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  “That’s what I need to ask you. I knew you weren’t yourself today. Neither was Alex when he called me earlier. The man’s crazy about you. I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

  “You’re the best. He’s asked me to marry him.”

  “But—”

  “I—I wouldn’t know how to be a queen.”

  “Does anyone? Chances are he doesn’t know how to be a king. If you love him, and I know you do, then be a good wife to him. That’s what he wants, right? It’ll help him be a good king.”

  “Oh, Nico. You make so much sense, I’m in awe.” Her voice shook.

  “I’m glad. I think you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. As I recall you had the same fear when Baba made you editor-in-chief.”

  “You’re right. I was terrified.”

  “Yet it all worked out. Have faith in yourself, Giannina.”

  “I’ll try.”

  The last time she’d been inside her apartment, Alex had come with her. She looked around, feeling an intense loneliness she’d never experienced before. He’d changed her to the point she didn’t know herself anymore.

  Needing noise, anything, she turned on the news in time to see a broadcast with the picture she’d taken of Alex leaving Nico’s villa. “His Highness Prince Alexandros is back home today in Loria, Hellenia, after fourteen years of exile. The world is cheering the arrest of the ruthless General Ruiz, who put unbearable burdens on the Hellenian people.

  “None of us will forget the brutal murders of the king and queen of Hellenia. Today we can all rejoice in the triumphant return of the prince. I, for one, eagerly await news from His Highness of his plans to restore a kingdom that has been ravaged by virtual civil war.”

  By now Giannina was in agony and turned it off. The whole world expected him to rule in the place of his father. For him to give that up to marry her because she didn’t want to be queen sounded like...like the pout of an incorrigible, spoiled, silly, immature, stupid, out-of-control little girl without the sense she’d been born with.

  For some reason she couldn’t explain, she’d been destined to meet a man who’d turned out to become a king. It wasn’t his fault or hers. They met and fell in love. It happened.

  He could never be a government worker like he’d insisted he would do in order to make marriage palatable to her. His country wouldn’t stand for it. No—if she wanted to be his wife, she would have to turn herself into a queen, for better or worse. But how did you do that?

  Nico had told her to be a good wife and the rest would follow. But it still meant learning about a whole other world and how to act. It meant teaching any children they would have that they’d been given the most unusual role in life any child could have. What if their children didn’t want a royal life and rebelled against it? What if she tried, but couldn’t handle it? Her questions were endless.

  There were other solutions. She could either remain single in life, or eventually marry a man who led an ordinary existence. Their children wouldn’t be governed by royal rules. But that was the problem. So far, no man leading an ordinary existence had come along to sweep her off her feet.

  Philip had been the only man who’d changed her world. Why couldn’t Alex have remained Philip? His unmasking revealed another man who’d lived another life totally foreign to her. Alex had accused her of being afraid. He wasn’t a superb journalist for nothing and had found her vulnerability.

  She was afraid, terrified of not being all the things he needed.

  An ordinary housewife had its many challenges, but to be his queen meant something else so entirely different... What if she failed him or somehow inhibited his ability to rule? What if she disappointed him and he would have to tolerate her? What if he fell out of love with her?

  Giannina knew he admired her skill as a journalist and editor. But what if she couldn’t measure up to his vision of how they would be together as rulers of his country? She’d been born a Greek citizen. Would his people accept her nationality? She could apply for Hellenian citizenship, but would she always be viewed as an outsider?

  When his country learned that her uncle had been one of the monsters who’d murdered their king and queen, would it change their feelings about the prince’s choice of wife? Had Alex even thought about that? Would the parliament try to prevent their marriage? If they did marry, would they demand a dissolution of it in order for him to marry a suitable royal they could be proud of?

  So many questions bombarded her until she sobbed into the pillow and drenched it. In this sorry state, her phone rang again. She wasn’t up to conversation. The only thing to do was turn off her phone, but it was in her purse in the living room. She slid off the bed to get it, but almost fainted when she saw the name on the caller ID.

  Her body trembled as she clicked on. “Alex?”

  “Doxa to Theo,” he cried in anxiety. “I called your brother to thank him for everything. He told me you’d gone back to your apartment after leaving your parents’ home. I was about to call my security people to find out why you didn’t answer.”

  She sank down in the nearest chair, astounded that he’d even called and that he’d sounded so worried. “I had to hunt for my phone.”

  “Nico told me you’ve talked with your aunt about Ari Hatzi.”

  She gripped the phone tighter. “Yes. She took it amazingly well.”

  “For your sake I’m glad. Giannina—there’s something I want to share with you, but it means you’ll have to come to Loria. I know nothing’s been resolved between us, but this is of vital importance to me.”

  She couldn’t prevent the slight gasp that escaped.

  “Tomorrow can you arrange to stay away from your office one more day? I’ll send the helicopter to your office building to pick you up at ten. It will land at the side of the royal palace and I’ll be there to meet you.”

  Giannina knew she wanted to be with him, and the urgency in his tone convinced her. “If it’s that vital, I’ll be ready.”

  “Wear something casual since we’ll be outside most of the time. Sleep well.”

  As if she’d get any sleep after this phone call that had shaken her to the core. Once she heard the click, she hung up.

  Wear something casual. She appreciated the suggestion since she’d feel like a fool showing up overdressed and wearing high heels in front of the staff. Being outside meant walking shoes. She had a favorite pair of khaki pants she would tone with a creamy-orange-and-white sleeveless top.

  Toss and turn. That described her night. She awakened early and spent time getting ready. Hair, nails, makeup, including a pink lipstick. She left the apartment and walked to work to calm her nerves. After she reached the office, she grabbed a bite of food in the lunchroom before seeking out Khloe.

  “Wow!” her assistant remarked. “You look fabulous. Where are you going?”

  “I have a ten o’clock appointment and don’t know when I’ll be back. Would you mind taking over until I return?”

  “This wouldn’t have to do with that gorgeous Prince Alexandros would it? Until I saw his picture, I didn’t think any man was better-looking that Philip Dimas.” Her eyes gleamed.

  Khloe, Khloe. “He’s a hunk, all right.”

  “You knocked the newspaper out of the ball park with those headlines yesterday. The guys downstairs haven’t stopped talking about it and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing. I’ve dozens of calls from other newspapers to return.”

  “That’s good, Khloe, and puts our paper on the map. The guys did a great job on the layout. Be sure to let them know there’s a bonus for them and, of course, one for you. I couldn’t get along without you.”

  “Aw, thanks, boss.”

  Giannina smiled. “Now I have to leave. Talk to you soon.”

  * * *

  After years of planning for this day, Alex and Zikos had contractors already on-site for a
complete renovation of the three-story palace. They’d arranged for the staff to live elsewhere and paid their salaries until they could return.

  It was going to take time, but the result would be worth it. He hardly recognized it for the home he’d once lived in. The last thing he wanted was any evidence that the general had ever occupied it. He’d turned it into a third world compound that had been filled with his cronies and licentious living. Everywhere it reeked of smoke and had deteriorated beyond recognition.

  Everything needed to be redone, including a demolition of his parents’ spacious apartment at the rear of the palace on the first floor. But he had no idea what to do with that area.

  Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Alex left the hotel in town where he and Zikos were staying. The large conference rooms could hold the parliament while they made future plans to get the country started again.

  One of the first things he’d already done was have the huge spotlights, guard posts, barricades and electronic gates removed from around the palatial estate. He bought a car and drove to the woods at the rear of the estate, wanting to inspect the tiny summerhouse he’d told Giannina about.

  By some miracle it hadn’t been damaged, but everything else was a disaster.

  As Alex walked around the palace surveying the changes he wanted made to the exterior and landscaping, he checked his watch. The helicopter should be arriving any minute.

  There’d been little sleep for him last night. Giannina dominated every thought. If she’d changed her mind at the last second and had decided not to come...

  It wasn’t long until he heard sounds that had him running toward the pad. When the helicopter landed, he opened the door without waiting for the rotors to stop.

  “Alex—”

  Giannina looked like a vision. He reached out to grip her waist and hugged her to him before lowering her to the ground. “I thought you’d never get here,” he whispered into her hair. She’d worn it loose and flowing the way he loved it. “Welcome to Loria.”

  Her light brown gaze glanced all around. “What’s going on?”

  “As you can see, the general destroyed everything beautiful about my home, so it’s undergoing a face-lift inside and out of gigantic proportions.”

  “Are you really safe here now?” She looked anxious.

  “He’s gone forever, and I have bodyguards on me day and night.”

  “Even so. How awful for you to have to come home to see this!”

  “Don’t worry. I knew I wouldn’t recognize it, but that doesn’t matter. It’s in the right hands now and one day soon it will be restored to its former glory.”

  “Obviously you’re not staying here.”

  “Zikos and I have made the Hotel Poseidon our temporary headquarters.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  He led her to the other side of the palace where he found Evander waiting for him. “Giannina Angelis? Let me introduce you to an old friend, Evander Corso. His father was the head gardener in my father’s time. He and I pretty well grew up together.”

  Her eyes glowed. “I was hoping you’d find a friend. How wonderful! It’s so nice to meet you, Evander.”

  His friend stared at her in male admiration. Giannina was a great beauty and had never looked more breathtaking than this morning. “It’s my pleasure, Kyria Angelis.”

  Alex pulled her closer, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. “Evander has something to show me. Since it’s a surprise, I wanted you to be with me.”

  “That sounds exciting.”

  “If both of you will follow me.” Alex kept his arm around her as Evander led them along a path into the woods. Before long he slowed down. “This is the place.”

  She saw the two-foot-high white headstone at the same time Alex did. It was inscribed with the likeness of a Posavac hunting dog. The inscription read, “Here rests Achilles, the noble hound of his noble master, Prince Alexandros. He looks down from heaven, waiting to run with him again one day.”

  “Oh, Alex—”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. Before he knew it, she’d left him long enough to hug Evander. When she stepped away from him, she said, “This gift has to be Alex’s greatest treasure. No man could ever have a better friend than you.

  “I love you for doing this for him, Evander. I was only twelve when he disappeared, but I’d been here a year earlier with my father. Alex and I ran around the grounds with him. I always wondered what happened to him.”

  “He was a special dog.”

  Her warmth and charm spoke to Alex’s heart. Needing her more than ever, he pulled her against him. “Evander found my dog wandering around after I was taken away. He took the dog home and cared for him until he died nine years ago. I’ll be indebted to you forever, Evander.”

  The other man blinked away his tears. “I loved Achilles too.”

  Alex had to clear his throat to talk. “This gift takes away any pain I felt at coming back to the palace. Thank you, my good friend.”

  “It’s an honor to know you’re going to be my king.”

  “We don’t know what the future holds yet, Evander.” He’d told Giannina he would work for the government and not be the king if that was what she wanted. Nothing was more important than to go through life with her.

  “I do,” Evander said in solemn voice. “Not all sons born to a king will make a good king, let alone a great one. That doesn’t apply to you, Your Highness. We all loved you and have lived for the day when you would be found and wear the crown. Now I must leave you and go to work. It’s been an honor, Kyria Angelis.”

  “And mine.”

  He walked away, leaving them alone. Giannina lifted her face to Alex. “When you told me you had something of vital importance to show me, I never dreamed anything could touch me more. You must be overwhelmed by what he’s done for you. What a sweet man. Imagine having such a friend. I meant it when I said I love him for what he did.”

  “I love him too,” Alex murmured. “And I’ve got a thought how to show him my appreciation.”

  She knelt in front of the monument to trace the lines of the dog’s head. “Is he a gardener too?”

  Alex looked down at her. “Not from choice. He and his wife live with his father. The general refused to let him leave the compound. He’s married with a child, but he always loved cars and wanted to work in a body shop.”

  “Maybe you could make it possible for him to get a job in town.”

  “That’s a good idea. Before we do anything else, let’s see about it now. After that, I want to take you on a tour of the palace and get your ideas for designing the interior. I’m starting from scratch.”

  She turned her head to glance at him. “My ideas?”

  “You’re a woman. I’d value any input you could give me. This is all new to me. But first, our errand.”

  He walked her along the path and out to his car. “I’m thinking we’ll stop by a certain Realtor’s office first. I noticed earlier he’s still in business since my father’s time. Maybe he’s got some ideas.”

  The drive didn’t take long. Alex pulled up in front and helped her out.

  “Your Highness!” the older owner cried in surprise when they walked in together. It wasn’t a surprise to Alex, whose pictures were all over the media since his story had come out. He was glad to see that no one else was around yet. “It is you, all grown up! What a great honor. We’ve waited and waited years for news of you.”

  “I’ve waited a long time too. Allow me to present Kyria Angelis.”

  “A great pleasure, kyria.”

  “Perhaps you can do me a special favor, but it has to remain a secret between the two of us. No one else.”

  “Anything, Your Highness. Anything! Please, both of you sit down.”

  “Thank you. There’s a man, Evander Corso. He works
with cars. In your business you get around and see things. Is there a body shop for sale?”

  The Realtor looked through his listings and found three throughout the 2,200-square-mile island of Hellenia.

  “Are any in Loria?”

  “One.” He nodded. “The owner is asking a steep price I fear he won’t get.”

  Alex nodded. “What about houses for sale in that same area?”

  The older man spread his hands. “How big?”

  “Enough room for a family of four, maybe more.” Alex turned to her. “I’m thinking he might want his father with him.”

  “That would be perfect, Alex.”

  “I will find what I can.”

  “Excellent.” Alex got to his feet. “I want you to call him at this phone number.” He’d written the number of Evander’s father on a card. “I’ve also put my credit card number on there.” In an aside to Giannina, he said, “My savings as Philip Dimas come in handy at a time like this.”

  Her response was an illuminating smile.

  He turned to the Realtor. “When you can arrange it, I’d like you to show him everything. If he likes what he sees, give him the keys and inform him the places are his. Put the bill on my card.”

  Giannina clutched his arm hard, giving him her approval.

  “When he asks what’s going on, tell him this is repayment for his care of my dog, Achilles. He’ll understand. There’s a big bonus in this for you too. Remember—this is between us.”

  While the Realtor stood there in a daze, they went out to the car and left for the palace. “It feels good to do something for a friend as exceptional as Evander.”

  “You’ve done something so marvelous, I’m close to speechless.”

  “I’m glad you were with me, Giannina.” He loved her playing a part in everything. Life without her would be incomprehensible. “Now to tackle the palace.”

  “Do you want to re-create it in the original?”

  “Not completely. I’d like to modernize to some extent and make it even more comfortable, especially for children.” Our children, Giannina.

  Once they reached the palace, he gripped her hand and walked with her to one of the side entrances. Workmen filled the interior, but they stopped to stare at Giannina. No man alive could be immune to her feminine allure.