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“Exactly.”
Tess looked at him and sighed. “Then of course we must go.”
Taking her hand in his own, he kissed it. “Thank you, cara. I knew you would understand.”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” Ann Carter said, holding out her arms for Esme.
With some visible reluctance, Tess handed her the baby as the nanny continued talking.
“I’ve been caring for babies my whole life.” She smiled down at Esme. “We’ll get along very well, won’t we? Shall we go read stories in the nursery?”
The baby gurgled with delight, waving her pudgy arms.
Tess watched them, biting her lip. Stefano could see she was nervous at the thought of leaving their daughter with anyone besides family or friends.
“It’ll be all right,” Stefano said, touching her shoulder. “The party isn’t far. We don’t have to be out late.”
She took a deep breath. “All right.” She gave him a wan smile. “This party is important, right?”
“It is.” Drawing her close, he kissed her on the forehead. “Thank you.”
Thirty minutes later, he and Tess left the hotel in a luxury limousine. The burly bodyguard he kept on staff in Europe, Leon Rossi, sat in front beside the driver.
Leaning close to Stefano in the back seat, Tess whispered, “Why a bodyguard?”
“Don’t worry.” Stefano looked down at her. “He’ll wait in the car. There’s no threat. It’s simply best practice.”
“You mean, all the other billionaires had a bodyguard, so you wanted one, too.”
“Well...yes.” A smile lifted the corners of his lips. “And I wanted the best. I stole Leon away from his previous employer. Who was that again, Leon?”
“Cristiano Moretti, boss.”
Folding her arms, Tess shook her head, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “You’re incorrigible.”
“See? You do know me.”
Stefano couldn’t stop looking at her. Tess was wearing a new dress, chosen from a selection sent up by the hotel’s luxury boutique. He’d offered to arrange a stylist, but Tess had refused. She’d done her own hair and makeup in twenty minutes. And she was the most impossibly beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Her bright red hair tumbled down her shoulders, and her ruby lips were full and ripe. Her bright green eyes stood out like emeralds, lined with black against her fair skin. Her hourglass figure was lush and enticing in the strapless sapphire-blue dress. A faux fur stole was draped around her bare shoulders to keep out the cool, slightly drizzly air of an autumn night in London.
Stefano felt intoxicated with pride. Lowering his head, he kissed her, relishing the sweet taste of her soft lips.
He drew back with a sigh. “I almost wish we didn’t have to go tonight.”
“This Montfort woman, what’s she like?”
He smiled down at her, running his hands through her silky hair. “Even more ruthless than her father. He was the one who bought Zacco. She took over after he retired.”
“Is she married?”
“Why?” His smile broadened. “Are you jealous?”
“Just wondering,” she said evasively. The lights of the city passed over her lovely face as the limo drove through the London night.
“As far as I can tell, she’s a workaholic. It’s a pity.” He sighed. “Zacco has done exceptionally well with her as CEO.”
“Why is that a pity?”
