What she didn't know, and if he had his way would never know, was how he'd made sure the property was available at a price she could afford. She had no idea he'd done a bit of backroom dealing to make sure the permits she needed came through. His Lara would go ballistic if she knew about the hand he'd played in blocking her initial attempts to found her school in England.
He'd used her dream to get her back home.
Dante kept walking.
He had no regrets. She was here and she was his. Whatever he'd had to do had been worth it.
The point was she'd never find out from him. Her father had strict instructions to keep silent. He'd only involved Hugo because he'd needed an intermediary to make the suggestion to come back to Italy to start her school. But he trusted her father to keep quiet.
She would never find out.
That was good. Because he wanted her to be proud of what she'd accomplished. After this morning's talk, he wanted this for her with even more conviction. Her ass of a dead husband had evidently destroyed her confidence. And honestly, when everything was said and done, she'd put this school in place and deserved the credit. He'd merely helped oil the wheels.
He slowed his walk and stopped in front of one open door. The teacher's voice spoke rapidly in Italian and then translated into English. A dozen children were ranged around a large table strewn with colored paper and pens.
"These children learn best with pictures." His wife's soft voice came from behind him.
"I see." He focused on the teacher as she printed on the board and the children followed, tracing various colors on drawing paper.
"They are as bright, often brighter than regular children."
"But their dyslexia means they need to learn differently."
"Yes." Her voice held a hint of surprise at his understanding. "Many schools don't have the capacity or the time to deal with their special needs."
He glanced at his wife. "So you stepped in."
"There's such a need out there." Lara's face shone with fervent belief. "Every city should have a school like this where these children learn how special and intelligent they truly are."
"If I know you, bella." Pride welled in his voice. Along with his all-consuming love for this woman. "You will make it happen."
Her honey eyes widened. "You believe in me?"
"I believe in you." He managed the words through the sudden knot in his throat. Didn't she know how deeply he believed in anything and everything she did? "I believe in your dream."
"Really?" A light gilded her beautiful eyes. "Thank you, Dante."
"I will help you achieve this dream."
Her hand landed on his chest, right where his heart pounded with solid determination. "I think you mean that."
"I do." The two words were as solemn a commitment to her as his marriage vows.
* * *
This was his world. Completely.
Lara stood by her husband's side, watching the swirl of black tuxes, silk dresses, smiling faces, feathers and flounces. The heavy air was filled with the fragrance of perfume and the aroma of flowers. Waiters roamed the crowd carrying trays of champagne and appetizers. The party was for some charity, she couldn't remember which one, but it was obvious what the real business was tonight.
See and be seen.
She was certainly the center of attention. All eyes on her. Well, Dante, and thus, her. This was the first big bash they'd attended as a married couple, only a week after coming home from their honeymoon. This had to be the reason she felt so conspicuous. The amount of attention was shocking.
Yes, she'd known he was rich.
Yes, she'd known he was powerful.
Yes, she'd known he was important.
But she hadn't known how easily he took center stage, how he moved into the spotlight as if he owned it. She hadn't realized the impact his power had on others. How much they idolized him. How much they sought his attention. How much they courted him.
The king was in his element.
Yet she wasn't sure she could carry off the role of queen with any kind of finesse or polish. The thought made her grumpy. By tough and determined steps, she'd rebuilt her self-confidence over the last eighteen months. She'd gotten her degree at last. She'd found the funding to start the school. She'd made a success of it.
She was as worthy as Dante Casartelli.
More worthy, actually. She had principles. He merely had power.
The power he held in his hands, though, was amazing.
They'd arrived less than an hour ago and from the first moment, Dante had been surrounded by a throng of fervent admirers: everyone from corporate CEOs to Internet millionaires to international entrepreneurs. All wanting her husband's advice, support, or money. Or all three.
Even with her pep talk ringing in her ears, she was still unsettled. With Gerry, she'd endured the faculty parties. She'd dutifully smiled and played her part, the young wife staring with an adoring gaze at her older, smarter husband. That was nothing compared to this. Gerry had been a large fish in a small pond. Dante was a very large shark totally comfortable roaming the entire world's ocean. As his wife, she was along for the ride, held in his gleaming white teeth.
His arm tightened on her waist as if he sensed her unease. "You are not enjoying yourself?" His tone hinted at amusement. And confidence. Apparently, he had no problem with the avid interest surrounding them.
"I'm fine."
Sighing, he peered at her face. "You have nothing to worry about. You are the most beautiful woman here."
"Please." She made a face. "I'm not worried about my looks."
His brow rose. "This from the woman who spent two hours deciding what she was going to wear tonight."
"True." She chuckled at the light dig. "I still don't know if I chose correctly." A glance around confirmed her fears. Every woman was decked out in the latest couture, while she'd decided on a simple shift she'd found in a London shop years ago.
Her husband's perusal moved down her body with deliberate heat. The look touched on the skimpy spaghetti straps curved over her tanned shoulders. It then slid to the pink silk covering her breasts with a sleek hold. The warmth of his gaze immediately affected her nipples and the tight buds strained against the silk in an embarrassing display. Yet he continued his slow, steady stare, moving across the roundness of her hips and the softness of her upper thighs. The hem of the dress hit her mid-thigh, the only marginally sexy part of the garment in her opinion. Dante's eyes gleamed with admiration for the length of her legs covered with silvery stockings. He ended his inspection at her shockingly high heels, the strappy leather barely keeping the shoes tied to her feet. Her toes curled from the impact of his intense stare.
"You chose perfectly." His voice was low and hoarse.
"I'm glad you think so."
"In fact, you chose so well, it is hard for me to concentrate on anything else this evening."
"Dante." The heat coming off his body zipped through her. Her skin tightened and a light sweat broke out between her breasts. Gazing into his eyes, she saw the blinding passion coursing through her reflected in his black stare.
"I believe we will have to leave," he muttered. "To save my sanity."
"Dante." A booming voice cut through their sexual tension with a crack. She swung her head around to confront a huge man, stuffed into a tuxedo. His florid face beamed with a friendly grin. A pigeon of a woman clutched one gigantic arm, her short legs and compact body an amusing contrast to her companion's hulking form.
"George." Her husband's voice was calm and cool. The husky words he'd expressed mere moments ago appeared to never have been uttered. Lara glanced at Dante's face and encountered the bland expression she'd seen so many times before, but now she knew about the man beneath the mask. She noticed, for instance, his hand was still clamped tightly at her hip, the fingers kneading her skin. There appeared to be a muscle in his jaw that was not following his orders. It was as tightly clenched as his hand.
She smiled. Well. The king could no longer hide every one of his secrets from her. The thought filled her with surprising satisfaction.
Meanwhile, George had managed to capture her husband's other hand and was pumping it for all he was worth. "Good to see you."
Dante slipped his hand from the giant paw and nodded to the chubby woman. "Miranda. I hope you are well."