by Jane Porter
The ceremony passed in a blur, with Jillian seeing nothing but Vittorio’s beautiful face and dark eyes. They said their vows, exchanged rings, kissed as her heart turned over.
She was home.
She finally belonged somewhere.
And then the ceremony was over and she was walking with Vittorio down the aisle. The chapel smelled of gardenias and orange blossoms and the soft candlelight reflected off the arched ceiling and the high stone walls. Faces smiled at them as they passed the crowded pews, but then they were alone in the small antechamber. It was dark and blissfully cool.
Vittorio dropped his head, kissed her and kissed her again.
“I love you,” he said as the chapel bells pealed high overhead.
“Even though your family was shocked when you told them who I was yesterday?”
“They’re fine. They’re used to drama,” he answered with a grin. “I don’t know what we’d do without some excitement.”
Jillian tried to smile but tears filled her eyes. “You’re too good to me.”
“Impossible. You deserve so much happiness.”
“You’ve made me happier than I ever dreamed I could be.”
“Good. I’m glad.” He tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “I have loved you since you walked through the lobby of the Ciragan Palace in your black management suit with your midheight heels. You were the picture of efficiency and yet somehow you stole my heart. I’d never thought about settling down and then suddenly all I wanted was to marry you and take care of you forever, and I mean that Jill Anne Carol Lee, I do.”
She sniffed and laughed, her fragrant bouquet crushed between them. “You can just call me Jill. It’s shorter.”
“Not Alessia?”
Jillian shuddered. “Never Alessia. She’s gone. Dead. But oh, I do like being your Jill. I like it more than anything.”
He smoothed her crisp white veil back from her face and then caressed one of her dark red curls that rested on her bare collarbone. “And I love your green eyes and your red hair and your infamous family history,” he said, before glancing over his shoulder, aware that any moment the doors would open and family and friends would pour out. “I love everything about you.”
Jillian laughed and lifted her lips for him to kiss her, and then kiss her again. “Good,” she murmured against his lips, “because you’ve got me now.”
“Finally.” He gazed down at her, his dark eyes holding hers for an endless moment before he whispered in Sicilian. “T’amu bidduzza.” I love you, beautiful.
Eyes stinging, heart overflowing, she reached up, touched Vitt’s lean bronzed cheek, dazzled by joy. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe what?”
“I’ve come home.” Her voice broke, her expression one of wonder. “I’ve finally come home, haven’t I?”
“You have,” he answered, dropping his head to kiss her deeply, even as the chapel doors burst open and their family and friends surged out to celebrate their love.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
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First published in Great Britain 2011
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Jane Porter 2011
ISBN: 978-1-408-92562-1
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Copyright