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forced herself to calm down and said, “It’s possible Max will be better, but in case he isn’t, I’d love a chance to go sailing. It’s very kind of you.”
    She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Now you’re patronizing me.”
    “What do you expect me to do? Have a tantrum?” The question was out of her mouth before she could stop it. She was mortified to realize she was out of control. Something had gotten into her. She didn’t feel at all herself.
    “At least it would be better than your pretense to mollify me,” came the benign response.
    What? “If you weren’t the prince—”
    “I asked you to forget my title.”
    “That’s kind of hard to do.”
    “Why don’t you finish what you were about to say. If I weren’t the prince...”
    “Bene.” She sucked in her breath. “If neither of you were princes, I’d tell you I’ve been taking care of myself for twenty-seven years and don’t need a couple of guys I hardly know to decide what’s best for me. If that sounds ungracious, I didn’t mean for it to offend you, but you did ask.”
    A look of satisfaction entered his eyes. “I was hoping you would say that. How would you like to fly up on Etna with me in a helicopter? We’ll put down in one spot and I’ll show you some sights no visitor gets to see otherwise.”
    Gulp. She clung to the edge of the table from sheer unadulterated excitement. Valentino intended to show her that ten-thousand-foot volcano up close? After seeing that movie, what person in the world wouldn’t want the opportunity? She couldn’t understand why Vincenzo thought it might not be a good experience for her.
    “You love your work so much you’d go up there on your day off?”
    “You can ask that after what I revealed to you today? Didn’t you tell me you thought it sounded thrilling?”
    “Yes.” She stood up and gazed into those intelligent, dark blue eyes. Ignoring the warning flags telling her to be prudent, she said, “I’d absolutely love it.”
    A stillness surrounded them. “Never let it be said I didn’t give you an out.”
    “I don’t want one, even if Vincenzo thought I did.”
    A tiny nerve throbbed at the side of his hard jaw. “If Max is still sick in the morning, we’ll leave around eight-thirty. You’ll need to wear jeans and a T-shirt if you brought one. If not, you can wear one of mine.”
    “I have one.”
    “Good, but you can’t go in sandals.”
    “I brought my walking boots.”
    “Perfect.”
    “I’ll see you in the morning then.”
    As she started to leave, he said, “Don’t go yet.”
    Valentino—I can’t spend any more time with you tonight. I just can’t! “Your mother is waiting for you and I have things to do. I know the way back to my room.”
    “Carolena?”
    With a pounding heart, she paused at the entrance. “Yes?”
    “I enjoyed today more than you know.”
    Oh, but I do, her heart cried.
    “The horseback ride was wonderful. Thank you again.” In the next breath she took off for the other wing of the palace. Her efforts to stay away from him weren’t working. To see where he spent his time and share it with him was too great a temptation to turn down, but she recognized that the thing she’d prayed would never happen was happening!
    She was starting to care about him, way too much. Forget the guilt over Berto’s death that had prevented her from getting close to another man. Her feelings were way too strong for Valentino. Already she was terrified at the thought of handling another loss when she had to fly back to Arancia with Abby and Vincenzo.
    But if she said she wasn’t feeling well now and begged off going with him tomorrow, he’d never believe her. Though she knew she was walking into emotional danger by getting more involved, she didn’t have the strength to say no to him. Help.

CHAPTER THREE
    L ETTING C AROLENA GO when it was the last thing he wanted, Valentino walked through the palace to his mother’s suite. The second he entered her