Page 21 of Marrying a Prince

Filippo's expression softened as he studied her. "You're a good woman, too, Marianna." But then he drew his eyebrows together and focused his stare. "But if you hurt him, you will have to deal with me."

Marianna flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. She must have startled him because he froze, every muscle in his body tensing.

"I promise," she said and then gave him a squeeze.

"Are you two done?" Leo's voice called from the open door. Marianna looked up to see that her mom had wrangled him into an apron and he had flour all over his hands.

She laughed and released Filippo. "Yep," she said as she made her way up the front steps. Once inside, she glanced over at Leo. "You said yes, didn't you."

Leo glanced over at her with wide eyes. "I'm not really sure how it happened. Your mom was showing me what she'd made for lunch and then the next thing I knew, she had an apron over my head, and I was kneading dough."

Marianna laughed. "Yep. You let her suck you in." Then she lowered her voice. "And you will never get out of it."

He raised his eyebrows. "I believe you."

They chuckled as they walked into the kitchen. Marianna couldn't believe the spread her mom had made. A roast sat in the middle of the table, surrounded by vegetables. Fruit salad was heaped inside a carved-out watermelon. Deviled eggs and pasta salad filled in the empty spots.

"Ma," she said, glancing over to her mom who was kneading bread dough on the counter. "This is a little crazy, huh?"

Her mom snorted and shook her head. "He's royalty. They eat a lot. Right?" She glanced over at Leo, who nodded.

"Yes. Of course."

"You made too much, Susan," her dad said, walking into the kitchen from the garage.

"Dad," Marianna said, rushing over and giving him a hug.

"Hey, peanut," he said as he squeezed her. "Happy you came home."

Marianna pulled back and planted a kiss on his cheek. She saw his gaze fall on Leo. "Dad, this is Prince Leo." She grabbed her dad's hand and pulled him over to where Leo stood.

Leo extended his hand. "Sir."

Her dad narrowed his eyes. "What is this that I hear? You propose to my daughter without asking me first?"

Marianna parted her lips and she glanced from her dad to Leo. What was he doing? He knew this was fake. She'd told her mom earlier. Did her dad not find out? "Dad," she said, staring at him. "What are you doing?"

Her dad glanced over at her. "Just wondering what kind of man this prince is." And then he broke out into a smile. "I'm just joking." He grasped Leo's hand and shook it. "Welcome to the family."

Leo looked relieved. "Thank you, sir."

They dropped hands, and her dad wrapped his arm around Leo's shoulders. "Do you like cars?"

"Of course."

Her dad nodded. "Let me show you what I'm working on in the garage. You won't believe the baby I have in there."

Leo parted his lips, but let her dad drag him to the door. Her mother protested that he’d been helping her first, but Marianna's dad waved her away. When they were gone, her mom glanced over to her.

Suddenly, feeling like a kid again, Marianna sat on the barstool and fiddled with the basket of apples on the counter. Filippo excused himself and headed out after Leo, leaving Marianna alone with her mom.

"I like him," her mom said, breaking the silence.

Marianna glanced up. Was it wrong that the statement made her heart sing? "Really?"

Her mom nodded. "He's a good one."

And then reality made her come crashing back down. Leo wasn't hers. He never would be. They weren't really engaged—all of it was lie. "Yeah. He's a good guy." She blew out her breath. "But it's not real."

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