Home. His home perhaps, Blair thought, looking back at the size of the palazzo as he helped her into the car.
“No, that’s fine. It’ll be lovely, I’m sure.”
Draco slid into the driver’s seat, his strong, capable hands settling on the steering wheel. It occurred to Blair that this was the first time she’d seen him drive.
“You don’t drive when you’re in New Zealand. Why is that?”
“Parking in and around the city is at such a premium, I prefer not to be bothered with such things when I’m there on business. Generally, I keep a car there for my own use, but for pleasure, I prefer to use my motorbike when I’m in Auckland.”
“You ride a bike?”
Blair was surprised. Draco had always struck her as so smooth and urbane. Imagining him in black leathers, astride a powerful bike, did strange things to her equilibrium.
“Sure. My friends, Brent and Adam, and I each have the same model Moto Guzzi. When we’re all in town together we try to make a few road trips, get away from it all. This time it didn’t happen, but there’s always the next.”
By Brent and Adam, Blair knew he meant multimillionaire entrepreneur Brent Colby and Adam Palmer. Both men featured frequently in the papers, both in the business section and the social reports. And judging by the media storm about Brent Colby and heiress Amira Forsythe, just before she and Draco had left Auckland, that popularity wasn’t about to die down terribly soon.
“How did you three meet? You were all at the memorial service, weren’t you? Did you go to school at Ashurst?” she asked.
“Yes. My parents felt it was important that both my older brother and I experienced education in another country. He went to Australia, I went to New Zealand.”
“Your brother?”
“Yes, Lorenzo. He died ten years ago. A stupid accident. One of those totally avoidable things. He was waterskiing with friends off the Amalfi Coast. Unfortunately, the driver of the other boat had been drinking and thought it humorous to play ‘chicken’ with the boat towing Lorenzo. His neck was broken in the impact. He died immediately.”
Tears filled Blair’s eyes. “Oh, Draco, I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for your family.”
He turned to face her, lifting a hand to gently wipe away the tears that spilled over her lashes and down her cheeks.
“It was terrible, but we’ve learned that life must go on. And now we have a new life to look forward to, our baby. My parents—you have no idea what this will mean to them.”
“You haven’t told them yet?”
Blair knew Draco’s mother and father lived in a more modern home on the Sandrelli land, and she half-expected Draco to introduce her to them today.
“No, when I saw them last night I didn’t feel the time was right. My father was tired and my mother distracted by his health. I will let them know soon, though. Now, shall we begin our adventure for today?”
Blair nodded her agreement and he shifted the car into gear, the wheels spitting up a little gravel as they drove out the massive gated entrance to the palazzo grounds.
She was amazed at the diversity of the land here, and the way it was used. As they passed each different business unit she was reminded of the charm bracelet Draco had given her this morning. Each charm truly was representative of the expanse of the Sandrelli family’s endeavors. She began to feel a new respect for him and for the responsibility that sat so well on his shoulders.
Draco felt the familiar swell of pride as he showed Blair over the land that was as much a part of him as the blood running in his veins. It was always a pleasure to see the property through another’s eyes, but this time it was even more important that Blair fully understand what it meant to be a Sandrelli. What it would mean to their son or daughter.
They were about halfway back toward the palazzo when Draco pulled off the road and drew the car up a private road leading through a massive olive grove.
“Would you like to stop for some lunch?” he asked, and was surprised to catch her stifling a yawn.
“Oh,” she laughed, embarrassed, if the flush on her cheeks was anything to go by. “Yes, that would be lovely.”
Draco took a right turn down a barely visible lane and drew the car to a halt under the trees.
“Cristiano packed a lunch for us when I told him we’d be out for the day. Just give me a minute and I will have it ready for you.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Blair asked, swiveling her long legs out of the car and standing.
She slowly stretched out her back and lifted her arms above her head. Instantly a shock of desire pummeled through him like a bolt of electricity. Even with the new fullness her body now began to display, she sent every particle in his body into overdrive. She went still as she realized he was watching her.