by Alexia Adams
“He’s not gay, is he? Is this marriage an elaborate ruse to hide his homosexuality from his family?” The look of horror on Olivia’s face had Sophia laughing again.
“He’s not gay. He was being a gentleman.” She ignored Olivia’s snort. “He told me up front he wants children, so there will be sex at some point in the marriage.” She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation, in public.
“And what do you, my virginal friend, think of that?”
“I, uh, I try not to,” she lied. Truth was she’d thought of little else, especially after each phone call from Luca over the past two weeks. Must be something about his voice, so intimate in her ear, that stirred the woman in her. “I plan to lie back and think of England.”
“Sweetie, if you can think at all, then it’s no good,” Olivia replied. “Seriously, you know nothing about Luca’s life in Italy. What if he says he’s this important property developer, but he really lives in a bedsit and expects you to earn your keep?”
“I looked him up on the Internet. Plus, my boss has known him a long time. Mr. Bodman said Luca is honorable, trustworthy, and considered a pillar of the Italian property development business.” In fact, Mr. Bodman had waxed lyrical on Luca’s virtues for some time.
Olivia put her hand on Sophia’s again. “So you’re really getting married on Thursday?”
“Yes, the sixteen-day waiting period will be up then. Luca is coming over in the morning, and we’re flying to Milan in the afternoon. It’s just going to be a small registry office wedding followed by lunch. I’m hoping you’ll act as my witness?”
“Of course I will. You know I’ll always be there for you. Is your family coming?”
“You’re all the family I need.”
“Sophia, you’re getting married. Don’t you think your parents have a right to know?”
“No. They gave up their right to know what was happening in my life long ago.” She shifted on her mat.
Olivia tilted her head to one side. “What about James? You still see your brother occasionally.”
Sophia shook her head. “If I tell James, he’ll feel obligated to tell my parents or my sister. I’ve let him know I’m taking a job in Italy and will be sending him money to finish his college course. I’ll introduce the family to Luca when I think the time is right.” She crossed her arms over her chest and considered getting on the elliptical to work off the surge of adrenaline racing through her.
Olivia opened her mouth but appeared to change her mind about what she was going to say. “Well, if you need another witness, Stuart is available. He lost his job again.”
Sophia raised her eyebrows but didn’t make any further comment. Olivia’s boyfriends invariably turned out to be losers, but she’d have to wait for her friend to come to that realization herself.
“As long as he can spell his name, that’s all I need.”
Olivia glanced at the clock on the gym wall. “I better go. I’ve got to be up early tomorrow and if I show up with bags under my eyes I’ll never hear the end of it. What time on Thursday? Unless you come to your senses in the meantime.”
“I am being sensible, and nine o’clock at my flat.”
Sophia hugged her friend tightly. They’d saved each other’s lives—no marriage would come between that bond. But she had to look to the future … and bury her past.
• • •
Thursday was bright and clear, and for once Sophia got out of bed even before her alarm went off, rather than hitting the snooze button two or three times. She was barely out of the shower when the buzzer to her flat sounded. It couldn’t be Olivia, as she had a key and would let herself in. A shiver raced up her spine at the thought it might be Luca, but he would be more than an hour early. She pulled on a short satin dressing gown—another second-hand store find like the dresses she wore to work—and hurried to answer the door.
A courier stood on the step with two large boxes, a clipboard, and a smile spreading across his face, no doubt at the sight of her scantily clad body. After signing the delivery slip, she raced back upstairs to her flat and hastily opened the biggest box first.
Inside was the most beautiful wedding gown she’d ever seen. It was Grecian in style, sleeveless with inch wide straps and a V at the front and back. There was a band of crystals just under the bust, then it fell in soft waves of ivory silk to the floor. At the bottom of the box was a pair of silver, strappy sandals with three-inch heels. The second box contained a fabulous bouquet of red roses, which filled the room with a lovely scent.
As she was holding the dress up to herself, remarking on the perfect fit, Olivia opened the door and stepped through.
“Wow, that dress is exquisite! Where on earth did you get the money for that?”
“Luca sent it, along with a wedding bouquet. Isn’t it fabulous?”
“With a dress like that, if you don’t marry him, I will.” Olivia teasingly pulled the dress out of her hands and held it up to herself.
“If you wear it, you’ll need a police escort,” Sophia replied, pointing out her friend’s more ample assets.
“Come on. Let’s doll you up. Luca will hardly recognize you when he arrives.”
“As we’ve only seen each other three times, he may not recognize me anyway,” she said wryly. She sat down on a cardboard box so Olivia could brush out her hair and put it up.
“Does that mean I could knock you out and take your place, and he wouldn’t notice?”
She looked at Olivia in the mirror. As her closest friend and better than family, Sophia would deny her nothing. Except the man who was soon to be her husband. Luca was her best chance at a better life and she had to seize it.
A large roller suitcase and a small carry-on bag stood by the door. A few cardboard boxes were stacked in a corner. Sophia’s shelves were bare of the little knick-knacks that had made the small flat home. “The rent is paid up to the end of the month, and I told the landlord that you would take the boxes away,” she said.
“So this is really it. You’re going and not coming back.” Olivia’s voice caught on the last word.
“Please, Olivia. No tears today. Today is for celebration. It’s a new start.”
“Let’s get you gorgeous for your new start, then.” Olivia wiped her hand across her cheek, then set to work.
She swept Sophia’s hair up in a loose twist, with curls at her temples and along her nape, and one long curl nestled in the back V of her dress, making it look like it had come loose in a passionate embrace. Sophia generally wore very little makeup—a dusting of eye shadow and a bit of mascara—but Olivia made her eyes seem huge and greener than usual. She painted Sophia’s mouth a deep rose, making her lips look like they had just been kissed.
“My God, Olivia, who the hell is that?” She was so used to looking in the mirror, fixing what was obviously out of place, and walking away, that she never even dreamed she could look like this. “Having a best friend who’s a model really comes in handy,” she said, still staring. “Why haven’t you haven’t made me look like this before?”
“You’ve never wanted to get all dolled up before, said you were the plain-Jane type. But this is your wedding day and you only get married once, provided you do it right the first time. Besides, I didn’t want to have to deal with that kind of competition,” Olivia replied, indicating the reflection.
The sound of the buzzer drowned out their laughter. “That must be Stuart. He wasn’t ready when I left this morning. He went on a bit of a bender last night.”
Unable to sit still, Sophia went over to the window as Olivia ran down the three flights of stairs to let in Stuart. A limo drew up and Luca stepped out, surveying the building in front of him. Her heart went into overdrive. The black suit, white shirt, and azure tie made him look suave yet powerful. The reality of what she was doing finally hit her, and she leaned into the wall for support.
Luca looked up, and she was startled by the intensity on his face. Her heart rate calmed. She might be making the
worst mistake of her life, marrying a man she barely knew, but it was time she took life by the scruff of the neck and shook it till it gave her what she wanted. She wanted the opportunities Luca Castellioni’s money would give her. It didn’t hurt that it all came wrapped in a gorgeous package.
Olivia stepped into her view of the pavement, and the two shook hands, but Luca displayed no undue interest in her friend. In fact his eyes returned to her window within seconds. Sophia gave a brief wave before dropping the curtain and had a final glance around her bedsit. It was time to start again.
Stuart appeared a moment later, grunted “hello,” grabbed her bag, and headed back down the stairs.
Olivia poked her head around the door. “Okay, I don’t think you’re crazy now. But the man is intense. Are you sure you’re up for this? I can tell him if you’ve changed your mind … ”
Sophia squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I’m ready,” she declared.
Arm in arm, the two women descended the stairs. Luca and Stuart were engaged in an animated discussion about football and at first didn’t notice their arrival. When Luca caught sight of her, he stopped mid-sentence, his arm flung wide in a dramatic gesture, his mouth open. Her mouth went dry and the air whooshed out of her lungs at the look of pure lust in his eyes before he recovered his expression. She forced herself to remain where she was and not race back up the stairs. Maybe she wasn’t quite ready for everything this marriage entailed. But there was no turning back now. She squared her shoulders and continued walking toward Luca.
“Bellissima,” he whispered, as he took her hand in his. His voice was husky and he seemed lost for words. Clearing his throat, he added, “Our appointment is in forty minutes. We must go soon. You need anything else?”
Appointment, not wedding. She looked back at the building that had been her home for the past four years. The red paint on the bricks had faded to a dull pink. The draughty windows would be chilling someone else in future. It had been the first place she could call her own, but aside from a few laughs with Olivia, it held no fond memories—only worries about paying the rent and what the future held.
“No, I have everything.” She lifted her chin and tried to smile. “I packed a set of clothes in my carry-on bag so I can change after … lunch.” The last word came out a bit strangled; she couldn’t quite keep all the apprehension out of her voice. He smiled and squeezed her hand in support.
“Shall we go then?” Luca said, ushering them into the limo. His hand found its way to the small of her back, sending a slow-burning heat up her spine. Sitting next to him in the car, their thighs touching, she fidgeted as tingles radiated throughout her entire body.
They arrived at the registry office, and all too soon, she found herself standing next to Luca. He held both her hands and stared into her eyes. In a deep, husky voice he promised to, “protect, respect and care for Sophia for the rest of my life.” For a brief second, she almost believed in love. Then Olivia’s boyfriend yawned loudly, bringing Sophia to her senses.
She cleared her throat and her voice only shook a little as she promised to “honor, respect, and care for Luca for the rest of my life.”
She’d done it. She’d really, finally closed a door on her past and started a new life. Gone was Sophia Stevens. The pain of the past could now be buried under a new identity, a new life.
She was Sophia Castellioni.
The registrar made his final pronouncements about the legality of their union, making a small effort to sound like he hadn’t said the exact same words a thousand times already. “You may kiss the bride,” he finally declared.
Luca’s mouth descended, in slow motion. As his warm lips touched hers, a white hot flame burst to life behind her eyes. Before she got used to the sensation, he pulled back an inch. Instinctively, she opened her lips to protest. In the next instant he pulled her hard against his tall, muscular body. The gentle, just-married kiss transformed to a full on assault of her senses. The flame behind her eyes became an all-out inferno that threatened to sear her mind.
Olivia’s fake cough brought her back to reality with a bump. Luca slowly relaxed his grip, holding her against him while she regained her balance. His skin was flushed and his breathing rapid, echoing her own. With a little shake of his head, he turned to the registrar and thanked him for the ceremony.
“I know this is not the wedding you probably dreamed of,” he said after they signed the required documentation. “I have asked a photographer to take a few photos. Would it be too much if I ask you to pretend we are in love? You see, my mother will want some pictures … ” He shrugged, a gesture that said where his mother was concerned, he would do anything to make her happy.
“Of course. I’m very good at pretending,” she replied.
The photographer took several dozen shots. Luca holding her, gazing into her eyes, kissing her lightly. Anyone who saw the photos would believe this was a love match.
When they made their way to the waiting limo, Sophia was lightheaded. She put it down to the brevity of the ceremony and the sudden realization that she now was married to Luca, and not the memory of his just-married kiss that caused her confusion. If just the touch of his lips on hers had this effect, what would it be like tonight—tonight when his lips were free to explore? He said he’d wait for children, but would he wait to consummate their marriage? Did she want to wait? And what would he say when he saw her scars?
Olivia sidled up to her and whispered in her ear, “I seriously doubt you’ll be thinking of England tonight.” The comment, so close to her own thoughts, sent a shiver through her whole body.
Chapter 4
“We are now descending into Milan Malpensa airport,” the captain announced over the intercom. “Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin for landing.”
Luca glanced over at Sophia as she brought her seatback into the upright position. She looked tired but didn’t seem unusually nervous, despite this being her first time flying. He wished he could read her, but she was an enigma. Her serenity in the unusual circumstances was a bit disconcerting. As they’d left the hotel after lunch, Sophia had hugged Olivia, then put her hand on his arm and walked out without looking back. He had no idea what she thought of their quick marriage. But his imagination was in top form just thinking about the possibilities of their wedding night, while his wife looked as though a river of ice flowed through her veins.
She hadn’t even batted an eyelash when he’d apologized about the need to work on the flight. She’d simply smiled and reclined and closed her eyes. Putting his papers back in his briefcase, he stowed it under the seat in front. He took hold of her hand on the armrest between them—to give her some support if she was nervous about the landing, of course—and was rewarded with a shy smile. It was a new feeling for him. Sure, he had enjoyed his share of female companionship over the years, yet he had never felt a longing to simply touch someone. It wasn’t something that pleased him.
Thirty minutes later, Sophia’s eyes widened as the valet handed over the keys to his Maserati GranTurismo. Luca opened the passenger door for her and couldn’t help grinning at the surprised look on her face. “This is my favorite toy,” he remarked as he slid behind the wheel. Her small, delicate hands ran over the butter-soft leather seats and along the dash. His mouth went dry as he imagined those same hands caressing his body. “I have a more practical vehicle, a Land Rover, for visiting job sites. This makes being stuck in traffic bearable. Do you drive?”
“No, I never learned. And looking at this traffic, I don’t think I want to learn in Italy.”
“City traffic takes getting used to,” he acknowledged. “Out in the country where I—we live, it is much easier to drive. I will teach you.”
“Maybe when I adjust to the cars on the wrong side of the road,” she replied quietly. She stared out the window at the passing scenery, seeming so calm, serene.
“It is such a beautiful country,” she commented as they left the motorway and started to drive through
the village. “I’ve hardly been out of London. Have you always lived in this part of Italy?”
“Yes, I was born not far from where we now live. My mother is originally from Sardinia, so I went there for summer holidays while my grandparents were alive. Then I lived in Milan in my twenties. When the villa came on the market, I jumped at the chance to buy it. Of course, it was in a derelict state, and it took almost a year to restore. I have only lived in it for six months. I am hoping you will have some suggestions on how to make it feel more like a home. Perhaps your interior design skills will help.”
“How did you know I was studying interior design?” Sophia’s eyes narrowed.
“Olivia mentioned it. I do not remember if it was before or after she told me that she would hunt me down and castrate me if I ever hurt you,” he replied, with a mock shiver.
Sophia laughed, finally “Olivia is a bit protective.”
“Protecting you is my job now. But she seems like a good friend.”
“Olivia’s the best. Would you mind if she came for a visit in a couple of months?”
“She can come any time you wish. There is plenty of room.” He drove through the new steel gates and pulled into the semicircle driveway.
“This … this is your house?”
“Our house,” he corrected as he stopped the car. Her reaction surprised him. He knew she’d married him for his money, and it seemed, the chance to leave London, but clearly she hadn’t expected this level of wealth. It suited him that she’d been easy to persuade. But at the back of his mind, he wondered what had made her desperate enough to accept his proposal.
They had a lifetime to get to know each others' secrets—starting tonight. His blood rushed to his groin as it had when he’d first seen her in her wedding gown. Never having experienced such instant lust before, he was as intrigued as disconcerted.