How to Propose to a Princess Read online

  The princess’s compassion and generosity impressed him. “I’d like to be a patient so she’d bring me one just like yours, Gina.”

  “I might be able to arrange something,” their royal guest drawled without looking at him. She stood up as Gina’s mother came back in the room. “I loved spending time with you, Gina. Do everything the doctor says and I know you’ll get well too.”

  “Do you have to go?”

  “There’s another patient I have to visit, but I’ll keep you in my prayers.”

  “Thank you for the dog.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Bless you, Princess,” her mother whispered. Their visitor was winning everyone over.

  Like last evening, the princess slipped out of the room before Nico could stop her. He spent a few more minutes talking to his patient, then he left to find out where the princess had gone. The charge nurse said she was seeing a patient down the hall.

  Nico waited and made phone calls for twenty minutes until she appeared and walked toward him. The second their eyes met, he realized how much he’d wanted to see her again.

  He’d never been so drawn to another woman. That was the hell of it. She was a princess and had to be off-limits to a man who wasn’t of royal birth. At least he assumed as much, knowing her sisters had married royalty, plus listening to the speculation in the media of a royal marriage in her future. But he didn’t see an engagement ring on her finger.

  “That was a generous gift you gave my patient.”

  “I brought one for all the children and was happy to do it, but you have to know that what you said to her relieved her fear. It’s obvious you have a way with children.”

  “You have your own magic.” He shifted his weight. “How much longer are you on duty?”

  “I’m off now. Buona sera, Dr. Barsotti.”

  He watched her walk away on those long slender legs. Unable to help himself, he followed her. “Princess?”

  She turned around. Her exquisite blue eyes lit up. “Yes?”

  “I’m headed for the cafeteria for a bite to eat. Would you care to join me before you leave the hospital? Or is there someone waiting for you?” Might as well find out right now.

  “There’s no one. In fact, I’m headed to the cafeteria myself to get some work done. But first I need to get my laptop from my locker in the cloakroom off the cafeteria. If it’s all right with you, I’ll meet you there in five minutes.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  Curious to know the nature of her work, he headed for the cafeteria. After going through the line, he found them a table. When she came in minus her lab coat, everyone stared at her. Whether she was a princess or not, her beauty drew attention, especially his.

  She acted oblivious as she made her way to the table and put her computer on another chair. “I’ll be right back after I go through the line.” Upon her return he noticed she’d chosen coffee and a sandwich too. The second she sat down, she started eating. “Forgive me. I’m starving.”

  “I can relate.”

  Her gaze met his. “This afternoon I dropped in to see Tommaso and bring him a stuffed dog like the one in the story, but he wasn’t there. Obviously you released him this morning.”

  Nico nodded as he drank his coffee. “If you’ll give it to me, I’ll pass it on to him when he comes in the office for a checkup. That’ll make his day.”

  “He made mine. Thank you for offering. I’ll give it to you before you leave this evening. It’s in my locker.”

  “I have a better idea. Why don’t you bring it to the pediatric floor tomorrow and leave it at the nursing station? I’ll meet you there after your shift has ended and take it with me. If you’re free, we could eat here in the cafeteria again.”

  Her lips curved into another of those smiles he felt reach inside him. “I don’t normally have plans after work and would enjoy that very much.”

  She radiated a warmth that crept under his skin, causing his pulse to race. How could it be that she wanted to be with him when she could have any man she desired?

  “Bene.” He needed to focus before he got lost in those blue orbs. “Are you liking your volunteer assignment?”

  She lit up. “I love it. If I’m blessed enough to be a mother one day, I plan to have a lot of children.”

  Nico found himself envying the prince who would turn out to be her fortunate husband and father those babies. “What kind of work do you do that requires your laptop after volunteering here half the day?”

  “I help fund-raise for my younger sister, Lanza. She’s in charge of setting up low income housing for veterans and others and setting up soup kitchens for the homeless. I spend my mornings calling on potential donors like CEOs who believe in helping with a financial contribution. In the evening I send them information and set up more appointments. That’s what I’m going to do right now.”

  Nico finished the last of his sandwich. “I can’t think of a worthier cause.” He actually couldn’t and found her remarkable for caring so much. The male CEOs she met probably fell madly in love with her and would grant her what she asked for without thinking about it.

  If he weren’t paying off a debt while he hired people to search for his parents, he would make a donation. “I suspect you’re anxious to get busy, so I’ll leave you to your work and see you tomorrow at the end of the day.”

  “I’ll look forward to it, dottore.”

  He hoped she meant that because the last thing he wanted to do was put distance between them. “Buona sera, Princess.”

  * * *

  Thursday evening Fausta’s pulse was racing as she left her last patient and walked down the corridor toward the nursing station. But the doctor wasn’t there waiting for her and her heart plummeted to her feet. She couldn’t believe how disappointed she was as she approached the charge nurse. How could she care about him this fast? What was wrong with her?

  “Do you still have the stuffed dog I left here when I came on duty?”

  “No. Dr. Barsotti took it and said he would meet you in the cafeteria.”

  After struggling to recover, she thanked the nurse and left for the cloakroom. Once she’d hung up her lab coat and pulled out the laptop from her locker, she was so eager to see him, she could hardly catch her breath.

  A chuckle escaped her lips when she saw him seated in a stone colored summer suit at the same table as yesterday drinking coffee. What a gorgeous man! He’d propped the dog on its backside in the chair next to him, like he was a diner too. Her eyes met the deep blue of the doctor’s and they both laughed. He had an imp inside him that played havoc with her emotions.

  “You were amazing to find this terrier for Tommaso, Princess. He looks like the dog painted on the book cover.”

  “I think he does too.” She left her computer on the other chair. “I’ll be right back. What are they serving tonight?”

  “I hear it’s chicken and rice, but I think we should give it a miss.” He took a deep breath. “If I asked if you’d consider having dinner with me elsewhere, what would you say?”

  She cocked her head, causing that golden mesh to swish against her shoulders. “Are you?”

  “Am I what?”

  “Asking me out to dinner?”

  His adrenaline surged. “Yes.” Why not. This would probably be the only chance in his whole life to spend an evening away from the hospital with this stunning princess. Naturally she would have to be free of any commitments in order to accept.

  “I’d love it” came the response, which astonished him again. She really wasn’t involved with someone? Earlier she’d told him there was no one, but he had to be sure.

  “Are you honestly telling me there’s no prince in your future?”

  “Nico—it’s true I’m under constant pressure to marry a prince on my parents’ short list, especially now that both of my sister
s are married.” He knew it! “And of course, there’s continual speculation about my marrying a prince in the media. There will always be gossip. But in all honesty, I swear to you there’s no prince in my life and there never will be!” she said with such emotion, he knew she’d meant it.

  Before he could say anything else, she blurted, “What about a woman in yours? How come you’re not going home to someone important this evening?”

  “I date on occasion, but so far there’s been no one special.”

  She smiled. “I’m going to take you at your word. Thank you for being truthful with me. Now that we have that settled, where shall we go? I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

  “How about Babbo’s?”

  Her heart leaped. He’d just invited her on a date. “I’d love it.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  As she reached for her laptop, he picked up the dog and they left the hospital.

  Fausta couldn’t believe he’d asked her out and was literally floating as they walked the short distance to the trattoria. For a while she could be the commoner she’d always wanted to be, going out to dinner with a fabulous man who wanted to be with her.

  This was the normal life she’d always wanted! The way the women stared at him during their walk, she knew they’d give anything to be in her place.

  When they reached Babbo’s, Nico found them a booth and they both ordered lasagna. After they began eating, she asked, “How was your day?”

  “Busy. A fifty-year-old male patient of mine had his gall bladder removed this morning. His surgeon didn’t want to release him until tomorrow. Though he should do well, I need to know if there are any complications before I go home.”

  “Where would our world be without doctors like you? I know my father relies on his. We’re all indebted to him.”

  Nico blinked. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “A bad heart. These days my brother-in-law Prince Stefano is helping him more and more with the load.”

  “I’m sorry he’s not well.”

  She sighed. “I am too and shouldn’t have said anything. No one outside the family knows.”

  “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

  Fausta finished her coffee. “I believe you.” She’d lost her trust in men four years ago, but somehow she felt she could trust this doctor who took her breath away and had a bedside manner that instilled confidence in his patients.

  One dark brow lifted. “Did you find any new benefactors this morning?”

  She welcomed the change of subject. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow. Fund-raising takes time, but I had such a wonderful afternoon with the children, I can’t complain about anything.”

  “Nor I.”

  Suddenly his phone rang and he answered. When he hung up, he said, “I was afraid of this and need to check on my patient now. Tell me something. How do you get home at night?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I call for the limo. The driver will pick me up here.”

  “I’m sorry I have to go.” He got to his feet and picked up the dog. “Do you work tomorrow?”

  Her pulse picked up speed. “Yes. Tuesday through Friday.”

  “Unfortunately I have a two day seminar that will prevent me from meeting you. If you’re free Sunday evening, I’d like to see you again.”

  “I want that too.” Her swift response thrilled him. “When you come to the palace, drive around to the left entrance and I’ll be there waiting for you. Just name the time.”

  “Six thirty?”

  “That sounds perfect. Thank you for dinner this evening.”

  “I’m the one wanting to thank you for coming with me.” After reaching for the dog, he glanced at her. “I don’t want to leave, but work calls.”

  “Don’t apologize. I bet your patient can’t wait to see you walk in his room. I know that’s how I would feel.”

  If she didn’t miss her guess, she sensed he would rather stay with her. Heaven help her but she hated that the evening had to end so fast. Sunday sounded so far away.

  “I’ll see you soon, Princess. And I’ll make certain Tommaso receives his gift when he comes in for his checkup.”

  “Grazie. A presto, dottore.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  NICO LAY AWAKE half the night. He kept seeing the princess’s incredible light blue eyes staring into his, holding him spellbound. The words that she wanted to be with him too haunted him throughout the two days of meetings. But his insecurity over not knowing who his parents were made him feel less worthy of her interest. It was hard for him to believe she wanted to be with him.

  The women he dated on occasion didn’t come close to her kind of compassion or understanding, let alone her beauty. She was unique in ways that made him hunger to know her better. Much better.

  On Sunday evening he drove to the fifteenth century palace and followed her instructions that led him to the side entrance. She stood outside the doors next to a guard waiting for him, dressed in a wispy blouse and skirt in a heavenly shade of hyacinth.

  Her flowery fragrance filled the interior of his car as he helped her inside. Within seconds he drove his car out of the parking area and the estate onto the street.

  “Fasten your seat belt, Princess.”

  “I will if you’ll do me a favor and start calling me Fausta.”

  “You’re sure?”

  She let out a gentle laugh he loved hearing. “Since we’re going to be seeing each other more often from now on at the hospital, it sounds too formal. Do you mind if I call you Nico?”

  “Do you have to ask?” It didn’t seem possible that they were on a first name basis. Excitement shouldn’t have rippled through him.

  “What do you ask the patients to call you? That is if they don’t recognize you.”

  “Even if they do, I introduce myself as Fausta, as I did with Tommaso. My full name is Vittoria Eugenia Fausta Rossiano, but I prefer Fausta.”

  He filed that information away for future reference and turned onto another boulevard, but the traffic was heavy everywhere. “With your many responsibilities as a princess and fund-raiser, how do you have time to volunteer too?”

  She turned to him. “Mamma has always said that charity never fails. By balancing my priorities raising funds for the homeless shelters Lanza is in charge of, I have time to volunteer. I envy my friend Mia for working at the hospital. When she mentioned a new volunteer program being started a few months ago, I jumped at the opportunity to indulge myself if there was an opening.”

  “Indulge?” he asked, full of admiration for her willingness to serve.

  “Yes. You don’t know how much fun it is to listen to older people talk about their past or read stories to the children when they’re too sick to do anything else but listen. Lanza has an adorable baby boy, Ridolfo. He’s eight months now and I already read to him. As you know, she married Prince Stefano of the Kingdom of Umbriano. Luckily they live here.

  “As for my eldest sister, Donetta, she’s married to King Enrico of the country of Vallefiore and is expecting. I’m excited about another niece or nephew coming along.”

  He smiled. “I remember reading in the news about their marriages.”

  She nodded. “Maybe they’ll have a cute little girl or a boy like Ridolfo or Tommaso.”

  “You made his day. I listened while you finished reading to him.”

  “I’m the one who loved it. He asked a lot of questions about Pompeii, especially when I told him I’d been there and described some of the things I’d seen. He said he wanted to go there. He’s a bright boy.”

  “I agree. In the beginning, did he recognize you as Princess Fausta?”

  “If he did, he never let on. Children are wonderful. They don’t set up boundaries.”

  Like you have, Barsotti. The fact that he’d even asked the question revealed hi
s amazement that she continued to want to be with him. “I think most every adult has that problem who meets a royal like you.”

  “It shouldn’t be that way. From the first time I realized I was born a royal, I fought against it and wanted to be a commoner. Though I can’t change my heritage, I live my life like an ordinary person as much as possible.”

  That revelation came as a surprise to him. “Why do you feel that way?”

  “You don’t know how difficult it is to grow up not having your father around when you need to talk to him. It’s not natural to have to make appointments to see him. If you want to know the truth, I wouldn’t wish my royal life on anyone.”

  “I had no idea.” She sounded so completely serious, he had to believe her. Yet it still didn’t change his wonderment that she wanted to be with him.

  “I guess you’ve already noticed I’m always ready for a meal.”

  He grinned. “By the lovely look of you, no one would guess. I’m starving too. What do you like?”

  “Anything. Surprise me. I’d like to see where the renowned Dr. Nico Barsotti goes for a meal after an exhausting day.” Renowned? “I’m always looking for a good spot to eat.”

  “That doesn’t sound like you spend much time at the palace.”

  He felt her eyes on him as he headed for the old part of the city with its narrow cobblestoned streets. “How many hours a day do you stay in the place where you live?”

  Nico knew where this conversation was going. Once again he’d left himself wide open with a statement that showed how off the mark he was over the life of a royal. “I sleep there. That’s about it.”

  “You’ve just described my life.”

  Except that her world was full of activity he knew nothing about and wished he didn’t want to know. There was no way he could ever have a romantic relationship with her. Though she insisted there was no one and she was free to be with him, he believed her parents would eventually prevail on her to marry some important prince. Again, he reminded himself that her sisters had married royalty. Why would it be different for her?