Rising from his place, he rose and stood until she was comfortably seated, then settled himself and eased back in his seat. ‘I trust you slept well?’
‘I trust you did?’ she countered.
He hadn’t had a moment’s sleep. He’d been too busy making arrangements. The first of these would come to fruition in about half an hour.
‘You look refreshed,’ he commented. She took his breath away. ‘I see you’ve been raiding the closets again?’
‘No point in being coy about it,’ she explained with her normal forthrightness, flicking her still-damp hair out of the way. ‘I don’t have any other clothes with me.’
‘I have to say, those simple sundresses look beautiful on you.’
‘Someone has very good taste,’ she observed dryly. ‘And before you ask, I wasn’t fishing for information on who that might be.’
‘Yes, you were.’ It pleased him to think she might be jealous.
‘Her loss is my gain.’
Samia’s pointed stare reminded him of an opponent in the ring. This tussle wasn’t over yet—it was only just beginning.And it might have a lifetime to run.
He brushed the thought away as a steward intervened at just the right moment with coffee. Things would never be easy between him and Samia, but that was half the stimulating fun of it. She wasn’t exactly immune to him, either, he thought as she moistened her lips and looked away.
‘So,’ he probed, ‘is the Pirate Prince about to become a reformed character?’
‘I would have thought that was up to you.’
‘My question requires an answer.’
‘I haven’t decided yet.’
‘Then, you should. Time is running out...’ As he spoke, they both turned in the direction of an approaching helicopter.
‘Visitors?’ she said. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she stared up into the harsh early morning light.
‘Heralding the start of a day devoted entirely to your pleasure,’ he explained.
‘I don’t understand.’ She frowned.
‘There’s nothingtounderstand. The question is simple. I asked you to be my bride. I’m asking you again—formally asking, this time—and I need your answer now.’
‘Now?You mean, right now?’
‘Right now,’ he confirmed.
He was glad he’d chosen an emerald engagement ring to match her eyes. It was the perfect choice. The royal jeweller had excelled herself with a Herculean effort, working through the night to create what Luca considered to be the most beautiful jewel he’d ever seen, and then having it transported by launch at dead of night.
‘What’s this?’ Samia exclaimed as he produced the midnight-blue velvet box from the breast pocket of his shirt.
‘A priceless gem, made with consummate skill and the utmost devotion by a world-renowned jeweller in Madlena.’
If he had been the type of man to puff himself up, he would have puffed at that moment, so proud was he of the craftspeople of Madlena. He was confident that Samia would be blown away. He had seen many fabulous pieces of jewellery in his time, but nothing to compare with the clarity, colour and cut of the gemstone currently residing in the palm of his hand. ‘Try it on,’ he invited.
‘Really?’ As she pulled her head back it was clear she didn’t know whether to laugh or smile. ‘May I?’
‘Of course,’ She should get used to such things.
She took the ring from his hand and stared at it in wonder as a child might on Christmas morning after picking something choice out of a stocking. The priceless stone glowed green like the heart of a rainforest, while the sizeable diamonds surrounding it flashed like Arctic fire. As she held it up to the light, she laughed. ‘It looks like green ice.’ But then she handed it back to him. ‘What a whopper,’ she remarked. ‘My granny would love it. Oh, I’m sorry,’ she blurted, realising she might have caused offence. ‘I mean, the ring is absolutely gorgeous, but just not for me.’
The helicopter hovered over them like a noisy black cloud determined to rain on his parade. Denied further conversation, he could only sit and seethe in response to Samia’s unexpected reaction to the ring he had chosen with such care, as its powerful engines screamed overhead. His affront would have to wait, he concluded as the pilot lined up for a pinprick perfect landing on theBlack Diamond’s helipad. He had more pressing matters to attend to now. Prince Luca Fortebracci wasn’t noted for indecision and he saw no reason for their marriage to be delayed any longer.
