The Bachelor Prince by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2013-06-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

IT WAS THE WEE HOURS of the morning before Stefano returned to the hotel. He couldn’t remember a time in his life that he’d been happier.

All his life he’d been groomed for his position as the Prince of San Lorenzo. He’d been taught the concerns of his country must come first. Duty and sacrifice were equated with honor and character. He knew he must marry Priscilla Rutherford or some other woman who was equally wealthy. There was no other option.

Now certainly wasn’t the time to fall in love. Now wasn’t the time to give his heart to a woman he must eventually leave.

A week, he told himself. He would give himself that time with Hope as a gift. Seven days would be ample time to fill his heart with memories. Ones that he would need to last him a lifetime.

He’d been honest with Hope from the first. She understood and accepted that there could be no future for them. And yet she’d generously opened her heart and her life to him.

By the time Stefano let himself into his suite, he realized how exhausted he was, and yet he doubted that he’d sleep. Sleep would rob him of the precious moments he had to think about Hope, to remember the taste of her kisses and how right it felt to hold her in his arms.

“Where have you been?”

Pietro’s hard voice rocked Stefano. Never had anyone dared to speak to him in such a tone.

“Pietro?” His friend stood by the picture window, his hands clasped behind his back as if he’d been furiously pacing. “Is something wrong?”

“Only that you’d disappeared!” he snapped. Walking over to the phone, Pietro punched out a series of numbers and spoke brusquely to Antonio, Stefano’s bodyguard, reporting the prince’s safe return.

“I apologize, my friend. I wasn’t thinking.”

“What is this…this ridiculous outfit?” Pietro gestured toward the Elvis costume as if he found it distasteful to look at.

“What does it look like?” Stefano was prepared to give his secretary a little slack, but Pietro was stepping dangerously close to his limit. As the crown prince, he rarely had to account for his actions, and certainly not for his choice of wardrobe.

“It looks like you’ve been making a fool of yourself,” Pietro said heatedly.

“Pietro,” Stefano barked. “I think it would be better if we saved this conversation for morning. I’ve already apologized for any dismay I may have caused you and the others. It’s late and you’re upset.”

“I’m more than upset.” His secretary walked over to the desk and reached for a sheet, jerking it off the top with enough energy to send several papers fluttering to the floor. He ignored the disruption and slapped the single page down on the table next to where Stefano was standing.

“This is my letter of resignation, effective immediately.” Having made that announcement, Pietro stormed over to the window and stood with his back to Stefano.

The prince couldn’t have been more surprised if his secretary and friend had pulled a pistol on him. The betrayal was shocking.

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