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“I hope you’re hungry. I told the kitchen to prepare chicken the way Abby tells me you like it.”
    “You’re very kind.” Too kind. She flashed him a smile as he helped her get seated. Valentino had no equal as a host. She decided he had no equal, period.
    Vincenzo walked over and kissed her cheek before sitting down at the round table opposite her. A sumptuous-looking meal had been laid out for them. A maid came out on the terrace just then and told Valentino his mother wanted to speak to him when he had a minute. He nodded before she left.
    “Where’s Abby, Vincenzo?”
    “Max fussed all day and is still feverish, so we’re taking turns.”
    “The poor little thing. Do you think it’s serious?”
    “We don’t know. Our doctor said it could be a virus, but Max isn’t holding down his food. That has me worried.”
    “I don’t blame you. Is there something I can do to help?”
    “Yes,” Valentino inserted. “If Max is still sick tomorrow, you can keep me company, since Vincenzo will be tied up taking care of his family.”
    He actually sounded happy about it, but the news filled Carolena with consternation. She’d been with him too much already and her attraction to him was growing. She flicked him a glance. “You don’t have to worry about entertaining me. I brought my laptop and always have work to do.”
    “Not while you’re here.” Valentino’s underlying tone of authority quieted any more of her excuses. “No doubt you and Abby had intended to visit some of the shops and museums in Gemelli while on holiday, but I can think of something more exciting for tomorrow if you’re up to it.”
    Vincenzo shot her a glance she couldn’t decipher. “Be careful.”
    She chuckled. “Is that a warning?”
    After finishing his coffee, a glimmer of a smile appeared. “On my first business visit here years ago, Valentino dangled the same option in front of me.”
    “What happened?”
    He studied her for a moment. “That’s for you to find out.”
    “Now you’ve made me nervous.”
    “Maybe you should be.” She couldn’t tell if Vincenzo’s cryptic response was made in jest or not.
    “You’ve frightened her,” Valentino muttered. Again, Carolena was confused by the more serious undertone of their conversation.
    “Then I’m sorry and I apologize.” Vincenzo put down his napkin and got to his feet. “Enjoy your evening. We’ll talk again in the morning. Please don’t get up.”
    “Kiss that baby for me and give Abby my love.”
    “I will.”
    She’d never seen Vincenzo so preoccupied. Being a new father wasn’t easy, but she sensed something else was on his mind, as well.
    “What went on just now?” she asked as soon as he left the terrace.
    Valentino had been watching her through narrowed eyes. “I’m afraid he thinks my idea of a good time could backfire.” Carolena believed there was more to it than that, but she let it go for now.
    “You mean it might be one of those surprises that’s the wrong kind for me?”
    “Possibly.”
    “Well, if you don’t tell me pretty soon, I might expire on the spot from curiosity.”
    She thought he’d laugh, but for once he didn’t. “I’d like to take you sailing to Taormina. It’s an island Goethe called ‘a part of paradise.’ The medieval streets have tiny passages with secrets I can guarantee you’ll love.”
    “It sounds wonderful, but that wasn’t the place you had in mind when you were talking with Vincenzo.”
    “I’ve had time to think the better of it.”
    A rare flare of temper brought blood to her cheeks. “Vincenzo is Abby’s husband, not mine.”
    “And he enjoys her confidence.”
    “In other words, he’s trying to protect me from something he thinks wouldn’t be good for me.”
    “Maybe.”
    Carolena’s grandmother used to try to protect her the same way. But if she got into it with the prince, she’d be acting like the willful child her grandparent used to accuse her of being. Averting her eyes, she