ten and fifteen minutes, respectively.”
“You’re a triplet?” she asked with obvious curiosity.
“ Sì. ”
“Wow. That would be so amazing.”
“You would think so, wouldn’t you?” As much as he loved his
siblings, it was not an aspect of his life that was
an unending source of joy. “None of us are identical, but we look enough alike
that there is never a question we are siblings.”
His role as heir to the throne set him apart, and yet there had
been very little in his life that his sister and brother had not done right
along with him. While their royal parents might not understand how the bond
could be both beneficial and stifling, Adamo and Elena shared Micheli’s
feelings.
And each had their own ways of establishing their
individuality.
She carried on texting while talking with him. “It beats being
the only child of parents with huge expectations, any day.” She read her latest
text and smiled. “They’re coming.”
“Good. And trust me, expectations can be just as entrenched
when you have siblings to share some of the burden.” And some burdens? Could not
be shared.
* * *
Kiki had to admit that seeing the cathedral with a
private tour guide and two of her friends was a lot nicer than being part of a
big group, but she still couldn’t believe she’d let the gorgeous Sicilian pick
her up in the piazza. Even if her friends were coming along.
As the daughter of a Spanish billionaire and a former
supermodel, she’d been raised to be about ten times more cautious than the
average person.
Only there was something really special about Mich. Her mom
always said Kiki would know when she met that
guy —the one she could not resist. She’d dated, a lot more than her dad
would have liked and less than her mom had encouraged.
But Mich? He was Kiki catnip. He got to her with a smile in
ways other men hadn’t managed to after months of going out.
Okay, he was gorgeous. Like over-the-top, alpha-of-the-pack
impressive. She didn’t think he wore a power tie to impress, but because that’s
who Mich was. He couldn’t be more than a few years older than her, but she got
the feeling he was already one of the “important players,” as her dad called
them.
Mich had presence in spades. Even in her heels, he was a good
three inches taller than her, and his body was to die for, and his business suit
couldn’t disguise that to-die-for body. He had these aristocratic looks that
went with the arrogance she’d come to realize pretty quickly was innate, too.
And she had a near-irresistible urge to reach up and muss his perfectly styled
black hair.
It was his eyes that really got her, though. Espresso-brown,
they glowed with appreciation for her and a humor he invited her to share.
After the cathedral, they spent an hour at a trattoria, talking
about everything and nothing at all, while Joni and Davin played tourists with
their cameras nearby. Palermo was a beautiful city with bits of history and art
everywhere.
And rather than wallowing in it, Kiki was lost in another kind
of attraction altogether. She felt as if she’d known Mich forever.
As scary as that was, she was a lot more terrified of telling
him goodbye.
“We need to get a taxi to catch up to the group, if we don’t
want to miss this afternoon’s tour,” Davin said, walking up to the café
table.
Kiki’s stomach tightened with panic that made absolutely no
sense.
Mich smiled at them all. “I am happy to continue in the role of
tour guide, and I believe my car will be a more comfortable ride than a tour
bus.”
“Only if one of us drives.” Joni crossed her arms, her
expression set in stubborn lines.
She’d taken classes at Kiki’s dad’s school of caution.
No way would Mich agree. Kiki prepared to tell him goodbye, but
he smiled, handing the keys to Joni as they followed him to a luxury vehicle
parked nearby. “Have at it.”
Joni slipped into the driver’s seat, giving Davin a superior
look. “Not all men are such
“You’re a triplet?” she asked with obvious curiosity.
“ Sì. ”
“Wow. That would be so amazing.”
“You would think so, wouldn’t you?” As much as he loved his
siblings, it was not an aspect of his life that was
an unending source of joy. “None of us are identical, but we look enough alike
that there is never a question we are siblings.”
His role as heir to the throne set him apart, and yet there had
been very little in his life that his sister and brother had not done right
along with him. While their royal parents might not understand how the bond
could be both beneficial and stifling, Adamo and Elena shared Micheli’s
feelings.
And each had their own ways of establishing their
individuality.
She carried on texting while talking with him. “It beats being
the only child of parents with huge expectations, any day.” She read her latest
text and smiled. “They’re coming.”
“Good. And trust me, expectations can be just as entrenched
when you have siblings to share some of the burden.” And some burdens? Could not
be shared.
* * *
Kiki had to admit that seeing the cathedral with a
private tour guide and two of her friends was a lot nicer than being part of a
big group, but she still couldn’t believe she’d let the gorgeous Sicilian pick
her up in the piazza. Even if her friends were coming along.
As the daughter of a Spanish billionaire and a former
supermodel, she’d been raised to be about ten times more cautious than the
average person.
Only there was something really special about Mich. Her mom
always said Kiki would know when she met that
guy —the one she could not resist. She’d dated, a lot more than her dad
would have liked and less than her mom had encouraged.
But Mich? He was Kiki catnip. He got to her with a smile in
ways other men hadn’t managed to after months of going out.
Okay, he was gorgeous. Like over-the-top, alpha-of-the-pack
impressive. She didn’t think he wore a power tie to impress, but because that’s
who Mich was. He couldn’t be more than a few years older than her, but she got
the feeling he was already one of the “important players,” as her dad called
them.
Mich had presence in spades. Even in her heels, he was a good
three inches taller than her, and his body was to die for, and his business suit
couldn’t disguise that to-die-for body. He had these aristocratic looks that
went with the arrogance she’d come to realize pretty quickly was innate, too.
And she had a near-irresistible urge to reach up and muss his perfectly styled
black hair.
It was his eyes that really got her, though. Espresso-brown,
they glowed with appreciation for her and a humor he invited her to share.
After the cathedral, they spent an hour at a trattoria, talking
about everything and nothing at all, while Joni and Davin played tourists with
their cameras nearby. Palermo was a beautiful city with bits of history and art
everywhere.
And rather than wallowing in it, Kiki was lost in another kind
of attraction altogether. She felt as if she’d known Mich forever.
As scary as that was, she was a lot more terrified of telling
him goodbye.
“We need to get a taxi to catch up to the group, if we don’t
want to miss this afternoon’s tour,” Davin said, walking up to the café
table.
Kiki’s stomach tightened with panic that made absolutely no
sense.
Mich smiled at them all. “I am happy to continue in the role of
tour guide, and I believe my car will be a more comfortable ride than a tour
bus.”
“Only if one of us drives.” Joni crossed her arms, her
expression set in stubborn lines.
She’d taken classes at Kiki’s dad’s school of caution.
No way would Mich agree. Kiki prepared to tell him goodbye, but
he smiled, handing the keys to Joni as they followed him to a luxury vehicle
parked nearby. “Have at it.”
Joni slipped into the driver’s seat, giving Davin a superior
look. “Not all men are such
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