A bride for the billionaire...

Dea Caraccilo spent her whole life feeling inferior to her twin sister—never more so than when she first met billionaire Guido Rossano... Since then, Dea’s worked hard to put her old self behind her, and to see life from a glass-half-full perspective!

For Guido, enchanting Dea is the one that got away. So when an unexpected encounter throws them together again, Guido seizes his chance like the ruthless billionaire businessman he is! But can he win the only prize worth having: feisty, secretly vulnerable Dea as his wife?

His eyes pierced hers. “You really don’t have any idea what you do to a man, do you? I’m going to kiss you so you’ll find out.”

Guido’s intensity shook her, and then his head descended and his mouth closed over hers. Enveloped in heat, she felt his hands roam over her back and hips, urging her closer so she could feel every hard muscle and sinew in his body.

Though Dea had been with a few men who’d wanted to kiss her passionately, she hadn’t fully reciprocated. Something had always held her back...until now.

This was different. Guido was different.

The feel of his mouth slowly devouring hers created such divine sensations she felt like she’d been born for this moment and couldn’t get enough.

“Guido...” she gasped in pleasure as he drew her into a wine-dark rapture.

She clung to him. They were moving and breathing like they were a part of each other. Emotions greater than she could describe had taken over now that Guido had swept her into his arms.

The Billionaire’s Prize

Rebecca Winters

www.millsandboon.co.uk

REBECCA WINTERS lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels—because writing is her passion, along with her family and church. Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website at www.cleanromances.com.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

Extract

Copyright

PROLOGUE

DEA CARACCIOLO STOOD inside the grand dining hall of the castle on Posso Island. She was ready to flee now that she’d done her part during the wedding ceremony of her twin sister, Alessandra, and Rinieri Montanari.

“Darling? Why are you here by the doors?”

Oh, no. She turned her head in surprise. “Mamma.”

“I still need to be in line to greet the guests and would like you to go sit with Guido and his parents.”

Dea didn’t think she could bear it. “Please don’t make me.”

“But you’re the maid of honor. Your father and I are depending on you to entertain the best man and his family. Alessandra says they love Rini, and Signor Rossano has spoken highly of you since the night you were a model in the fashion show on his yacht. Come on. I’ll walk you over to their table.”

The mention of the yacht increased her agony, but this was one situation Dea couldn’t get out of. Somehow she would have to endure Guido’s company for a few more minutes.

During the wedding ceremony they’d gone through the motions to be civil to each other in order to carry out their duties, but he’d hardly looked at her and she knew why. He couldn’t help but have a low opinion of her since that night on the yacht when she’d made the worst blunder of her life with Rini in front of Guido. He probably assumed she was still in love with her new brother-in-law.

The situation couldn’t be uglier, but her mother expected her to be gracious for a little while longer. When they approached the table, Guido and his father got to their feet before inviting her to sit down.

Guido’s mother was a lovely woman and Dea tried to concentrate on her once they started to eat. “My sister told me about your generous gift to her and Rini.”

“We thought they should honeymoon on our yacht to get away from everyone else. Alessandra is perfectly charming, and Rini’s a favorite of ours.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“I have to say, you looked so beautiful the night of the fashion show,” Signora Rossano continued. “But tonight you’re even more beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“It’s only the truth,” a smiling Signor Rossano interjected. “Don’t you think so, Guido?”

His son put down his champagne glass. “Papà? As you well know, Signorina Caracciolo has most of the Italian male population at her feet.”

His father nodded with satisfaction. “That is true.”

To his parents’ ears, Guido’s comment must have sounded like a supreme compliment. But the choice of the word most let Dea know he didn’t include himself in that particular population.

“Signor Rossano, the other models and I were amazed you would allow your yacht to be used for a fashion show backdrop. It was a great thrill for them and they’re hoping you’ll offer it again.”

“I wouldn’t count on it for another year,” Guido murmured out of his father’s hearing, sounding turned off by her comment. She hadn’t meant that she included herself in those who hoped to wangle another invitation. But no doubt Guido had assumed as much. She shouldn’t have said anything at all.

Feeling more and more uncomfortable, she almost gasped with relief when her aunt Fulvia came over to the table and asked her if she’d like to say goodbye to the Archbishop of Taranto, who’d married her sister and Rini. It was a great honor and Dea excused herself with as much grace as she could muster before clinging to her aunt’s arm. Her mother’s only sister had saved her from further embarrassment and she would always be grateful.

CHAPTER ONE

One year later

“SIGNORA PARMA IS expecting you. Walk back through the doors to her workshop.”

Dea Caracciolo thanked the receptionist and headed for the inner sanctum of the world-renowned Italian opera-costume designer. The only reason Dea had been given this privilege was because her aunt Fulvia and Juliana Parma were such close friends.

Though Dea had met Juliana and her husband on many occasions at her aunt’s southern Italian castello in Taranto, this particular meeting wasn’t social and the outcome—good or bad—would rest entirely on Dea’s shoulders.

The sought-after redheaded designer in her late sixties stood surrounded by her staff, giving orders to one and all in her flamboyant style. When she saw Dea, she motioned her to come closer and clapped her hands.

“Everyone?” Their eyes fastened on Dea. “You’ve all known Dea Loti as Italy’s leading fashion model. She’s actually Princess Dea of the Houses of Caracciolo and Taranto and the niece of my dear friend Princess Fulvia Taranto. But while she’s here working with me during her spring-semester designer course at the Accademia Roma, you will call her Dea and accord her every courtesy.”

Dea was so surprised she blurted, “You mean you’re willing to take me on without talking to me about it first?”

“Of course. Fulvia has told me everything I need to know, so I called the head of your department and asked them to send you to me.”

Dear Fulvia. Dea loved her so much. “I can hardly believe this is happening.”

“Believe it! You’re even more beautiful than the last time we were together. Imagine if you were a soprano in the opera too—you would have every tenor in the world dying of love for you.”

Heat filled Dea’s cheeks. “How awful.” Once upon a time Dea would have liked to hear a compliment like that, but not since she’d been in therapy to help her get on the road to real happiness.

Juliana chuckled. “Come in my private office.”

The others smiled as she followed the older woman into a small cluttered room that still managed to be tidy. Dea handed her a small bouquet of roses.

“What’s this?”

“A token of my gratitude that you even agreed to meet with me.”

“Grazie, Dea.” She inhaled the perfume from the flowers. “Heavenly. Fulvia must have told you how much I love pink roses.”

“I remember your husband giving you some after the opera a year ago.”

“You’re a very sweet and observant young woman. You’re going to go far in this business. I feel it in my bones.”

Sweet? That wasn’t a word one would apply to the Dea of the past. The old Dea was too self-absorbed. She’d learned a lot about herself in therapy. The new Dea was working on thinking about others.

Juliana put the flowers in a bowl and sank into the chair behind her desk. “Sit down, my dear.” Dea did her bidding. “What’s this news that you’ve given up modeling?”

“It’s true. I did one show at the end of last semester, but my goal is to become a period costume designer for the opera, like you. As you know, I’ve loved costume design from the time I was a child. You have no idea how excited I am to work with an expert like you and learn all I can. It’s a great privilege.”

Juliana’s brown eyes sparkled. “You’re going to love the project I’m winding up now. It’s the costuming for Don Giovanni, which will go into production the third week of May. I’d like to hear your comments on this new sketch for Donna Elvira.” She thrust a rendering into Dea’s hands.

Don Giovanni was one of Dea’s favorite operas. But the second she saw the drawing, she shot Juliana a glance. “Don’t you mean Donna Anna?”

A smile broke the corner of Juliana’s mouth. “Bravo, Dea. Nothing gets past you. This costume is indeed meant for a younger woman. I’ve always known you to have a discerning eye. In fact I remember the fashion shows you used to put on at the castello with your sister when you were little. They were delightful and, in some instances, brilliant!”

Brilliance was a quality one attributed to Alessandra, not Dea. The unexpected compliment sent a curl of warmth through her body. Juliana handed her another drawing from a pile on her desk. “Here is a first draft of the costume for Donna Elvira that she’ll wear in the dark courtyard scene. One of the staff worked it up.”

Dea studied it for a few minutes. Her brows formed a frown.

Juliana chuckled. “Don’t be afraid to tell me exactly what you think. I’ve always admired your honesty.”

Coming from Juliana, that kind of praise meant a great deal.

“In my mind this gown is too frivolous and doesn’t reveal her true character. I see Donna Elvira as a mature woman who’s ahead of her time. She’s hurt and outraged with Don Giovanni for his abandoning her. I’d like to see her gown toned down to convey that she’s anything but a fool. She’s been on a mission to find him.”

“I agree completely. Bring me your version by tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.” She took back the drawing and rose to her feet. “That’s all the time I can give you for now.”

“Mille ringraziamenti, signora.”

“Juliana, per favore.”

Dea rushed around the desk to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m more grateful than you know for this opportunity.”

After saying those words, she left the building and took a taxi back to her apartment. Located in the heart of Rome, the elegant complex she lived in was in walking distance of the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona. It had been home to her for quite a while. She loved the ancient street, which was over five hundred years old, with its dozens of wonderful shops. On this particular Monday, the lovely April weather matched her lightened mood.

Once she’d eaten lunch she would get to work designing a gown already forming in her mind. But first she needed to make an important phone call to her aunt, who’d made this unexpected meeting with Juliana possible.

When the older woman answered, Dea said, “Zia Fulvia?”

“Dea, how wonderful to hear from you! Your mother is here with me. I’ll put the phone on speaker so we can both talk to you.”

“Mamma?”

“Darling. I’ve been anxious to hear from you.”

Her heart pounded with excitement. “Guess what? Juliana called my department at the Accademia and has taken me on. I’ve been given my first assignment. And it’s all thanks to you, Fulvia.”

“Juliana wouldn’t have offered to help you if she didn’t already think you could do the job. When you break out on your own one day, your résumé will be worth its weight in gold because you’ll have worked under her tutelage.”

“I know that and I’m so thrilled! It’s all because of you that I’m finally going to fulfill my dream! Now I’ve got to prove myself.”

“I have no doubt of it.”

“Neither do I,” her mother said. “I don’t think I’ve heard you this happy in years!”

Tears stung Dea’s eyes. “This is the beginning of my new life.”

“Your father’s going to be overjoyed with this news.”

“You’ve both given me wonderful advice and told me my future is out there waiting for me. Being able to work with Juliana, I know I’m going to find it!”

“Good for you, darling.”

“I love you and will call you later.”

She hung up, eager to get started on a design that would convince Juliana she hadn’t been wrong to do this enormous, unprecedented favor for Fulvia. Dea had meant it when she’d said this was the beginning of her new life.

While she’d been in therapy this last year, she’d been forced to dig deep into her psyche to understand what made her tick. She’d been given several assignments to work on: forget self, put other people first and be kind before blurting out something she’d regret, even if it was true.

But her assignment to let go of the pain of the past was easier said than done. She had to stop dwelling on the fact that her identical twin sister, Alessandra, had been the one to attract the gorgeous engineering magnate Rinieri Montanari, not Dea, in an incident that had brought on Dea’s emotional crisis.

She’d met Rini and his best friend Guido Rossano on board the fabulous Rossano yacht during a modeling assignment in Naples. Though Dea had been the first to meet Rini and had fallen for him on the spot—even kissing him passionately in front of Guido before saying good-night—Rini hadn’t been interested in her.

When she looked back on that now, she was mortified to imagine what Guido must have thought of her behavior. As for Rini, she’d never expected to see him again. But to her shock, he met Alessandra while he was on business in the south of Italy. That was all it took for the elusive bachelor to fall in love and marry her sister.

Dea had been crushed and her serious loss of confidence had required professional help. Through therapy it became clear that, among other things, she’d always been jealous of her sister’s intelligence and scholastic success. Alessandra had already written and published an important factual historical book on their ancestor Queen Joanna.

But it was her aunt Fulvia’s comment that had brought her up short and made her realize she needed help.

Dea Caracciolo, do you want to conquer every man you meet? What would you do with all of them? It’s not natural.

Her aunt had been right. It wasn’t natural. Despite Dea’s attempt to flirt with Rinieri, he hadn’t been drawn to her. Period.

Following her conversation with Fulvia and her mother, Dea had gotten counseling and had been going through a difficult, painful period of self-evaluation and remembered mistakes. Her darkest memory had involved Alessandra’s first love years earlier.

He’d pursued Dea. Part of her had felt guilty, yet another part had been flattered when he’d followed her back to Rome, where she was modeling at the time. But he’d turned out to be a man incapable of being faithful to any woman. A torturous time had followed for her and Alessandra. Only in the last year had they finally put the pain of that experience behind them and had become close in a new, honest way.

Still, trying to find one’s self was not an easy journey. Though being a top fashion model had initially brought her excitement and a lot of interest from men, in time Dea hadn’t found the fulfillment she craved in a career she’d always known couldn’t last forever.

As was brought out in therapy, those deep longings for inner contentment had eluded her. She knew she would have to change her focus if she was going to have a happy life like her parents, or like Alessandra, who was now ecstatically married and a new mother. Because of a soccer injury, Rini hadn’t been able to give her children, so they’d adopted little Brazzo. Dea couldn’t be happier for them.

After serious thought, she’d chosen to follow her natural inclination and make her way in a new direction that used her brain and God-given talents rather than her looks, but she was still filled with anxiety.

Forget self.

That’s what her brilliant underwater-archaeologist sister had done. In the process, she’d won a wonderful man and already had a family.

Somewhere out there, Dea’s prince existed. As her wise mother had promised her, “One day he’ll find you. In the meantime, work on finding yourself, darling.”

* * *

Friday afternoon Guido paused at the door of the soccer store adjoining his suite of offices in the Stadio Emanuele soccer stadium in Rome. “I’m leaving now, Sergio. As usual I’ll be back Sunday morning before the big game. Have a good weekend.”

“You too, boss.” His administrative assistant smiled because he thought he knew why, when he could, Guido spent every Friday night and Saturday away from Rome, unable to be reached by anyone. But Sergio would be dead wrong about the reason.

Guido eyed his spectacular soccer mate from the past, whose serious leg injury at the height of his game prevented him from ever competing again. Now that Guido was the owner of a minor national soccer team, he’d recruited Sergio to do a little of everything.

The man knew more about the ins and outs of the national soccer league than anyone. He not only ran their business and ticket sales with meticulous care, but he kept the museum and their soccer store stocked and profitable. On top of that, he handled the phones and kept out unexpected visitors unless they made appointments.

“How come you haven’t left already, Sergio? You work too hard. As far as I know you haven’t taken a break in months.” The man screened Guido’s incoming phone calls from the media, but most important, those from Guido’s hovering parents.

Being an only child, Guido realized they’d had a hard time accepting that he’d taken a year off from the Leonides Rossano Shipping Company to pursue an old soccer dream. Guido loved them and stayed in touch, but he’d felt smothered and enjoyed the freedom his new career was giving him away from the family business.

“Work saves me from my demons,” Sergio commented. Guido could relate to that. “Don’t you know there are tons of women calling here all the time after hours, or wanting to order stuff online? You’re still a poster hero with those who remember you winning those past championships.”

“Even after ten years?” Guido smiled wearily. “I leave all the fans to you. As I see it, you’ve been divorced long enough and need to find someone who can accept your passion for the sport. You had a big female following of your own.”

He scoffed. “That all ended after my marriage. I don’t think there is such a woman.”

Neither did Guido, but he kept that comment to himself. “Try to enjoy yourself this weekend.”

“I know you will,” Sergio fired back. “Go ahead and keep it to yourself, but you can’t tell me you don’t have a woman somewhere.”

Conversation over. “Ciao, Sergio,” he called to his friend before shutting the door.

There’d never been a lack of women for Guido. In his late teens he’d gotten into a serious relationship with one of the most popular girls at school, Carla, but over time he discovered she loved his celebrity status, not him. From that point on, he was wary of women.

The shock of learning she didn’t truly love him changed his perspective on the dating experience. After that, Guido continued to enjoy women, but he didn’t get into any more serious relationships. His soccer life had been so full, he’d put the idea of settling down out of his mind.

However, there’d been one woman over the last year who’d taken his breath and was still unforgettable. Dea Loti. Italy’s most famous model. Her lesser-known name was Dea Caracciolo.

He’d met her aboard his father’s yacht during a fashion show taped for television. It had been galling to realize she’d looked right through him in order to pursue his lifelong friend Rinieri Montanari, and it had aroused Guido’s jealousy.

That emotion was something that had never happened to Guido before. He’d tried to put it away because Rini was the best, but it still haunted him.

Guido left the stadium in his Lamborghini and headed straight for the airport. By dinnertime his private jet, with the logo of Scatto Roma—the name of his soccer team, which meant surge in Italian—landed at a private runway just outside Metaponto in Southern Italy. Rini would be waiting on the tarmac for him in the Jeep. They had a lot to catch up on.

Through a quirk of fate, his best friend had married Alessandra Caracciolo, Dea’s identical twin sister. Since the wedding, the couple had been spending part of the time at Rini’s villa in Positano and the rest of it at her family’s island castello.

Montanari Engineering, located in Naples, was now drilling for oil on Caracciolo land in Southern Italy, thus the reason for meeting Rini here on the island.

After learning his friend had become a father, Guido had invited Rini for a meal at his apartment in Rome. But this would be the first time Guido had been back to the island since Rini’s wedding to Alessandra when he’d been best man. They’d issued him many invitations to come, but Guido had turned them down, using business as the excuse. In reality, he didn’t want to take the chance of seeing Dea again.

By now it shouldn’t bother him that the woman who’d been so fascinated by Rini while they were on the Rossano yacht was none other than Alessandra’s sister. Dea had been her maid of honor. After the wedding ceremony, she’d sat down to dinner with Guido and his parents. While she talked to them, all he could see was her kissing Rini before saying good-night to him on board the yacht.

But that was a year ago. Time had passed and he knew her modeling career took her all over Italy. He was certain she wouldn’t be here at the castle. If Rini had mentioned otherwise, Guido wouldn’t have accepted the invitation.

As he exited the plane he could see Rini.

“Your team name is perfect,” his friend called out the window of the Jeep on the tarmac. “You are surging. Bravo.”

“Grazie.”

When Guido climbed in the Jeep, his first sight of his dark-haired friend said it all. “Fatherhood agrees with you. How is piccolo Brazzo?”

“He’s going to be a soccer player for sure.”

“I can’t wait to see him.”

“I’m sorry. Not this visit. He’s staying with my family at the villa in Positano so Alessandra and I can have our first weekend alone.”

“Lucky you.”

Rini had found great happiness in his marriage. Guido would give anything to feel that fulfilled. As he sat there, it came to him that he was envious of the happy-ever-after his friend Rini had achieved, a happy-ever-after Guido hadn’t thought he’d wanted himself all these years.

He stared at his friend. A spirit of contentment radiated off Rini as they drove across the causeway to the Caracciolo castello on Posso Island that jutted into the Ionian Sea.

Only sand surrounded the ancient structure, no grass or trees. In Guido’s mind, it was Italy’s answer to Mont-Saint-Michel of French fame, with a benign appeal in good weather like this. But he imagined it could look quite daunting during a storm.

Guido found it fascinating to think the beautiful twin princesses of Count Onorato di Caracciolo were born and raised here, away from civilization. From this convent-like place had emerged Italy’s most beautiful supermodel. One fashion cover had called Dea Loti “Italy’s own Helen of Troy.”

The face that launched a thousand ships had done something to Guido...

He’d been so stunned after meeting her in person that he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. It probably wasn’t a good idea to meet Rini here after all because it brought back the memory from the wedding when he’d been watching Dea, who’d been watching Rini. Was she still hungering for him? But it was too late to think about that now or wish he hadn’t come. Get a grip, Rossano.

“You’re being unusually quiet,” Rini murmured as he pulled the Jeep up to the front of the castle. “I expected to see you overjoyed with your success so far.”

“I am pleased,” Guido muttered, “but the season isn’t over yet. We’ve had one loss and still have some tough games to face.”

Rini shut off the engine. “You’ve already brought your team to new heights. I’m proud of what you’ve done so far.”

“Spoken like my best friend,” Guido murmured.

He could feel Rini’s eyes on him. “How is it going with your parents?”

Guido sighed. “The same. Papà is praying I’ll give up this madness and come back to the company.”

“Surely not right now.”

“Of course not, but he fears I’ll stay away from the business for good.”

Rini’s brow lifted. “Do you think you’ve left the shipping business for good?”

“I don’t have an answer to that yet.”

“Well, I’m glad you were able to break away and come. Tomorrow we’ll go out on the cruiser and do some fishing. I’ve got some business ideas I want your opinion on. But tonight Alessandra has arranged dinner for us with one of your favorite fish dishes.”

To his chagrin, Guido had a problem he couldn’t talk over with Rini. How could he tell him that Rini himself was the problem? “I’m already salivating.”

Filled with shame over his own flawed character, he jumped out of the Jeep and grabbed his gym bag that contained all he needed for this weekend visit. They walked to the front entry. When Rini opened the door, they were greeted by a marmalade cat Guido had played with at the wedding.

“Well, hello, Alfredo.”

The housekeeper’s pet rubbed against Guido’s jean-clad leg. He put the bag down and picked him up, remembering that the cat was getting old and needed to be carried up and down stairs. “Did you know I was coming?”

Rini grinned. “He remembers you—otherwise he wouldn’t let you hold him.”

“I’m honored.”

“Let’s go up to your old room.” Rini grabbed Guido’s bag and they climbed the grand staircase two steps at a time past the enormous painting of Queen Joanna to the third floor. The windows in the bedroom looked out on the sea. He’d stayed in here before the wedding. “Go ahead and freshen up, then come down to the dining room.”

“I’ll be right there.” Still holding Alfredo, he said, “Thanks for inviting me.”

Rini headed for the entry. “I’ve missed our talks,” he said over his shoulder.

Guido watched him disappear out the door. What in the hell is wrong with you, Rossano? No bear hug for your best friend? What has Rini ever done to you?

He put the cat on the bed and slipped into the bathroom. When he came out, he opened his gym bag and pulled out two presents. One was a small gift he’d bought for Alessandra in Florence after a match. The other was a baby toy he’d seen in a store near his apartment. A little purple octopus with bells on the tentacles.

“We’d better not keep everyone waiting, Alfredo.” He gathered the cat in his arms along with the gifts and went down the staircase to the dining room. The second he walked in, the cat took one look at Alessandra and wanted to get down. Guido lowered him to the parquet floor.

Her gaze darted to Guido and she beamed. “So that’s where the cat has been! You’re one of his favorite people.” She rushed over to hug Guido. He hugged her back and gave her his gifts.

“You want me to open them now?”

“I think I do.”

She removed the paper from the smaller box and lifted the lid. Inside was a small enamel painting of Queen Joanna framed in gold filigree, probably three by four inches. He heard her gasp. “Oh, Guido—”

“I saw it in Florence at the House of Gold and couldn’t resist. Consider it a gift to celebrate the publication of your book.”

Just then Rini came in the room. “Caro—” she cried and rushed over to show her husband.

His friend flashed him a warm glance. “You knew exactly what she’d love.”

“I read the book and was so impressed by your knowledge I had to do something to honor you.”

“I’m glad you liked it. This is exquisite. I’ll treasure it forever.” She laid it on the hunt board and undid the large gift. “Oh, how adorable! A purple octopus! Brazzo will love it!” She gave Guido a kiss on the cheek. “Come and sit down. We want to hear all about the team and how things are going.”

“First I want to hear about Brazzo.”

“He’s gorgeous! We’ll show you videos later.”

No sooner did they get settled and start to eat than Guido heard the helicopter overhead.

“That’ll be my parents,” Alessandra murmured as they enjoyed their meal. “They’ve been in Milan.”

“For another of Dea’s fashion shows?” Damn if the question wasn’t out before he could recall it.

“Oh—I guess you didn’t know that she has given up her modeling career.”

Guido’s fork dropped on his plate. No more modeling? He couldn’t comprehend it. “Since when?”

“Quite a while now. She realized the life of most supermodels fades after twenty-five years of age and it’s past time for her. Dea went back to her true passion and this last year has been finishing her degree at the Accademia Roma. This is her last semester.”

Her true passion? Guido blinked. He didn’t know she’d ever gone to college. “I had no idea. What is she studying?”

“Period costume fashion design. I’m so thrilled for her. She has an extraordinary gift in that area.”

Before Guido could think, he heard voices at the entry. Alessandra’s parents walked in the room, but he only had eyes for the gorgeous woman behind them. His heart thundered.

Dea!

She wore her long hair back in a chignon, a style he hadn’t seen her in. All that glossy brown hair with streaks of sunlight was hidden. The oval of her face with less makeup than he’d ever noticed before caused him to stare. With those dark burgundy eyes—like the color in a stained glass window—she was beautiful in a brand-new way.

Guido stood up and greeted the three of them. Alessandra begged her parents to join them for dinner, but they said they’d already eaten and were going upstairs.

“What about you, Dea?”

“I’d love some dinner, but first I want to see the baby. I brought Brazzo a present. I hope he doesn’t have a bear yet. This one speaks!” She handed it to Alessandra, who opened it and pressed the button. They all listened and laughed.

“Brazzo will love this, but we left him with Rini’s father and family. They wanted to give us a break.”

“I’m sure you’re thrilled, but I’m horribly disappointed.”

“There’ll be plenty of other times for the rest of our lives.”

“You’re right, of course.” She sat down at the table. “I left work without grabbing a bite and now I’m starving. This dinner looks wonderful. Baked halibut and vegetables with feta cheese. How perfect!”

She was wearing a simple white blouse and a print skirt. Her outfit was so unexpectedly casual that Guido was still trying to make sense of everything when she sat down next to him.

For the rest of the meal Guido was amazed to watch her dig into her food and eat everything. Where was the woman who never ate anything that wasn’t on her special diet? Come to think of it, she looked like she’d gained some becoming weight since the last time he’d seen her at the wedding.

Over a glass of wine she turned to Guido. He noticed she no longer wore her fingernails long and painted. “There’s a girl at the shop named Gina. She and her fiancé, Aldo, went to the soccer game at the Stadio Emanuele last weekend.”

Where was this leading?

“Aldo came in to pick Gina up and she told him I knew the owner. He fell all over me.” Guido could believe that. “According to him, you were the greatest soccer player he’d ever seen and he desperately wants to meet you in person sometime, hopefully with my help.”

Dea had discussed him with her coworker? He couldn’t believe it.

She kept talking. “According to Aldo, the Scatto Roma team is going to win the championship this year. He was a soccer player himself, not on your level, of course. He thinks you walk on water already for lifting the B team to top-tier status.”

“Thank you, Dea,” he said, attempting to take it all in, but he couldn’t understand her interest. “Have you ever been to a soccer match?”

“Never,” she confessed without shame. “I’ve never even watched it on TV. You must think I’m terrible. I had no idea you’d won so many championships for Italy. Aldo said you were everyone’s favorite player and the women were crazy about you.”

“They were,” Rini inserted with a grin.

She hadn’t talked to Guido like this at the wedding reception, where she had seemed very stiff. This was something else. He decided to change the subject.

“I understand you’re no longer modeling.”

“Not for the last year.”

“Where do you work?”

“I started at the shop of Juliana Parma ten days ago. She’s the costume designer for the opera. I’ve been permitted to shadow her. My aunt Fulvia made it possible. You remember her from the wedding?”

“Of course.” The woman had taken Dea away from the table before the wedding cake had been served.

“They’re best friends and Juliana took me on as a favor to my aunt. But now that I’m working there, I’m on my own and I’m terrified.”

“How could you possibly be that when you’ve been Italy’s top model?”

“That period of my life is over, and modeling modern-day fashions has nothing to do with being a period costume designer for the opera.” Guido still had a hard time believing she had changed her whole life in the last year. To his mind, she was more beautiful than ever. “I have to prove myself in a whole new field. I’m not like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Alessandra said that when you bought that floundering soccer team, you had the satisfaction of being one of the greatest soccer players ever to compete in Italy. With your knowledge and confidence, you’ve been able to turn your team around. I’m very impressed.”

“He’s done that, all right,” Rini concurred. “So I have an idea. Why don’t the four of us go out behind the castle and play a little soccer before it gets dark? Two against two. It works even if we don’t have a whole bunch of guys around. Since Brazzo was born, Alessandra and I haven’t had a weekend to enjoy like this. Let’s team up.”

“That sounds fun!” Alessandra chimed in with enthusiasm that sounded real. “I like soccer, but I’d love to learn more about it since Rini is determined our son will be a great player like you, Guido. What do you say, Dea?”

“I’m hopeless when it comes to sports and would hate making a fool of myself, but I’ll do it this once.”

So she was willing to toss him a bone after she’d just admitted she’d never even seen a soccer game?

“Let me run upstairs to put on my trainers.”

Alessandra patted her husband’s arm. “I’ll find mine too.”

Rini got to his feet. “My soccer ball is around here somewhere. We’ll all meet in the foyer in a few minutes.”

Everyone took off except for Guido, who stood there in a funk. Since Rini’s marriage, they hadn’t had time to kick a ball around. And now he wanted them to play with the women?

He’d go along with this, but before he went to bed, he intended to have a talk with Rini about what was going on.

CHAPTER TWO

DEA RACED UP the stairs to her bedroom. Rini had no idea how petrified she was when it came to participating in sports. Alessandra was the one who did everything well: tennis, golf, swimming and scuba diving. But Dea didn’t dare say no to his suggestion in front of Guido.

The tall, attractive dark blond was not only a recognized national celebrity in the sports field; he was Rini’s best friend. Dea didn’t want to be a drama queen and create a scene. Those days were relegated to the past. She’d turned over a new leaf and was embracing a different life that meant accepting challenges she’d avoided before now.

She changed out of her skirt into jeans and put on her trainers. No doubt she would fall flat on her face repeatedly for being out of her element, but at least she would be prepared. If Rini allowed her to be on his team, then she’d wouldn’t feel so terrible when she let him down. Alessandra would be a much better fit for Guido when it came to sports.

How strange that today of all days Dea’s folks had come to the shop and begged her to fly home with them after work for the weekend. None of them had known that Rini and Alessandra had invited Guido. It had come as a shock to see the three of them at the dining room table.

Both on the yacht and at the wedding, Dea had only seen him dressed in a tuxedo. This evening Guido was wearing a blue polo shirt that emphasized his well-defined chest, which combined with tight jeans made it impossible to look anywhere else. Soccer kept him in the sun. His bronzed complexion accentuated the midnight blue of his dark-fringed eyes.

She could understand why female soccer fans would have gone crazy over him. Guido might not be playing soccer now, but it didn’t matter. He was an incredibly appealing man.

After the fashion show on the yacht, Guido’s father had sought her out. At the time she’d taken an instant dislike to the renowned shipping-company CEO. He was so full of himself that he was quite unbearable. Dea’s modest father was a completely different type and so easy to be around. Meeting the puffed-up man’s son was the last thing Dea and her friend Daphne, who had modeled with her, had wanted to do, but she knew she had to be gracious.

Prepared not to like his son, who was probably an obnoxious replica of his father, she’d been shocked to meet his best friend, Rini Montanari, the dark-haired handsome prince standing next to him. At that moment everything else had left her mind. He wasn’t a real prince, but he’d seemed to have stepped right out of her childhood dreams. But Rini hadn’t responded to her as she’d hoped and her world had fallen apart. Of course, that was ages ago...

Tonight she felt she was truly seeing Guido for the first time and not just as Rini’s best friend. It had been unfair to judge him because of his father. This was important to Rini and Alessandra. For that reason she made up her mind to be a good sport and act friendly. Why not? If nothing else, she might be able to talk him into meeting Gina’s fiancé after a game, or giving Aldo an autographed team poster or something.

Dea left the bedroom and hurried down to the foyer, where the others had congregated. Rini glanced at her. “While we were waiting, we flipped a coin. You’re on Guido’s team.” He smiled broadly. “My wife is on mine.”

“Hmm. I wonder how that happened. Sorry, Guido.” Dea rolled her eyes at him. “You got the bad end of this deal.”

“Why don’t I show you a few moves before we start.” He was holding the soccer ball. “Who knows what can happen?”

She chuckled. “I’m game if you are. Let’s go.”

They left the castle and walked around to the back, where the cruiser was pulled up to the dock in the distance. Rini and Alessandra had moved on to draw boundary lines in the sand.

While Guido explained the basic rudiments of the sport to her, there was no chitchat. He was all business. No doubt the players on his team held him in awe.

“The whole point of the game is to prevent the other team from driving the ball forward and scoring. One of the first basic moves is to take a big side step and pull the ball with you to put space between you and the enemy.”

“Show me.”

“It goes like this.”

Dea watched his hard-muscled body and legs do the move with sheer masculine grace and speed. Whoa. She smiled. “Do that again.”

He did it five more times. No matter how she anticipated what he was going to do, she couldn’t react fast enough to stop him.

“Again!”

This time she was desperate to succeed. Refusing to let him elude her, she made a flying leap and tackled him with all her strength. They both went down. She turned over to look at him, trying to catch her breath, but laughter kept bubbling out of her. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” He lay there looking at her before bursting into laughter himself. Their faces were so close she could tell his incredible blue eyes were smiling. Guido Rossano was a sensational-looking man. How could she not have noticed before today?

His gaze continued to play over her features. “For a first soccer lesson, you did well. You’d make an excellent player in American football—tackling is what they do in their football games. Tackling isn’t what we do in soccer. Who would have thought?”

“Forgive me. I got so frustrated I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You’ve got all the right instincts, but you need to refine your technique to soccer or you’ll get thrown out of the game.”

“Hey, you two?” Rini called from a distance. “Are we going to play, or what?”

“I need to show her a few more moves before we start,” Guido shouted back.

Guilt swept over her as he helped her to her feet. Conscious of their clasped hands, she eased hers from his grip. As his eyes focused on hers, her heart skipped a beat for no good reason. “We’ll start with the lift, step and go.” He put the ball on the ground. “Use your foot to push it toward me and watch.”

Dea was loving this. She started moving the ball toward him. He lifted his foot as if to do a sideward motion. But it was a fake move. He stepped forward and drove the ball away from her. She groaned.

“Let’s do that again.”

She pushed the ball three more times, but he evaded her every time. “You’re amazing!”

“Not amazing. I’ve been doing this move since childhood.”

“No wonder Aldo idolizes you.” After four tries she got the hang of it.

“Okay. Now what’s the next move called?”

“You’re not tired yet?”

“No, but maybe you are.”

His hard jaw rose a fraction and he put his hands on his hips in a totally male stance. “This one is called the chip shot. Come toward me, moving the ball with your feet.”

She did his bidding and thought he would push the ball forward, but he chipped it instead so it flipped up, catching her off guard.

“Oh! I like that move. I want to try it.” But with her next effort, she used too much force and fell on her derriere. He chuckled and helped her to her feet.

“Try once more.”

Dea did her best and stayed upright.

“Bravo. You’re ready. Let’s try out those moves on them before they decide they want to go home.”

“You think I can do it?”

“We’re about to find out.” The way he smiled made him look like a devilishly handsome blond pirate with a wicked gleam in his eyes. How odd that she’d never dreamed of a tall blond pirate prince before...

* * *

The guys played goalie so the girls could battle it out. Guido hadn’t had so much fun in years and was silently betting on Dea to outplay Alessandra.

Right away it became clear that Rini hadn’t taught Alessandra any special moves. She could run and scrap, but Dea pulled a few moves on her with an expertise that shocked Guido. In the end, Team Scatto Roma took the honors over Team Montanari. Again he was surprised she’d caught on so quickly and he discovered he was proud of her.

Alessandra eyed the three of them. “Now it’s the men’s turn. You and I will play goalie, Dea.”

“I’m ready.”

“It’s too dark out,” Rini protested.

His wife smiled. “Since when has that ever stopped you? I’m counting on you to win for our side.”

Guido turned to his friend. “Come on. Let’s show the girls how the game is played.”

“You’re on.”

Before they spread out, Guido took Dea aside. “Try not to let the ball get past you. Do whatever you need to do.”

“I’m afraid Rini will kick it so hard I won’t stand a chance, but I’ll try.”

He squeezed her elbow. “No one can ask for more than that.”

In a minute play commenced. Rini gave as good as he got, but Guido’s competitive spirit had kicked in. That’s when he realized he was fighting a demon from the past and taking it out on his friend. The score was two to two. Rini went all out for the last play. He gave the ball a kick as fierce as the expression on his face. Dea didn’t stand a chance. Or so Guido thought until he saw her catch it midair.

“I did it!” she cried out in unfeigned excitement.

Forgetting everything, he ran toward her and swung her around. “Keep this up and I’ll sign you on to my team.” Before he lowered her warm beautiful body to the ground, there was a breathless moment when even in the semidark her cognac eyes seemed to sparkle. He wanted badly to taste her mouth, but they had an audience and she would probably slap his face.

Alessandra ran up to Dea and hugged her. “I thought you said you’ve never done sports. What’s happened?”

Dea flicked Guido a glance. “I had a good teacher.”

“I’ll say you did. Come on. Let’s go in.”

Rini kissed his wife. “We’ll catch up with you two in a minute.”

As the women walked off, Guido sucked in his breath. The time for the talk with Rini had come. His friend stared him down. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on with you? Everything has been different since Alessandra and I have been married, so I’ll make this easier for you and start. Why haven’t you wanted to get together like we used to do?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “You really don’t know?”

“Guido—” The bleak expression on his face spoke volumes and made Guido feel guiltier than ever. “Talk to me! If I’ve done something wrong, I’ll fix it if I can.”

“You can’t.”

“Why?”

It was hard to swallow. “I’m ashamed to tell you.”

“Why?” he demanded again.

Just tell him, Rossano, and get it over with.

“It’s ever since that night on the yacht. I’d never known jealousy in my life until then. But I did the moment I met Dea and she took one look at you and fell head over heels.”

Rini’s black brows formed a line above his dark eyes. “Way back then you were jealous of that?”

“The force of it hit me like a blow to my gut.”

“Are you telling me you were interested in Dea?” He shook his head in total bewilderment. “I thought you’d never met her before that night.”

“I hadn’t, but her face was continually in the news. Seeing her on deck did something visceral to me. But before I could do anything about it, she walked right into your arms.”

Rini shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. You couldn’t help that she was attracted to you. The fact that I knew you weren’t attracted to her didn’t help me. I’ve suffered ever since that night because I’ve held something against you that couldn’t possibly have been your fault. You have every right to tell me to go to hell and stay there.”

Rini came closer. “That’s the last thing I want to do. All this time you’ve been suffering...”

“And I’ve made you suffer. I’m so sorry, Rini.”

To his shock, his friend smiled. “If I don’t miss my guess, I believe cupid shot an arrow into your heart when you laid eyes on Dea. The same thing happened to me when I met Alessandra.”

“You’re right,” he murmured.

“Paisano—you’ve been smitten since the night your father brought Dea and her friend over to meet us after the fashion show. After your experience with Carla, I’ve wondered for years when love would hit you. Little does your papà know his endless machinations to find you a wife finally worked!”

Guido threw his head back. “They did.”

“Now that I know your secret, I understand what happened out here on the sand just now. You swung Dea around with more energy than I’ve ever seen in you. I guess her flying tackle earlier had something to do with your reaction.”

“I’ve never been so surprised in my life.”

Rini grinned. “Contact sports can be fun, especially when it was Dea who initiated that move. You must be doing something right or she wouldn’t have allowed herself to get in your arms.”

No one ever had a better friend. Guido cocked his head. “You don’t despise me for being a total fool this last year?”

“It’s forgotten.” He gripped Guido’s shoulder. “Listen—I’m going to tell you a secret and I hope you can handle it. You have no idea the number of times I envied you for all the women who threw themselves at you. I didn’t have that experience growing up and feared I’d never meet the right woman for me.

“Need I remind you of Arianna, who was so crazy about you she came to every game and hung around you for weeks? I might as well have been invisible. She was gorgeous and I was jealous as hell.”

“You’re kidding—”

“No. Don’t you remember my telling you that I wouldn’t have minded if she’d come after me, but it didn’t happen? And then there was Carla.” Guido preferred not to think about her. “Let’s be honest. You could have had any woman you ever wanted.”

“Except Dea...who wanted you.”

His dark brows lifted. “Dea didn’t want me. We talked about it. Growing up in a castle together, she and Alessandra had this idea of marrying a tall, dark-haired prince. My image filled the bill. But that’s all it was. The image vanished. If you’re asking me if she still sees me as her prince, the answer is a definite no. Surely you could tell that at the wedding. I’m now her irritating brother-in-law.”

“She seemed to be in a world of her own that day,” Guido said.

“That’s because she was going through a major life crisis, another thing you’re going through yourself taking on a soccer team. In many ways, you and Dea are a lot alike. You had your pick of women over the years but didn’t settle. She always had her pick of men, yet didn’t end up with any of them. One day she’s going to fall so hard that’ll be it. Lucky will be the man who captures her heart.”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if it turned out to be me,” he muttered.

Rini shot him a piercing glance. “You and I both know that no matter how bad it looks, you never leave the stadium until the game is over. Astounding surprises happen in the last second.”

“True.” Guido couldn’t argue with that kind of logic. Nor could he doubt that Rini had given him all the truth inside him.

His friend picked up the ball. “Come on. Let’s get back to the castello. How soon do you have to return to Rome?”

“I have to fly out early Sunday morning for the game.”

“I happen to know Dea will be around until then too. Alessandra had planned a day out on the cruiser for the three of us tomorrow. But with Dea still here, it’ll be even more fun. Maybe you can teach her how to water ski. She gave up after trying it the first time.”

“She hasn’t done any water sports?” Guido was incredulous.

“A little swimming. That’s it. But the way she got into the soccer match proves to me she’s not only game, she’s a fast learner. I only have one question. Are you game?”

Until their talk a few minutes ago Guido would have said no.

They returned to the castle, where the girls had dessert and coffee waiting for them in the dining room. Guido enjoyed the snack while they chuckled about Dea’s tackle, then he excused himself to go up to bed.

“Don’t forget tomorrow,” Rini called after him. “Once we’ve eaten breakfast, we’ll go out on the cruiser.”

“Sounds good.” With a smile for the three of them, he left the room.

* * *

Alessandra came to Dea’s bedroom the next morning in order to French-braid her hair before breakfast.

“Thanks for doing this for me. I can’t do it right. Now it won’t get in my face.”

“As you know, I had mine cut short years ago because I spent so much time in the water scuba diving.”

“I’m thinking I might get mine cut too, after I get back to Rome.”

“Oh, no, Dea. Your gorgeous long hair? Are you sure?”

“It drives me insane while I’m working. I used to wonder why Juliana wore her hair short. Now I know. Hair gets in the way when you’re kneeling in front of a mannequin to work on a hem. We’re constantly bending over to examine a drawing or a cut of fabric. All you need is an irritating strand to fall at a critical moment.”

“Well, it’s your call,” Alessandra murmured. “Now let’s hurry down to breakfast before the guys eat everything in sight.”

“I just hope Guido’s forgiven me for tackling him. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I do. It’s called frustration beyond bearing! They’re both so good at everything it can drive you crazy! I’m sure no one ever did such a thing to Guido before.”

“That’s what has me worried.”

“Rini laughed about it after we went to bed. He’s sure you’re the only woman who ever got the best of Guido.”

“Now I’m worried he’ll pull something on me today.”

Alessandra’s eyes sparkled. “Just don’t let your guard down.” Her warning excited Dea.

After her sister left the bedroom, she dressed in shorts and a yellow top worn over her orange-and-white-striped bikini. Once ready, she grabbed her tote bag and flew down the stairs in sandals to the dining room. At the entrance, a pair of inky-blue eyes met hers across the room, causing her pulse to race.

“Buongiorno, Dea.” His deep voice curled through to her insides.

This morning Guido had put on a white T-shirt and cargo pants that couldn’t hide his powerful legs. He held a mug of coffee and looked so sensational she was taken back. A nervous smile broke out on her face. “I hope you didn’t wake up with any aches or pains.”

“I’m managing to survive,” he mocked gently.

Uh-oh. “Where is everyone?”

“Alessandra grabbed a jam cornetto and went out to help Rini load the cruiser. Come and join me before we head out.”

Since Guido was still here, maybe it meant he’d been waiting for her. Her heart flipped over again.

“Cook makes the best cappuccino in the world.”

“I agree,” he murmured over the rim of his cup.

Aware of his scrutiny, she walked over to the hunt board and reached for a pastry. After pouring herself coffee, she moved to the table to eat. Once he joined her, she couldn’t resist asking, “Are you a champion water-skier too? Alessandra said Rini can’t wait to get out on the water and ski double with you.”

He sat back in the chair, studying her through shuttered eyes. “I’ve done a little of everything.”

“But soccer is your passion.”

“One of them.”

A shiver of excitement ran through her. The intimation of what his other passions might be brought heat to her cheeks. With his dark blond hair slightly disheveled, she discovered he had a potent male appeal no woman could possibly ignore. His girlfriends must be legion.

Once they’d finished breakfast, they left the castle for the dock around the back. During their short walk she thought about him and Rini being such close friends since childhood. They were so different, except in two major ways. Their masculine charisma was lethal and they both had an air of authority that seemed to be part of their natures.

Dea had met many men over the years, but none of them possessed those extraordinary qualities. She might have known that Rini’s best man would be someone who stood out from all the rest too. He wasn’t anything like his father. At least she didn’t think so, but what did she know?

Maybe if she’d stayed at the table the night of the wedding reception and had gotten better acquainted with the head of Rossano Shipping Lines, she’d have seen similarities that hadn’t been apparent at first. Guido was his son after all.

In the past Dea had had a problem with making snap judgments about people. It came from a fear that people saw her as only a superficial narcissist—an unfair label given to models in general. Her mother had pointed out that she put up a defensive shield because part of her felt insecure. Dea had had to learn to give everyone a chance.

Since she’d gone back to school, she’d been making a conscious effort to get along with people. While she and Gina had been at the shop discussing one of the designs that wasn’t working, she’d learned the other woman loved the theater. Dea would never have guessed that—all Gina seemed to talk about was Aldo, who lived in her apartment building.

He worked in a garage and wasn’t happy because he couldn’t make good money. The last thing he’d do was spend the little he had on going to watch a play he had no interest in. Soccer was a different story. Dea had offered to go to the theater with Gina, who was delighted. They planned to see Othello at the Silvano Toti Globe in Rome the next weekend. It would give them a chance to study the costuming while they enjoyed Shakespeare.

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