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Trev turned to Lani and started his knock-knock joke as he and Lani disappeared on the upper landing. The moment they were out of sight, Sydney moved into Rule’s open arms.
They shared a kiss and then he took her hand and brushed his lips across the back of it. “Your son is amazing. So smart. Just like his mom.”
She answered playfully, “And don’t forget strong. Trev is very strong. Just ask him.”
“Yes, I remember. Very strong and very loud when he wants to be—and I’m honored that you shared the story of his birth so honestly with me. And that you’ve trusted me enough to tell me about those idiots Ryan and Peter.”
“I think it’s better,” she said, “to be honest and forthright.”
“So do I.” Something happened in his eyes—a shadow of something. Uneasiness? Concern?
Her pulse beat faster. “Rule. What is it? What’s the matter?”
“I’m afraid I have a confession to make.”
Now her pulse was racing dizzyingly fast. And she felt sick, her stomach churning. So, then. He really was too good to be true. “Tell me,” she said softly, but not gently. She couldn’t hide the thread of steel that connected the two simple words.
“Remember how I told you I admired my mother?”
She wasn’t getting it. “This confession is about your mother?”
He touched her cheek, a light touch that made her heart ache. She really liked him. So very much. And now she just knew it was all going wrong. He said, “No, it’s not about my mother. Not essentially.”
“What do you mean? It is, or it isn’t.”
“Sydney, I admire my mother for any number of reasons. And I revere her as the ruler of my country.”
She was sure she must have misunderstood him. “Excuse me? Your mother rules your country?”
“My mother is Adrienne II, Sovereign Princess of Montedoro. And my father is His Serene Highness Evan, Prince Consort of Montedoro.”
“Okay. You’ll have to say that again. I’m sure I misunderstood. Sovereign Princess, you said?”
“Yes. My mother holds the throne. My father is Prince Consort and my brother Maximilian is the heir apparent. Before Max had his son and daughter, I was second in line to the throne.”
Chapter Four
Sydney gaped up at him. “A prince. You’re telling me that you’re a prince? And not just as in, ‘a prince of a guy,’ but a real prince? A … royal prince?”
He chuckled. “My darling, yes. That is, more or less, what I’m telling you.”
“Um. More or less?”
“The truth is that Montedoro is ruled by a prince, not a king. And, in terms of his or her title, a ruling prince is said to have a throne, but not a crown. And only those who are the children or grandchildren of ruling kings or queens, or are the spouses of royalty, are given the honorific of royal. However, in the sense that ‘royal’ means ‘ruling,’ yes. I am of the royal family of Montedoro, or more correctly, the princely family. And even though we are not addressed as royal, both our family coat of arms and our individual monograms contain the image of a crown.”
She was still gaping. “I don’t think I understood a word you just said.”
He frowned. “I see your point. Perhaps that was more information than you require at the moment.”
A prince. A prince of Montedoro. Should she have known this? “Wait. Evan Bravo. I remember now. Your dad was in the movies, right?”
He nodded. “It was a big story in all the newspapers and tabloids of the day. My mother married a film actor and he returned with her to Montedoro, where they had many children and lived happily ever after.” He gave a wry smile. “Sydney, you look pale. Would you like to sit down?”
“No. No, really. I’m fine. Just fine.”
“Perhaps you would like to see my diplomatic passport….”
“Ohmigod. No. Really. I believe you. I do.” Still, she couldn’t help looking around nervously, half expecting Ashton Kutcher and the Punk’d camera crew to be making their appearance any second now. She turned her gaze up to him again and tried to look stern. “You should have told me.”
