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Maybe it was the faint scent of his cologne. The sound of his step.
But without even turning around, Tess sucked in her breath as prickles went up and down her body.
Her uncle’s expression changed into a beaming smile as he looked past Tess to the new customer. “Yes, sir? How can I help you? We’re out of pastries this morning, I’m afraid, but we have coffee and some very healthy muffins... How can I help you?”
“You can’t.” Stefano’s voice was a growl. She closed her eyes, shivering. Coming directly behind her, he said in a low voice, “Tess. Look at me.”
Slowly she turned.
Stefano looked like a dream to her, the handsome Sicilian prince staring down at her so hungrily, his muscular body powerful in a sleek designer suit.
“I thought you were leaving for London,” she said, her voice trembling in spite of her best efforts.
“I am. But I forgot something.”
“What?”
His sensual lips curved. “You.”
“Me?” Tess whispered.
From the corner of her eye, she saw her uncle Ray’s jaw drop.
Stefano put his hand on her cheek. “I can’t leave you. I tried. I can’t.”
Electricity pulsed through her body at his touch. She breathed, “It seemed easy enough for you a minute ago.”
He eyed the baby in the stroller, who looked back at him with dark eyes exactly like his own. He said simply, “I need you and Esme with me.”
“In London?”
Leaning forward, he whispered, “Everywhere.”
She felt the warmth of his breath against her skin, and her heartbeat quickened. For so long, Tess would have done anything to hear Stefano speak those words.
But she’d suffered too much shock and grief today. He couldn’t tempt her to forget so easily how badly he’d treated her. She pulled away.
“Why would I come with you?”
Stefano’s eyes widened. She saw she’d surprised him. And he wasn’t the only one. Her uncle and the white-haired customer were now staring at them, wide-eyed.
Giving her a crooked grin, he said, “I can think of a few reasons.”
“If you want to spend time with Esme, I will be happy to arrange that. But if you think I’ll give up my family and friends and home—” she lifted her chin “—and come with you to Europe as some kind of paid nanny—”
“No. Not my nanny.” Stefano’s thumb lightly traced her tender lower lip. “I have something else in mind.”
Unwilling desire shot down her body, making her nipples taut as tension coiled low in her belly. Her pride was screaming for her to push him away but it was difficult to hear her pride over the rising pleas of her body.
“I—I won’t be your mistress, either,” she stammered, shivering, searching his gaze.
“No.” With a smile that made his dark eyes gleam, Stefano shook his head. “Not my mistress.”
Tess heard a gasp.
Glancing back at the cash register, she saw that her aunt and cousins had come downstairs from the upstairs apartment. They were standing next to her uncle, wearing the same stunned expressions.
“Then...then what?” Tess stammered, feeling foolish for even suggesting a handsome billionaire prince like Stefano would want a regular girl like her as his mistress. Her cheeks were hot. “You don’t want me as your nanny, not as your mistress, so—what? You just want me to come to London as someone who watches your baby for free?” Her voice shook. “Some kind of...p-poor relation?”
