"A thousand or so guests, long ceremonies. Yes, it will be painful. Or we could elope."

She blinked at him. "Excuse me, but did you just say elope?"

He nodded. "Some formalities cannot be avoided. You must be made a princess of my country, which can happen through a different ceremony, but there is no need for us to have a big wedding if the thought of it makes you uncomfortable. Or if you don't want to wait."

"I don't want to wait," she admitted. "But more than that, I'm not ready to be the center of attention."

"Marrying me will make you such, Mia. You must be willing to accept that. You would one day rule as queen. You must not forget that."

His desire to make sure she knew what she was getting into just made her love him more.

"Are you sure a quickie wedding is legal?" she asked.

"Of course. You would officially be my wife."

"Even if we ran off to Las Vegas?"

He smiled. "Is that what you have in mind?"

"Well, any big formal thing is going to include my family. There's no way we'll be able to escape that. Which means it will take time and then the king will find out about it. So either we go for it or we stay traditional."

"Would you like to go for it?"

As he asked, he moved against her. He was already hard again. Her body tightened in response.

"All that for me?" she asked as she reached between them and took him in her hand.

"All that and much more," he murmured. "I give you my heart, my country, my history, my future. Marry me, Mia Marcelli."

He shifted so she was on top of him. She slid herself onto his erection and eased into another orgasm.

"Okay," she gasped as she tightened around him.

He reached up and teased her nipples. "Okay, what?"

"Danny's birthday is in a couple of days. We'll fly to Las Vegas after that."

He raised up and claimed her with a kiss. "As you wish, my love. As you wish."

10

Rafael woke up alone in his bed. As much as he wanted Mia there with him, they had agreed it would be better for them to keep their relationship a secret until after they eloped.

As he walked into the bathroom attached to his room, he smiled. Last night had been most pleasurable, and not simply because Mia had finally agreed to marry him. Their lovemaking had been as exciting and sensual as he remembered. She had always been able to match him, desire for desire, and time had not eroded that connection.

Although her getting pregnant had been an unexpected complication, he could not regret Daniel's parentage. Mia brought great strength and heart to the boy.

He shaved, then stepped into the shower. As he reached for the soap, he remembered how she had asked if he had loved before. As if not sure he had loved her.

He had never allowed himself to examine his feelings for her. He had known they would only be together for a short time. But he had never forgotten her. Was that love?

Did it matter? Despite the brief marriage they would share, she was not an appropriate queen. He would let her go because it was the right thing to do. His responsibility demanded…

Everything, he thought, both angry and resigned. It always had. This time, Mia would pay the price for who he was. He stepped out of the shower. He did not want to hurt her. Before he had arrived, she had been an obstacle. Now she was uniquely herself.

When he had dried off, he dressed. Later he would call his father and tell him of his victory. They would need to begin to draw up the required paperwork. Rafael decided that he would be generous. He would allow Mia the right to visit her son as often as she would like. There was no need to keep them apart. Having his mother around would make the transition easier for the boy.

He heard a knock on the door, followed by a low, "Your highness?"

"Enter."

Oliver stepped into the room. "Your gift has arrived and is ready."

"Good," Rafael said, knowing how pleased Daniel would be. "I will get the boy and be right down."

Oliver nodded and left. Rafael finished dressing, then walked to Daniel's room.

Mia was already there. He paused in the doorway and watched her brush his son's hair while outlining their activities for the day. She worked quickly, with the easy grace of someone who has performed this particular task a thousand times before.

Rafael stepped into the room. "Good morning," he said.

Daniel looked up and grinned, then darted forward. "Daddy, Daddy!"

Rafael dropped to one knee and pulled the boy close. "It has only been one night. Did you miss me so much?"

He asked the question of his son, but his gaze was on Mia as he spoke. She stood by the dresser, wearing her usual shorts and a T-shirt. Her hair was damp from her recent shower, which made him think of her naked, which made him want her again.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked with a smile that only she could see.

"Better than I expected."

"Perhaps it was the exercise you had yesterday."

She blushed faintly. "Yes, well, maybe. And you?"

"I slept very well."

"Good. We're all rested. Danny, come on. I can smell breakfast."

Rafael ruffled the boy's hair. "Perhaps that could wait for a few minutes. I have a surprise for him."

Mia crossed to the door. "Let me guess. A crown?"

"You mock the scepter."

"It's fairly mockable."

"Your circumstances suggest you will want to understand all of my country's traditions."

Her smile faded as something very close to panic filled her eyes. "Good point. Danny, your dad got you an early birthday present. Do you want to go see it?"

The boy nodded eagerly and took his father's hand. Rafael frowned slightly. Was it appropriate for a male child this age to hold his father's hand? He could not remember ever having such contact with his own father.

He glanced at Mia, but she didn't act as if anything was amiss. Perhaps his childhood should not be the measure of normal, he admitted. There would be time for Daniel to learn how to behave royally.

"Where is it?" Danny asked. "Is it big? Is it soldiers? Is it lots of soldiers?"

"It is not soldiers and it is not large." Rafael looked at the boy. "It may seem large to you. Come. You will see for yourself."

They walked down the stairs. The Grands were already in the kitchen, fixing breakfast.

"Mornin'" Grammy M said, beaming at him. "You're up early."

"I have a surprise for Daniel," Rafael told her.

Grandma Tessa narrowed her eyes. "He's barely four. Still a little boy."

Rafael paused to kiss her cheek. "And here I thought you had accepted me, Tessa."

She gave him a smile. "All right. I'll wait to see what it is before I complain."

"Thank you." He reached for Mia with his free hand. "You will be very impressed."

"I'm already having doubts."

"How can you not trust me?"

"Fascinating question. We'll have to explore that later."

Later he would have her in his bed again. Later he would make her forget everything but the pleasure she felt in his arms. Later she would make plans for their wedding and he would let her.

They walked outside just as Umberto led a small pony out of a horse carrier. The animal was pure white, with a long mane and tail. Ribbons and bells had been woven into both, so the pony fluttered and tinkled as it walked.

Danny gripped his hand tightly. "For me?" he asked with a gasp. "For my birthday?"

"Yes, Daniel. This is a Calandrian pony. They are specially bred and revered all over the world."

Mia came to a stop. "You bought him a pony?"

"As you can see."

"You bought him a pony and you didn't tell me?"

He frowned. "Why would I?"

"Gee, I don't know. Because I'm his mother? Because we don't exactly have a spare stable here on our vineyard?"

"You do not have to worry about details, Mia."

"Why not? Someone does."

"All will be taken care of." He turned to Daniel. "His name is Gaspare, which means bringer of gifts."

Danny stared wide-eyed. "He's really mine?"

"Of course."

"Can I ride him?"

"Right now."

Oliver appeared with a saddle and bridle.

"There is much work in owning a horse, or even a pony," Rafael told the boy. "You will have to be very responsible. Do you know what that means?"

Danny shook his head.

"It means you will have to take care of him. You will have to brush him and feed him."

"What? He doesn't get a groom with the horse?" Mia asked.

"Yes, of course there is a groom, but Daniel needs to learn to take care of things. To be responsible."

"All part of his once-and-future-king training?"

There was something in her voice, something that made him watch her closely. "You are angry?" he asked, not sure how that was possible.

"Anger isn't the right word. Shocked. Rafael, a pony is a big deal. How could you not have discussed this with me?"

"You worry too much," he said, then kissed her on the mouth. "Help me saddle him so Daniel can ride him."

Five minutes later a very excited boy sat on top of his pony. Mia hovered, which Rafael allowed. It was a first ride, after all. But in time she would have to learn to let her son go. He needed to be a man.

"I'm riding, I'm riding!" Daniel crowed as they made a slow circle around the backyard. "Daddy, this is the bestest present ever."

"Socks are going to be a real letdown after this," Mia mumbled.

"You did not buy him socks."

"Not exactly." She tentatively patted the pony's neck. "He seems friendly enough."

"He is very gentle, but with enough of a spirit to be a challenge as Daniel learns to ride more. In a few months, he'll graduate to a horse, but Gaspare works for now."

"I love my pony," Daniel said as he leaned forward and hugged the animal's neck.

"Keep control of the reins," Rafael told him. "It is how you control your mount."

Daniel grinned. "He's a pretty pony. Can I take him to school to show my friends and Miss Valdrake?"

"His teacher," Mia said. "Honey, I'm thinking we're going to wait on pony show-and-tell. Just until we get this figured out." She looked at Rafael. "You haven't said what we're going to do about a stable."

"The weather is mild enough that the animal can stay out."

"And in winter?"

Daniel and his pony wouldn't be here, Rafael thought. But what he said was, "I have a staff to deal with details, Mia. Please, try not to worry. All will be well."

"I don't have a staff," she said. "I'm used to solving my own problems and you're not helping with that."

"Do we really need to discuss this now?"

She smiled at Daniel, who urged Gaspare to go faster.

"I guess not," she admitted. "It's just… Wow. A pony. The whole prince thing is still something I have to get used to."

"You will."

"I guess I have to. What with…" Her voice trailed off.

He knew she referred to her acceptance of his proposal. That she would have to get used to being royal herself. He wanted to reassure her that the job would be much less taxing than she imagined for she would be only have it a few weeks.

* * *

"He bought Danny a pony," Mia said as she paced around Brenna's office at the winery. "He never said a word. He just announced he had a surprise and then there it was. An honest-to-God pony."