“Alexandra, my child.” The tall, eighty-year-old widower with his strong Russian accent kissed her on both cheeks. “Welcome to the family.”
“I can’t believe I have living family,” Alex whispered shakily, touched by his unexpected warmth. She was still incredulous any of this was happening. If it weren’t for Lucca, she would never have been united with her father’s family, let alone known of their existence.
Though she was indebted to him, she was also terrified because this reunion had come about at a price. There was only one way Lucca wanted repayment, but she couldn’t do what he asked.
“There are quite a few of us Grigorys so you’ll have to believe it.” He chuckled. “Call me Uncle Yuri.”
She blinked back the tears. “If you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” He shook his gray head. “I’d be hurt if you called me anything else. This is a great day. Do you know you’re the living image of my nephew, except you’re much prettier?” He squeezed her hand. “That’s because of your mother. She and Oleg created a beautiful daughter.” His eyes misted over. “If only your father and grandfather could see you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Yuri. I’d give anything to have known them.”
“Well—” He wiped his eyes. “I’ll do my best to tell you all about them. Come into the conference room and we’ll talk over lunch.”
Lucca escorted her through the double doors to the other room where a meal was waiting for them. Over the next few hours her Uncle Yuri told her so many wonderful stories, the time flew by and she never wanted the afternoon to end. Between the pictures and anecdotes, she felt as if she really did belong to a great family.
Yuri’s kindness about her mother made it easy for Alex to love him. So far he’d said nothing disparaging about her parent. It was like a balm to her scarred heart.
“First Vladmila, then Nicholas got pneumonia and died. Oleg left New York to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Once he reached Las Vegas, I’m afraid he didn’t keep in touch. We didn’t hear until after the fact that he’d died in a plane crash. Such a young age to lose his life. I wish I’d known he had a daughter. To think you grew up in Los Angeles without him.”
While she fought to control her tears, his moist gray eyes swerved in Lucca’s direction. “My children and grandchildren will be surprised and thrilled to learn of Alexandra’s existence. I have you to thank for uniting us, Lucca.”
The prince sat there at ease, the quintessential picture of royal sophistication. “It was my pleasure, believe me.”
“Whatever I can do to repay you, name it.”
Alex felt Lucca’s dark eyes on her and shivered, wondering what he was thinking. She didn’t have to wait long to find out.
“I’m glad you said that because I’ve asked Alexandra to marry me.” She gasped. “We hope to gain your blessing and would request that you do us the honor of giving her away at our wedding next month.”
“Is this true?” Yuri cried. He looked delighted.
Her breath caught. “I … I haven’t said yes yet, Uncle,” she stumbled over the words.
“Why ever not?”
Alex wanted to blurt that they’d only met six hours ago, but she was too embarrassed to tell him the truth. Instead she said, “We haven’t known each other very long.”
Her great-uncle stared into her eyes. “That’s what marriage is for, to get to know each other, my child. You’ll have years of togetherness while you learn more and more how to make each other happy.”
She moistened her lips nervously. “You don’t understand, Uncle Yuri. My mother was married six times.” Not to mention that before today Alex and Lucca had been total strangers. Marriages like this simply didn’t happen.
“I can understand why you’re frightened. But think about this.” He lifted his forefinger as if he was giving a speech. “Maybe part of it’s because she lost Oleg, and maybe the other part is because she didn’t have parents to teach her what a good marriage is all about. Hmm?”
“Maybe,” she answered in a tiny voice. He’d confounded her thoughts with his reasoning, and it didn’t help that Lucca sat there looking pleased and impossibly confident.
“Don’t forget you’ve got me now. My marriage to your great-aunt Natasha lasted sixty years. There’s no reason yours won’t last that long or longer!”
He was very sweet. She squeezed his hand back. Already a bond had developed, but he didn’t have the faintest clue what was going on here. Alex felt as though she’d been caught up in a tornado and had no idea where it was carrying her.
“If Lucca has the good sense to choose a Grigory when there are other eligible royals who’ve had their eye on him for years, then I can guarantee a happy union. Our family stays faithful to each other.”
Lucca sat forward, capturing her gaze. “For my part I intend to do everything to make you happy.”
“There,” her uncle cried out. “You see?”
Yes … she saw. What her uncle didn’t know was that the most vital ingredient in their marriage would be missing, but she held back in deference to her newly found relative who was beaming. Too agitated to sit still, she reached for her coffee and drank it.
“Alexandra?” he said excitedly. “You’re the loveliest of all the Grigory women. I noticed it when you walked in with Lucca. You two make a splendid match.”
“I thought the same thing the first time I laid eyes on her,” Lucca concurred with an unmistakable tone of sensuality.
Alex choked on the hot liquid and put the cup back on the saucer. He’d gauged it just right to convince her great-uncle he was in love. The crown prince of Castelmare was a sensational actor.
While she wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin, Lucca got to his feet and went around to her chair. “I dislike cutting this meeting short, Yuri, but Alexandra and I have to leave for the airport.”
This was Alex’s cue to get up from the table. As she stood, their arms brushed. The contact sent a shockwave through her body. She hurried ahead while her great-uncle, who was as tall as Lucca, followed suit. He moved to the outer door of his office like a person ten years younger and kissed her on both cheeks.
“Lucca has my number. Let me know you’ve arrived safely in Castelmare. Now that we’ve met, I want the two of you to be part of my life, Alexandra.”
Tears smarted her eyes. “I want that, too!” She gave him a big hug. “You’ll never know what this day has meant to me.”
“I think I do.” He sniffed before handing her a manila envelope full of family pictures. His gaze shifted to Lucca. “Take good care of her. She’s very precious to me.”
To her shock Lucca put his arm around her shoulders. Dazzling her with his white smile, he said, “I intend to.” It sounded more like a fierce avowal. “When the time comes, I’ll send the jet for you and your family.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I insist,” Lucca stated in a tone of finality.
“Then we’ll be waiting most impatiently.” Yuri gave her a grandfatherly kiss on the forehead before Lucca whisked her through the door.
Paolo and Carlo, the bodyguards he’d introduced to her earlier were waiting to escort them out a rear exit. In the back alley three bullet-proofed limousines with smoked glass were parked. She had no idea who was inside the first one. Carlo followed them into the middle one. Paolo rode in the limo behind. Lucca sat next to her. Whether on purpose or not, his body rested against hers.