home with me? Lo and behold she turned out to be everything I ever wanted in a woman. What was more, she knew exactly what to do for my dog, enamoring him and me. I need to be closer to you, Francesca.”

  In the next instant he eased her around and his head descended. When his mouth covered hers, every sense sprang to life. The taste and feel of him thrilled her so much she found herself giving him kiss for hungry kiss.

  Not until later would she realize how on fire she’d been for him and should have stopped what was happening. But she was in the moment right now and never wanted this ecstasy to end. Time passed as they clung, trying to get closer. Only Artur’s barking could bring her out of her euphoria. She pulled away from Vincenzo in time to scoop up her dog.

  “Did you feel ignored?” She kissed the top of his head and put him in his crate.

  Vincenzo reached for her hand. “We’re going to have to train him.”

  Her face felt hot as she looked up at him. His virile male beauty made her legs go weak. “My dog is smarter than I thought. He knew I was in trouble.”

  One corner of Vincenzo’s compelling mouth lifted. “Your admission makes it easier for me to talk to you about us. Don’t you dare say there is no us. At this juncture we both know better.”

  “I’d be a fool if I pretended otherwise.” She moved to the couch and sat down. “But we need to be careful.”

  “So far I think we have been.” He kissed her again and once more the world wheeled away to a place where only the two of them existed. By the time he relinquished her mouth and she came back to her senses, the sun had been out for a long time. She glanced down at the crate. “I’m afraid Artur gave up on us.”

  Their eyes met. “But you were right. He is a very intelligent dog. Let’s find his leash and take him outside. We’ll see if he looks for corncrakes the way Karl always did.”

  The three of them left the chalet and walked past the pines to a high meadow filled with blue gentians and yellow buttercups. Thrusting mountain tops formed the backdrop. They took a long hike, stopping every few steps to kiss because they couldn’t stay away from each other. Artur scrambled around enchanted, mirroring Francesca’s mood.

  “The problem now is, I want to keep you here with me, Francesca. But I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of you—therefore, I’m going to drive you home.”

  “You’re asking me to leave paradise.”

  “Didn’t you know that’s the reason why?” He kissed her fiercely. “Tomorrow’s Sunday. I’ll pick you up and we’ll go on a picnic with Artur in the woods near the timber office. I know where you spend your working days. Now I want you to see where I spend mine. No one will be around but the night watchmen. That should be careful enough for you.”

  * * *

  Vincenzo drove her back to her apartment. The only reason he could leave Francesca was because he’d be spending the day with her tomorrow. After saying good-night to the dog, he drove home. Intent on avoiding his mother who would ask too many questions, Vincenzo escaped to his suite in the other part of the palace.

  Five minutes later he heard Bella’s familiar knock on the door and he rushed to open it. “At last, you’re home.”

  His beautiful, dark blond sister hugged him hard and they sat down together on the couch. “You don’t need to say another word, brother dear. Mother is hopeless where you’re concerned, but it’s obvious that getting unengaged to Valentina has done wonders for you. There’s a light in your eyes I’ve never seen before. So now I want the whole truth. What’s really going on with you? I won’t go away until you tell me.”

  Bella’s return from vacation had been the medicine he’d needed and he unloaded on her. Those violet eyes of hers turned to a deeper tone as the revelation about Francesca’s birth name and the story of her side of the Visconti family sank in.

  He got up from the sofa and paced. “She’s fighting me on this, Bella.”

  “Of course. That’s because when word gets out, it’ll create headlines across Europe. I can see them now, even though they won’t be the truth—Former Crown Prince Vincenzo Baldasseri of the royal family of San Vitano jilts Princess Valentina Visconti of Milano to take up with her estranged cousin Francesca Visconti, formerly of the House of Visconti.”

  Vincenzo grimaced. “The scenario is made for the media to plaster all over the world. Would you believe Francesca is worried about Mamma and her feelings for Valentina?”

  “She sounds like a very nice person.”

  “Francesca is a lot more than that.”

  “She’s right to be concerned. When our mother hears you’ve been seeing Valentina’s cousin, she’s going to explode.”

  “I’m not telling her yet. I need more time with Francesca first. Tomorrow I’m spending the day with her where we’ll be alone.”

  “I can tell you’ve fallen hard, and there’ll be no way she can resist you. I’m so happy for you. Considering she’s a vet, her choice of dog tells you all you need to know about her feelings. Do you know when you showed me the photo of Artur on your phone, I thought I was looking at Karl. I miss him horribly.”

  “So do I,” he murmured.

  “You’re going to have to find a creative way to convince her you’re meant to be together.”

  “Thank heaven you understand. I want you to meet her and I’ll arrange something. It’ll have to be in private.”

  She got up from the couch. “Just let me know and I’ll be there. Now I’ll run to say good-night to the grandparents. Before I leave, I wondered if you’ve talked to Luca lately.”

  “Yes. He hasn’t met anyone else yet.”

  A flushed Bella swept over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Love you.”

  Early the next morning Vincenzo took off for Zernez. He stopped at a store for a picnic basket, then drove to the deli and filled it with food. Few clouds remained from yesterday’s storm, increasing his joie de vivre.

  When he pulled up to her apartment, she came hurrying down the stairs carrying the dog’s crate and a bag. She wore a summery, short-sleeved print blouse and denims. The mold of her beautiful figure always took his breath.

  He jumped out to put the dog and bag in the backseat. Before helping her in, he caught her to him and kissed her, unable to resist. Her flowery fragrance intoxicated him.

  Artur made yapping sounds at being ignored, but they were both dying for each other. After Vincenzo started the engine, he reached back and slid a piece of jerky through the bars. “There you go, buddy.”

  Francesca smiled. “No wonder Karl loved you so much. I’m afraid maybe all this is a dream and I’m going to wake up to reality.”

  “We’re both in the same dream, so if we wake up, we’ll be together no matter where we are.”

  He drove them to the Baldasseri Timber Company outside Scuol. Located in the forest, the whole plant with its separate buildings could have taken up four city blocks. Beyond the structures lay a sea of trucks.

  “Vincenzo—I had no idea of its massive size.”

  “This, along with the gold mine Rini heads, helps keep the Baldasseri family afloat. I thought you should see where I spend the bulk of my time.”

  He pulled up in front of the main entrance and turned off the engine. “Why don’t I show you my office, then we’ll drive to the area where Artur can get out and explore. We’ll tie the dog’s leash to this tree while we’re inside.”

  “Perfect.”

  Several security men nodded to them as Vincenzo ushered her inside the foyer and led her down a hall past his assistant’s office to his inner sanctum. The room contained one window behind his desk. There were a few chairs and a small table. What caught her gaze was the myriad of huge charts hanging on three immense walls and she let out a surprised gasp.

  He slid his arms around her waist from behind. “This isn’t like a normal office. I like to see what our business is doing. It’s vital I keep my finger on all the areas where we plant and harvest trees. My working day consists of graphing the progress as the reports pour in. Each daily report reveals problems that need to be solved. This other chart displays my ideas for expansion. Little by little the business is growing.”

  “That’s marvelous. I had no idea you were such a visual man. These charts are amazing! Another time and I want to study each one.”

  He turned her around, staring into her eyes. “I’m glad you said that because I want to take you somewhere totally private where I can study you.”

  Everything he said or did made her tremble with desire. “When did you start working here?”

  “My father brought me here as a little boy. I learned all about the trees. He would test me. I had to name each kind and their best uses.”

  She grinned. “Let’s see how good you are. What are they?”

  His fantastic blue eyes ignited in challenge. “At four years of age I memorized them by their first letter in the alphabet—A, B, F, L, M, O, P, S.”

  She chuckled. “What do they stand for?”

  “Ash, beech, fir, larch, maple, oak, pine and spruce. There are others, of course.”

  “Name one.”

  “The Swiss stone pine. Some call it the Arolla, known for its fragrance and ability to survive the winter.”

  “What tree is the most prolific?” she fired.

  “The spruce, if we’re talking the Engadin.”

  “It’s apparent you were a brilliant student.”

  He kissed her mouth. “I knew after I met you that you’re a woman with an exceptionally inquiring mind. It’s just one of the reasons why I haven’t been able to stay away from you.”

  Warmth spread through her body. She left his arms and walked over to one of the charts, astounded by the information. “So you work on these every day with your own set of hieroglyphs. Do I need a Rosetta stone to translate them?”

  Vincenzo chuckled. “Probably something more complicated.”

  “That means your work would be difficult to decode. Can your assistant decipher them?”

  “Most of the time.”

  “You’re a genius! I’d like to learn.”

  “Come on, Dr. Linard. Let’s leave the lab work for another time.” He walked over and put his arm around her shoulders. “Artur must be wondering why we’ve abandoned him.”

  Together they left the building. The dog heard them coming and started yapping before they put him back inside the car. Francesca put her hand back on the cage. “I know you were worried, Artur, but we didn’t leave you very long. Now we’re going to have fun.”

  She turned to Vincenzo who drove them into the forest. “Did you bring Karl to work a lot?”

  “From time to time. To solve his loneliness on weekdays, I got up for work at five and left at three. Once home, I spent hours with him and took him with me most weekends. What’s so perfect with your situation is that you can keep Artur in the kennel and check on him throughout the day. It’s the ideal setup for him.”

  “I’m really lucky in that regard.”

  They reached a small clearing where he parked the car. “While you take care of the dog, I’ll do the rest.”

  She carried the crate and a bag of doggie treats to a spot under the trees. After letting him out, she attached the long leash. “Come on, Artur. We’ll go for a walk.”

  This glorious day in the mountains increased her feelings of joy to be out with the most wonderful man. How was it possible that she’d met anyone so perfect? Her ecstatic dog wanted to run everywhere and wore her out.

  In the distance she watched Vincenzo spread a blanket near the crate. Next, he brought the picnic basket from the car. He thought of everything and always put her first.

  Vincenzo grinned when Artur made a beeline for him. He’d emptied bottled water into a bowl for the dog. She fastened the leash to the trunk of a tree. He carried the water over to Artur. Her dog drank and drank.

  Vincenzo chuckled. “I hope you’ve built up a similar appetite, Francesca. Judging by the weight of this basket, I bought more than we can consume in one sitting. It was too late last night to ask the cook to pack us a meal.”

  She sank down on the blanket. “I have no doubts that she’s like everyone who knows you, and would do anything for you.”

  “Does that include you?”

  “I agreed to do that video narration for fear I’d never see you again.”

  “I came close to cardiac arrest until you said yes.” He pulled her next to him and began kissing her. Slowly at first, until their passion grew to a whole new level. She felt him let her go with reluctance. “I think we’d better eat,” he whispered, “or I’m going to devour you instead.”

  “When my brother accused me of finally meeting the man who appealed to me, I couldn’t deny it.”

  “I already like him.” He reached out to trace the line of her brow. “My sister said virtually the same thing about you.”

  She sat up. “Our siblings know us well.”

  They reached in the basket for the food they wanted and began eating. Vincenzo tossed the dog a piece of ham.

  Francesca eyed him playfully. “I can see why Karl was so devoted to you. Artur already worships the ground you walk on.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere.” Vincenzo finished his second helping of everything before centering his gaze on her. “I’m curious about something. It’s clear that you’re not involved with another man right now, but have you been in love before?

  “I can’t imagine that you haven’t been besieged with men wanting a relationship with you. No man could meet you without wanting to hide you away all to himself. You saw what happened at the board meeting.”