Honeymoon With a Prince (Royal Scandals) (44 page)

“Is Ted,” she finished.
 
The jerk who’d taken everything from her, including her friends.
 
The man responsible for her stint in a foreign jail.
 
The man with the sterling reputation.
 

The two words silenced Massimo.

“I’m terribly sorry,” she said, corralling all her energy and directing it toward appearing collected.
 
“I had no idea he’d be here.
 
He didn’t use his airline ticket and as far as I knew he hadn’t RSVP’ed for the ball.”
 

She stole a backward glance at the reception hall, which was rapidly emptying as guests entered the ballroom and searched the silver-and-crystal-topped tables scattered around the periphery of the dance floor for those bearing their names on place cards.
 
There was no sign of her ex, which meant he had to have entered the ballroom after signing the book.

“You were engaged to Edward Robards?”
 

“Yes.”
 

“I imagine he can afford the change ticket fee and fly whenever he wants.”

“Yes.”
 
Though she never thought he would.
 
She took a step back and offered Massimo a polite, encouraging smile.
 
“Why don’t you find the dinner table and chat with the other guests?
 
I think it’s best for everyone if I head back to my suite.”

“No.”
 

Massimo’s face was inscrutable as he slid an arm around her lower back and turned her to face the ballroom.
 
As he did whenever he was in public, Massimo commanded attention, but now she felt the eyes of the crowd on her as he guided her through the tables to one near the dance floor.
 
There was no way Ted wouldn’t see her here.
 
And then what?

“Massimo,” she hissed.
 
“I never would’ve come if I’d known.
 
I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“I’m standing up to my fears by attending this ball.
 
You should do the same.”
 
He stopped beside a table topped with crystal glasses and a lush yellow and green floral centerpiece.
 
Silver polished to a high shine was laid out at each place, the pieces bordering an ivory cloth napkin folded into a perfect upright twist.
 
As he pulled out her seat, he moved behind her and breathed into her ear, “Like broccoli.”

A moment later, he took his place on the opposite side of the large, round table, introduced himself to those he didn’t already know, and warmly greeted those he did.
 
Kelly managed a smile as he introduced her around the table.
 
Relaxed as Massimo seemed on the surface, Kelly wondered what thoughts must be going through his head, both about navigating a tightly packed room and about the fact she’d been engaged to one of the most powerful men in Texas, if not the entire United States.

Dinner went smoothly, filled with laughter and small talk, though she felt ill at ease throughout.
 
Nothing tasted right; her stomach felt encased in lead.
 
It wasn’t until Alberto Zacchi took a microphone to the middle of the ballroom floor and everyone turned in their seats to listen to him speak about his cause that she faced her deepest fear:
 
Ted sat two tables away.
 
Before now, she hadn’t been at an angle to see him, though she should’ve felt his presence.
 
He looked impeccable.
 
In fact, more than one set of female eyes rested on him, assessing his short, thick blonde hair, the width and solidity of his shoulders, the distinct angles of his cheekbones and jaw, and his bright, intelligent blue eyes.
 

She couldn’t blame them.
 
Wealth was the last reason she’d been attracted to him.
 
He’d introduced himself to her at a Dallas restaurant one afternoon as she was finishing up a business lunch and she’d been riveted by his easy demeanor, his self-assured laugh, and those captivating eyes.

He caught her staring at him across the ballroom.
 
One of his dark blonde brows arched in greeting before he slid an appreciative gaze over her—taking in her carefully arranged hairstyle, the designer gown and heels, the stunning necklace—nodded his approval, then turned his attention to Alberto.

Kelly’s insides went ice cold.

For the rest of Alberto’s speech, Kelly could hardly breathe.
 
She didn’t dare look in Ted’s direction.
 
From that one quick look, he’d told her all she needed to know.
 
He wasn’t going to leave her alone tonight.
 
He was going to ruin her evening, just as he’d ruined her business, her friendships, and her solo honeymoon.

Applause thundered throughout the room as Alberto finished his description of SunTalk’s successes and the charity’s future plans.
 
The older man swooped one arm toward the orchestra, which began to play as Alberto asked King Carlo and Queen Fabrizia to take the floor for the first dance.
 
The royal couple sashayed onto the floor, bringing cheers from all in the room.
 
The monarch smiled down at his wife as they danced, their steps in perfect sync.
 
Then, as the familiar tune reached its crescendo, he surprised everyone by dipping her, planting a rather un-royal kiss on her mouth, then twirling her back across the floor in time with the music.
 
The unabashed look of love between the two warmed Kelly’s heart.
 

A wolf-whistle from a table at the opposite side of the dance floor surprised everyone.
 
Kelly looked in time to see Princess Sophia elbow a man next to her.
 
The room erupted in laughter at the sight.

“Is that Prince Vittorio?” the man beside Kelly whispered to his wife.

“I can’t tell the difference between Vittorio and Alessandro,” she replied.
 
“I suspect it’s Alessandro.”

The prince stood and clapped for his parents.
 
Sophia joined him.
 
Within seconds, the rest of the room stood to cheer on the popular couple.
 

It was the most romantic scene Kelly ever witnessed when King Carlo smiled down at his wife as if they were the only two people in the room.

When the song neared its end, Alberto urged the rest of the guests to take to the floor.
 
He didn’t need to ask a second time.
 
Dozens of couples followed the lead of the monarch, turning the room into a feast for the eyes as women in gowns of every color and description spun beneath the ballroom’s glowing crystal chandeliers.

A large hand cupped her elbow, startling her.
 
Rather than Prince Massimo, it was Ted who looked down at her with an appreciative smile on his face.

“You look astonishing, Kelly.
 
I’m surprised to see you here, though I can’t say I’m disappointed.”

“Ted.”
 
It was all she could manage.
 
The flirtatious look on the man’s face belied everything he’d done behind the scenes since she’d ended their relationship.
 
She shifted her focus from him to the dancers, not deigning to respond to his compliment.

“You heard Alberto Zacchi.
 
It’d be rude to disappoint our host, wouldn’t it?
 
Dance with me.
 
It’ll give us time to make amends.”

“I don’t need to make any amends.”
 
She needed her money, and nothing else, from this man.

“Ah, but I do.”
 
A warm possessiveness edged his words, but she refused to tear her gaze from the couples dancing in front of her.
 
“I received your letter.”

“My attorney’s letter,” she corrected.

“Yes.
 
I’m so sorry about the misunderstanding.”

Now she spun on him.
 
“That’s what you call it?
 
I call it theft.”

“Oh, Kelly.
 
What use would I have for your money?
 
It was all yours.
 
Always was.
 
My name was only on the account at your insistence.
 
Remember, after the honeymoon you wanted to use those funds for our condo down payment as a gift to me.
 
I was willing to let you, just so you’d feel independent.”

“I see.
 
That explains why you closed the account and took every last dime.”
 
How could he look at her so innocently, yet at the same time insult her to her face?
 
It was a wonder she kept her cool.

Then again, yelling at this man would accomplish nothing.
 
It would only embarrass her and embarrass Massimo.

“The money has all been returned.
 
I called the bank president personally to reestablish the account, this time solely in your name.”
 
He ran his hand up her arm, then let it rest on her shoulder.
 
Slowly, he allowed his gaze to follow the movement, settling on the jewels at her throat.
 
His touch made her skin crawl, but she didn’t want to slap his hand away and make a scene.
 

“I closed it with the intent of returning the money to you right away, of course, but when I stopped by your apartment to give you a certified check, you were gone.
 
Your friends told me you’d decided to travel to Sarcaccia alone.”
 
He shrugged.
 
“I thought I was doing you a favor by wrapping up the loose ends of our relationship.”

“I see.”
 
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
 
“So when I check the account later tonight, the funds will be there?”

“Yes.
 
Your old ATM cards and passwords should all work.
 
If I caused you any inconvenience, again, I must apologize.
 
Though” —once again, his blue eyes lit on her throat, as if assessing the authenticity of the jewels encircling it— “you don’t seem to have been inconvenienced.
 
That is quite a necklace.
 
It suits you.”

“Thank you.”
 
She wasn’t about to explain.

“So,” he said with a tilt of his head toward the dance floor.
 
“Shall we?
 
For old times’ sake?”

* * *

Edward Robards
.

Massimo watched as the wealthy CEO approached Kelly, all polite smiles and wandering hands.
 
The man had the audacity to look her up and down as if she were his possession.

Despite the temptation to step in and rescue her, Massimo held back, feigning interest in a conversation between the two French businessmen who’d been seated beside him and who were now waiting for their wives to return from the restroom so they could escort the women to the dance floor.

He wanted to see how Kelly handled the man.
 

He wanted to see how Robards handled Kelly.

One of the Frenchmen clapped Massimo on the shoulder and laughed.
 
Massimo joined in, though he’d missed the joke.
 
And he still didn’t like having his shoulder touched.

He couldn’t reconcile everything Kelly had told him about her former fiancé with what he knew of Edward Robards.
 
The man was a self-made legend in his industry.
 
Young, astute, generous…they were all words associated with his name.
 
Yet they were the opposite of the way Kelly’d described her ex, Ted.

He’d always thought of Ted as a nickname for Theodore, not Edward.
 
Still, he should have made the connection before now.
 
How many men named Robards from Texas were scheduled to be in Sarcaccia this week?
 
Even if he hadn’t figured it out initially, when she’d told him she’d selected Sarcaccia for her honeymoon because Ted had been invited to tonight’s event, he should’ve connected the dots.

One of the Frenchmen straightened, his gaze lighting on his wife, who followed her friend through the mass of people moving toward the dance floor as they zigzagged their way to the table.

“Ah, here comes my beloved,” the other Frenchman said.
 
“If you’ll excuse me, Your Highness, I’ve promised my wife that I’ll pay attention to her tonight.”

“So she’ll pay attention to you later?” the other teased.

“Precisely.”
 
The two men shared knowing looks, and Massimo sent them both on their way.
 
For his part, enough time had elapsed to give him a good view of the relationship between Kelly and Robards.
 
The blond man still held a torch for Kelly—though why he behaved so abominably, Massimo couldn’t fathom—but Kelly’s body language revealed the opposite.
 
Though she appeared to be carrying on a polite conversation, it was blatantly obvious to him that she did not want the man’s hand on her arm.
 
Or moving up her shoulder, as it was now.