He was glad he had the foresight to disable all the security cameras when he boarded the yacht or else they would have given the crew quite a show.
“I don’t think I can stand anymore.” They had entered the library and Sabrina staggered to the nearest couch. Luca was striding to an alcove farther in the room, his back to her, so he didn’t see her wince when she sat down. Thank God. He’d asked repeatedly if she was okay. Glutton for him that she was, she refused to stop until Luca had called for a break.
He turned to her, cradling a drink in his hand. “Would you care for some?” He was standing by the bar. “We have some non-alcoholic drinks, too.”
Her stomach rumbled.“Maybe some water.”
“I asked the chef to serve dinner in thirty minutes.” He bent and rummaged under the bar, then rose with a bottle of sparkling water in hand. “I’m starving.
“Me too,” a little voice chirped.
Both she and Luca whipped their heads around to find the speaker. Sabrina spotted her by the foot of a wall-mounted floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. A chubby-cheeked, curly-haired girl of about three sat there.
“Principessa Alessa. Buon giorno!”
“Buon giorno.” The toddler replied, getting on all fours to steady herself as she made to rise, her bottom sticking out in the air for a few seconds before she was fully upright. She looked around her and spied a book on the floor, one she was probably perusing before they interrupted her. She squatted, grabbed a corner, rose, and dragged the heavy book as she made her way to Luca, who had made himself comfortable beside her on the couch. He had deposited a bottle of water and a glass on the coffee table.
“She’s so adorable!”
She had dark curly hair and big blue eyes.
“She’s not mine,” Luca said in amusement.
“I didn’t say anything!”
“But you thought it.”
The little girl stopped in front of Luca and gazed at him solemnly. “Stowy.” She was trying to lift the book onto his lap and climb on it at the same time. Her chubby feet were bare. “Wead.”
Luca scooped her up. “She’s my goddaughter.” He kissed the top of the moppet’s head, and Sabrina’s belly clenched.
The tableau in front of her affected her on so many levels. Growing up with an absent father. Check. Imagining Luca as a dad with his own daughter. Check. Imagining Luca as the father of her child. Uncheck.
She ordered her ovaries to stand down.
“Alessa is the captain's and Antonia the stewardess’ kid. They bring her on board when there are no events.”
The chubby-cheeked toddler demanded his attention and tapped the book impatiently.
“Good choice of book,” he said, grinning. He tilted the cover so Sabrina could see the title. It was a heavy, coffee table book.
“The House of Argenti: A Hundred Years in Fashion” she read aloud. “That would make for a very interesting read for a toddler,” she chuckled.
“It’s all in the delivery. Watch and learn, cara.” He settled Alessa more snugly on his lap and began reading. “Once upon a time in a town called Milan lived a man named Petro. He was a shoemaker.”
She quirked an eyebrow.
“It’s true. My great-grandfather was a shoemaker.” Alessa tugged on his arm. “I’m sorry. Where was I? Oh yes. He was the best shoemaker in town and he was sought after, even in neighboring towns.”
“Pwincess!” Alessa demanded.
“Hold on. I’m coming to that part.” He turned a page and winked at Sabrina. “One day a princess who loved shoes heard about Petro’s skill. She wanted a pair for herself. She came to town and sought Petro, who took one look at her and fell madly in love.”
The back of Alessa’s head was resting against Luca’s chest trustingly. Sabrina’s chest tightened.
“She demanded to have a shoe made, one that would be so beautiful she would be the envy of all the princesses in the neighboring kingdoms. But Petro refused.”
Alessa tucked her thumb in her mouth.
“The princess, because she was not used to being refused anything, said, ‘Name your price.’ Petro said ‘I would make you a shoe so beautiful you would be the envy of all if you will consent to be my bride.’ The princess agreed and she married the shoemaker, and they lived happily ever after. The end.”
“You’re making it up!” Sabrina cried then quickly lowered her voice when Luca lifted a finger to his lips. He cradled his cheek with one hand and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
She canted her body forward and peered at Alessa. “She’s asleep,” she whispered. She took the book from him and laid it gently on a side table.