by Lynne Graham
On the other hand Vitale had taught Zara that life by its very nature was imperfect and that nothing was to be gained from fighting the fact. Her sadness over her poor relationship with her parents was more than compensated for by the deep and happy bond of intimacy she had forged with her husband and child. Her confidence in his love made her smile when she wakened and smile again when she often fell asleep in the safe circle of his arms.
Their closeness had grown by leaps and bounds in the wake of Donata’s birth. Vitale travelled less so that he could spend more time with his family. He was also very much a hands-on father, who enjoyed playing with his daughter and reading her stories. Zara could see that he was striving to give Donata the safe, loving childhood that fate had denied both of them and it touched her heart. On this particular evening, though, Zara gave her daughter less time to settle into bed than she usually did because it was the couple’s third wedding anniversary and she and Vitale were going out to celebrate.
Zara donned an elegant blue designer dress that skimmed her slight curves and made the most of her height. As she did her make-up she was thinking of the announcement she had to make and smiling to herself, thinking of how different it would be this time from the last time when everything relating to her pregnancy had seemed so uncertain and scary.
Vitale strode through the door with all the impatience of a man who was always eager to see his wife after being away from her.
Zara appeared in the bathroom doorway. ‘Vitale …’ she murmured, skimming over him with helpless admiration, for she still marvelled over the fact that this gorgeous man was her husband and the father of her child.
‘You look fantastic,’ he breathed, his dark gaze running over the chic dress and lingering on that luminous smile echoed by the superb diamond pendant she always wore. ‘Do we really have to go out?’
Her sultry mouth quirked. When Vitale was away from her for any appreciable length of time it took determination to get him out of the bedroom.
‘I didn’t go to all this trouble dressing up just to stay home—’
Vitale groaned, amusement and frustration etched in his lean dark face. ‘I just want to grab you and unwrap you like a gift but I know this is a special occasion.’
‘Our third anniversary,’ Zara reminded him very seriously.
Her husband dug into his pocket and handed her a little box. ‘A small mark of my appreciation and love …’
It was an eternity ring, composed of a hoop of beautiful diamonds that slotted onto her finger next to her wedding ring as though it had been made for that spot, which, as Vitale was very good at detail, it probably had been. ‘It’s gorgeous,’ she carolled, pink with pleasure that he had made the effort to celebrate the occasion with such a present.
‘I’m sorry, I’m going to have to wreck your make-up, angelina mia. I’m in the control of forces stronger than I am,’ Vitale teased, closing his arms round her and claiming a passionate kiss.
And he did a lot more than wreck her make-up, for the passion that never failed them burst into being on contact with a strength that could not be denied and they happily gave way to pleasing each other in the oldest way of all. Afterwards, the dress was a little creased and the dinner reservation had to be moved to a later time.
They ate at their favourite Florentine restaurant by candlelight and somewhere between the first course and the final one Zara made her announcement and Vitale did not dare tell her that because she had refused the wine he had already guessed. Instead he gripped her hand and told her that the news she was carrying their second child was amazing, before adding quite truthfully that their three years together had been the happiest years of his life.
Meeting those dark golden eyes resting on her with adoration, Zara’s gaze misted over. ‘And mine … I love you so much.’
‘And with every year that you are with me, I love you more, angelina mia.’
*
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.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2012
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Lynne Graham 2012
ISBN: 978-1-408-97374-5
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
Marriage by Command
About the Author
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Copyright