Kidnapping His Bride

by Karen Erickson

  His so-called snit had everything to do with Cat and not knowing what was going to happen between them. “I’m over it.”

  “I can tell. And I think it has a little something to do with her.” Stasia waved her hand in Cat’s direction. “She’s lovely, Rafe. Nothing like the silly little shrew she’s been portrayed as.”

  “And who’s told you she’s a silly little shrew?”

  “Matteo,” Stasia answered with a shrug. “Well, more like he said he worried Catalina was turning into a shrew just like her big sister. Is Annalisa Campioni really that bad?”

  “Worse than you could ever imagine.” He wasn’t lying. He dreaded speaking with her sister when he returned Cat to Italy. He knew Annalisa would be difficult, stubborn, impossible to reason with.

  “Well, Cat is delightful. I like her a lot.” Stasia smiled. “She’s completely smitten with you.”

  “I know.” Funny, how she hadn’t been just a few days ago. “I’m smitten with her as well, though.”

  “I can tell.”

  They spoke of their family, business matters, but he couldn’t focus. His thoughts were consumed with Cat. How close they’d become in only a few days. How responsive she was to his every sexual whim, how much she’d shared with him. Their future together looked bright and he wasn’t fighting it.

  He could love this woman. Being married to her wouldn’t be a hardship. She was sweet, intelligent and sexy. Easy to laugh, easy to arouse—she was his perfect match. How had their fathers known?

  The lunch had gone wonderfully, Stasia bombarding Cat with questions in typical sister fashion. Cat volleyed them well, keeping pace, tossing back her own questions in equal time. He’d watched them both with amusement, pleased that two of the most important women in his life were getting along.

  “Too bad Mama isn’t here,” Stasia said softly.

  “Are you a mind reader? I was just thinking about her,” Rafe said, his gaze never straying from Cat. “I think she’d approve.”

  “I know she would. All she ever cares about is if we’re happy. And if the one who makes us happy is kind.” Stasia smiled. “She has a thoughtful heart. She looks at you as if she thinks you’re perfect.”

  He snorted. “Trust me. She knows I’m not.”

  “And still cares for you despite it. That’s proof you shouldn’t let her go.” Stasia smiled. “So, what happens next for you two?”

  Rafe explained their plan, glad that Cat was too occupied by Gavin and Sofia to hear what he said. “I’m worried, though,” he said when he’d told Stasia everything. “About her sister and her mother. I’m sure they’ll be reluctant to let her go.”

  “It’s a written agreement, though. A legal document notarized by lawyers and everything,” Stasia pointed out. “I know it’s something not done much anymore, but she was promised to you, Rafe. It’s not as if you’ve stolen her away from her family forever.”

  Guilt washed over him. He’d sort of stolen her away from Italy. Blatantly calling it a kidnapping, confiscating her phone so her sister couldn’t spit her poisonous venom at her and ruin this moment they were sharing. He still had Cat’s phone, would’ve gladly given it over if she asked for it.

  But she hadn’t. Maybe she didn’t want to face her sister’s wrath either, not that he could blame her.

  “They’ll still be angry. Her sister doesn’t approve of me.”

  “I’m sure you could convince her otherwise. You’re quite good at that,” Stasia said with a small laugh.

  He recalled a moment when he had tried to convince Annalisa that he was a decent man. A little over a year ago, at a party for Renaldi, he’d found himself cornered by her. She’d been pleasant, a surprise, and more than a little drunk, another surprise. He’d tried to work his charm. Turning their conversation to Cat, he’d tried to dig for information.

  She’d turned hostile, almost angry that he dare speak of Catalina, and she’d told him in no uncertain terms she wanted him to avoid her baby sister at all costs.

  Then she’d tried to throw herself at him. He’d pushed her off, telling himself no way was this really happening. Later that night, he’d found Cat and kissed her senseless, ready to beg her to run away with him so they could finally be married.

  Instead, she asked for time. And like a jackass, he’d given it to her. Now he wondered if her sister had found her that night and told her to stay away from him. He wouldn’t doubt it.

  The memory troubled him. He’d kept it from Cat so he wouldn’t upset her, but maybe that had been the wrong choice. She deserved to know.

  But how would she react, knowing he kept it from her all this time? He didn’t want to face that.

  They eventually wrapped up the lunch, Stasia and Gavin going their way with Sofia in tow, while he and Cat hopped into a taxi and headed back to his apartment. She needed to get back so she could pack her things and prepare for the flight back to Italy, which he’d arranged with the Worth private jet once again through Stasia. And he needed to get Cat alone so he could make love to her.

  He desperately wanted to lose himself inside her before he returned her home one last time.

  And that was the one thing that kept him going, that he knew she would return. That he could make her his bride and they could live together here in New York. He also wanted her to work at Renaldi. He hadn’t mentioned it yet, thought it too soon to ask, but he knew she would be a good fit there. She seemed to get along well with Stasia and wondered if his sister would want an addition to her jewelry line team in the publicity and marketing department. He knew that was where Cat’s strengths were. He’d done his research before this, but it was different, assessing her in person.

  She was smart and capable, creative and full of ideas. He’d asked her a barrage of questions about her job at Campioni on purpose, trying to get a glimpse of her working style. He’d liked what he’d seen. Hoped like hell she would agree, though it would mean she wasn’t going to work at Campioni at all anymore.

  She hadn’t protested when he mentioned it earlier, but she might not like that. It was a chance he needed to take. Only after he made her his bride, though.

  “You’re very quiet,” Cat observed when they walked into his apartment. She headed down the hall and he trailed after her, watching as she went into the guest bedroom and grabbed her small travel bag, tossing it onto the bed. “Is everything all right? Did I pass the sister test?”

  “With flying colors. She likes you, just as I said she would.” He strode into the bedroom, and stopped behind her, his hands going to her waist. “I’m feeling melancholy.”

  She leaned back against him, and he could hear the smile in her voice, the teasing lilt. “Why? Because you’ll miss me?”

  So intuitive, not that he was subtle. “I don’t want you to leave.”

  Shoulders sagging the slightest bit, she slowly shook her head. “I have to. I need to talk to my family and make things right between all of us. There are matters to wrap up, both business and personal. Plus, I need to pack my things.” She paused, her entire body stiffening beneath his touch. “Are you sure this is what you want, Rafe? Me returning with you? Marrying you? We’re taking a rather huge step in a short amount of time.”

  Irritation flashed through him. Did she not get it? They’d discussed their plans plenty of times. “We’ve already been over this. I want you here with me. As my wife.” He tightened his grip on her waist, turning her so she had to face him. “This is right, Cat. What’s happening between us. It’s meant to be. No one can stop us from finding our happiness together.”

  Cat threw herself at him, her arms going around him tight, her body nestled close. He held her, his face in her hair, his hands stroking her back. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Your words mean so much to me.”

  You mean so much to me, he thought as he kissed her, slowly undressed her and took her right there on the guest bed.

  But he didn’t have the guts to say it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Cat
sat in the dark living room, her hand clutched tight around her cell phone as she waited for it to power up. She’d fallen into bed with Rafe, packed her belongings, fallen back into bed with Rafe—his bed this time—and they’d made love for what felt like hours. Until the both of them were exhausted and he encouraged her that they should get some sleep before they left for the airport and their red-eye flight back to Italy.

  She’d finally asked for her phone, knowing she needed to face the cold, harsh reality that was her life with her mother and sister sometime. He’d agreed readily, handing over the phone from where he kept it in the nightstand, but warned her it was most likely dead.

  Which it had been. She’d found her charger and plugged it then, then lay down with Rafe because he’d called to her, telling her he missed having her close.

  So she’d snuggled into bed with him, their naked limbs entwined around each other. Sleep came quickly for Rafe and she envied him that. She couldn’t sleep at all.

  Too excited, too worried over what the next few days would mean for her.

  Finally giving up, she’d grabbed her fully charged phone and snuck out into the living room, nibbling her lip as she saw the endless list of unread text messages.

  Every single one of those messages was from Annalisa.

  They ran the gamut, from angry and threatening to sweet and cajoling. So many words, so many messages, so much energy and effort put into that list of texts, Cat became overwhelmed just scrolling through them.

  So she quit, hitting the button that would delete them all and remove them from her phone.

  The voicemails needed to be tackled next. She listened to the one left by her mother. It was a sobbing, impassioned plea for her to return and how much her mother needed her. Cat didn’t doubt she meant what she said.

  She was so tired of being at her mother’s—and her sister’s—beck and call. Sick of it. They needed to live their lives on their own.

  As did she.

  The other twenty-two—yes, twenty-freaking-two—voicemails were from Annalisa. She didn’t listen to any of them but the final one, which was left two hours ago.

  “You said you’d return soon, and I hope you were telling the truth, Catalina. You’re needed at Campioni. At home, for Mama and for me. Father’s been making noise, saying he’ll take the business away from me if both of his girls aren’t here to run it properly.” Annalisa took a deep breath, sounding as if she needed to fortify herself. “You can’t ever leave us. I won’t let Rafael Renaldi take you away again. I mean it. Whatever it takes, Cat. Whatever it takes.”

  Icy dread slid down Cat’s spine and she saved the message, though she wasn’t sure why. Annalisa’s threat scared her, more for Rafe than anything else. What did her sister mean, “whatever it takes”? What did she think she could do to Rafe to keep her away from him? Her sister had never been violent person. An angry one, yes indeed.

  But violence? She didn’t think Annalisa had it in her.

  Could she?

  Deciding to chance it, Cat brought up her sister’s name in her call list and dialed her, knowing that Annalisa probably wouldn’t be awake. Which might work out better, because then she could leave a voicemail saying she was perfectly fine and offer up the time when she would arrive.

  And that was exactly what happened. Annalisa’s voicemail answered and Cat left a message, reassuring her sister that she was all right, she was safe and returning home soon, and that she had something specific she needed to discuss with both of them.

  “My life is changing,” Cat murmured into her phone. “And it’s for the better. I hope you can see that and support me. I need your support. I love you.”

  “Who are you talking to?”

  She dropped the phone on the ground, muttering a low curse when it hit the floor with a loud thud. Reaching down, she grabbed it, nerves making her shake as Rafe approached.

  “Catalina. Who were you talking to?” He sounded angry, his expression dark and unreadable, and she stared up at him, frowning.

  “I was leaving a message for Annalisa,” she answered. “I figured it was better to contact her and let her know when we would be arriving.”

  “Oh.” Looking chastised, he sat on the couch beside her, completely naked and painfully beautiful. “I’m sure that was a good idea. Hopefully she’ll understand.”

  “Who did you think I was talking to?” He’d sounded almost jealous, which was ridiculous because he knew her situation. There wasn’t a thing for him to be jealous about.

  “I don’t know. A secret boyfriend?” He blew out a frustrated breath, running his fingers through his messy dark hair. “I’m an ass, but I couldn’t help the thought crossing my mind. No one wants to stagger out into their living room half-asleep only to find their woman whispering into her cell phone how much she loves the person she’s talking to.”

  She could almost laugh at the possessive tone in his voice, but thought it unwise. “I was trying to reassure Annalisa that everything was fine and they didn’t need to send out the police force in search of me. Knowing her, she’s already done so.”

  “You don’t really believe that…do you?” Rafe asked, his voice cautious.

  “I’m joking.” She nudged him, but he remained stiff beside her. “Rafe, really. She wouldn’t do something like that. I was trying to be funny.”

  Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees, looking pensive. “I wouldn’t put it past her, Cat. She’s rather…unhinged. And she hates me. Or wants me—I can’t quite figure it out.”

  Shock ripped through her, and she leapt to her feet. “What did you just say?”

  He gazed up at her, his eyes dark and full of misery. “She came on to me once. The night I kissed you.”

  “What?” She shook her head. What was he saying? It made no sense. Her sister had come on to him? When she knew she’d been promised to Rafe practically her entire life?

  Annalisa hated him. Could hardly stand looking at him. Though she’d suspected more than once that her sister was jealous, she certainly never believed she would take it so far.

  “She doesn’t like you,” Cat insisted. “She says the worst things about you. She thinks you’re a disgusting pig.” Was she trying to convince Rafe…or herself?

  “Ah, thanks for that reminder, my lovely little Kitty Cat. I already know she’s not my biggest fan. But she did come on to me that evening. Rather boldly too.”

  “You must’ve misunderstood her.”

  “There was nothing to misunderstand.” He scrubbed his hand along his jaw, sighing loudly. “She was drunk. And rather talkative—awfully touchy-feely too. I tried to push her off of me, thinking she was too drunk to be responsible for what she was doing, but then she said some things that made me realize maybe she’d harbored a crush on me for a while.”

  “What sort of things?” Cat asked, feeling overtly skeptical. But it was just so hard for her to comprehend, Annalisa lusting for Rafe. Since when?

  “She said we were the better match. That she wished our fathers had put us together and not you and I. She thought you were too young and silly for me.”

  Pain lanced at her with every word Rafe said. “She couldn’t have said that,” she said feebly.

  “She did.” His gaze met hers and he frowned, standing so he could pull her into his arms and comfort her, but she withdrew from his embrace, needing the distance to understand everything he told her.

  “I don’t understand why she would say such horrible things about you when supposedly she wants you. It makes no sense.”

  “Maybe she’s trying to turn you against me so she could go after me instead? Not that I’d ever be interested.” He reached for her again and she sidestepped him, thankful she was clad in his T-shirt versus naked. Naked would’ve left her feeling vulnerable.

  Not that he seemed vulnerable in his nude state. The man was so comfortable in his own skin.

  “I don’t know what to think about this. Why didn’t you tell me before?” She wrapped her a
rms around herself, rubbing her chilled skin. She didn’t like the implications behind his words. What if Annalisa really was interested in Rafe? What if her constantly bad talking about him was her way of trying to get him to be hers? It made no sense.

  Yet, it also did…

  “I didn’t want to hurt you or upset you. She’s not important to me. The more memorable moment of that night is when I kissed you.” He grabbed her, and she let him this time, going into his arms easily. “Once I had a taste of you, I knew I’d never let you go.”

  “But you did. When I asked for time.” She’d asked for it only after Annalisa’s encouragement that night. She hadn’t thought of asking for any time—she’d always been so eager to be Rafe’s wife. But Annalisa had convinced her it was the right thing to do…

  Now she wondered if Annalisa had started in on her before or after she tried to make a play on Rafe.

  “You shocked me. I had the kiss of a lifetime and then the only woman who could make my head spin with the brush of her lips asks me if we could have some time? I was so dumbstruck I said yes.”

  She rested her head against his chest, weary of rehashing the past. “I’m tired of talking about it. I just want to focus on our future.”

  He rubbed a hand over her hair, his fingers tangling in the strands. “I agree.”

  “I won’t let Annalisa get in our way,” she promised.

  “I believe you.” He kissed the top of her head. “The two of us together, we’re an unstoppable force, aren’t we?”

  “We are,” she agreed, her stomach twisting with nerves.

  She certainly hoped they were.

  The plane had been stuck on the tarmac at JFK airport, weather inhibiting their takeoff. The flight finally left nearly two hours late, Rafe encouraging Cat to slip into the tiny bedroom and catch some sleep.

  He’d joined her, because he couldn’t get enough of her and wanted just a few more hours of quiet intimacy with this woman before they had to face the harsh realities of her family, her business. He’d rather pretend nothing else existed but the two of them.