Harlequin Romance September 2021 Box Set

by Andrea Bolter

  “No. I’m the one who sent him away.” The memory of the pain reflected in Franco’s eyes cut into her heart. She consoled herself with the knowledge that he would be happier if she set him free—free just the way he wanted.

  “I don’t understand. Why would you tell him to leave? Did he hurt you?” Concern reflected in her father’s eyes.

  “No. He didn’t do anything wrong.” And then the truth about the marriage contract came spilling out. “And now...now I’m pregnant.”

  “Pregnant?” Her father’s eyes widened. A moment later, as the information sank in, he smiled. “That’s wonderful.” When she didn’t smile, he asked, “Are you happy about the baby?”

  “I’m still in shock, but yes, I’m happy about it. However, I don’t think Franco is. He never wanted any of this—a wife or a baby. After his traumatic childhood, I can’t blame him. And now...now I can’t tie him down with a family he doesn’t want. I know Franco, and I know he’d stay out of obligation. That’s not right for him, for me or for the baby. We all deserve more than that.”

  “Are you sure about all this?”

  “Of course I am. Do you think I’d have told him things were over if I wasn’t sure?”

  “And Franco told you that he didn’t want the baby?”

  “Well, no. But he told me before about his broken family and how he never wanted to do that to his own children.”

  “That was just his fears talking, when he thought he’d never be a father. But he is now. Are you sure his feelings haven’t changed?” Her father’s gaze searched hers.

  “Why would they have changed?” A spark of hope burned in her heart. Was her father just saying what he thought she wanted to hear? Or did he have a specific reason for his suspicion?

  “I’ve seen the way Franco looks at you. He’s a man in love.”

  “But the baby—”

  “Have you asked him how he feels about the baby now that it is very real?”

  “No.”

  “Then what are you doing here? Go find your husband and talk to him—really talk to him.”

  She went to stand but then turned back to him. “But I can’t leave you.”

  “Of course you can. I’ve had a big day. I just need some rest, and tomorrow morning, if you want, you and your husband can give me a ride home.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise at his willingness to have Franco’s company. Maybe there was hope for change. “Are you sure?”

  He smiled and nodded. “Go fix things. I’ll be fine.”

  She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too. Now go.”

  She smiled. “Okay. I’m going. Be good while I’m gone.”

  And then she was out the door and headed for the elevator. She had to find Franco. She had to apologize for being so abrupt and pushing him out of her life. Was it possible her father was right? Was it possible this marriage had evolved into the real thing with genuine love going both ways?

  * * *

  He’d tried her phone. Numerous times.

  Each time his call went to voice mail.

  Franco wondered if she was ignoring him or if she was still at the hospital with her father. How was her father doing? Franco berated himself for letting her go alone. He should have been there with her, whether she wanted him nearby or not. But then he recalled the anger and pain reflected in her eyes right before she left with the ambulance. Maybe she did need some time away from him. That acknowledgment hurt him.

  His first stop was the hospital. Even though it was getting late in the evening, he was hoping he’d be able to check on Carlo. At that hour, he didn’t have a problem finding a close-by parking spot. He rushed to the front entrance of the hospital.

  Franco yanked the door open and came to an abrupt halt. Carla was in front of him. Talk about good timing.

  “Hi.” He didn’t smile. He didn’t want her to think he wasn’t taking everything that happened that day seriously.

  “Hi.” She didn’t smile, either.

  He backed up, letting her step outside. All his thoughts and practiced words became all jumbled up in his mind.

  He drew in a deep breath, hoping it would calm his racing heart. “How’s your father?”

  “He’s good. They said it was a panic attack.”

  “So no heart attack?”

  “No. Thank goodness. They’re going to monitor him tonight, and then he’ll be released in the morning.”

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “That’s really good news. I’m happy for both of you. Do you need to go back now and see him?”

  “No. He said he was tired and told me to leave.”

  Franco at last smiled. “It sounds like he’s back to being his old self.”

  “Well, not quite.”

  The smile fell from his face. Just then another couple exited the hospital. They stepped off to the side to let them pass.

  Once they were alone again, he asked, “What’s the matter? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Could we take a walk?”

  It was a cool evening but it wasn’t frigid out. And it wouldn’t matter if it were snowing. He would have agreed to whatever activity that allowed him to spend more time with his wife.

  They walked quietly beneath the streetlights. He let her lead the way because he only wanted to be wherever she was.

  When they reached a small park, she turned to him. “Can we sit down?”

  “Sure.” He didn’t know if he should be worried or not, but he sensed she had something on her mind. Maybe he needed to speak up first.

  “I’m sorry,” they said in unison.

  They looked at each other in surprise. Then they smiled.

  “You go ahead,” she said.

  It seemed like the gentlemanly thing to let her go first. He’d waited this long—he could wait a little longer. “No, you say what you have on your mind.”

  “My father and I talked before the party.” She went on to explain about his confession to cheating and how he’d meant to apologize to Franco’s grandfather. She also told Franco about her father’s driving need to see her married and that it had nothing to do with his doubts about her ability to run the restaurant business.

  “That’s great news.” He was truly happy for her.

  When she lifted her chin and gazed into his eyes, the moonlight twinkled in her eyes. It was as though a spell had been cast over him. His gaze lowered over her high cheekbones and pert nose to her glossy lips. They were so tempting—so ready to be kissed.

  He gave himself a mental jerk. They were a long way from kissing. In fact at this point, he was pretty certain if he tried it, he’d get slapped down, and rightly so. He had things to say to her—important things.

  “You aren’t the only one to have a meaningful talk. I just left my grandparents’ house. My grandfather explained a lot about my past—about my father. He answered questions I didn’t even know I had.” Franco leaned back and went on to explain that his grandfather hadn’t chased away his father—that his father had walked out on his own family of his own accord.

  “I’m sorry.” She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed. “That must be so hard for you.”

  He shook his head. “It’s more like a relief. I know that my grandfather truly loves my brother and me. He tried to keep our father in our lives. My father’s actions were all on him and no one else. I really needed to understand my past, especially now that you’re pregnant.”

  “I know I totally mishandled the situation with my pregnancy. I was so sure that you wouldn’t want a family, and I didn’t want to force you into a situation that would make you miserable—a family you don’t want.”

  He turned to her. He stared deep into her eyes. “That’s the realization I came to.”

  “That you don’t want
this? Us?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  HER HEART TUMBLED.

  The backs of her eyes stung.

  Carla blinked repeatedly. She sucked down her rising emotions. She’d promised herself that if this didn’t work out the way she’d hoped, she wouldn’t fall apart.

  But when her gaze met his, her heart leaped into her throat. Please don’t say you want out. Please don’t disappear from my life. The words hovered at the back of her throat.

  It wasn’t fair of her to ask him to do something that went against what was in his heart. The worst thing she could do was force him to relive his past. She loved him too much to cause him any pain.

  Franco shook his head. “No. That came out wrong.”

  “No, you don’t want us? No, you do want us?”

  His gaze met hers. “Before I met you, I was so certain what I wanted in life—I wanted to take over Marchello Spices and expand it.”

  “And now what do you want?”

  His gaze searched hers. “You don’t know?”

  Her heart pounded so loud that it echoed in her ears. “No.”

  “I want you.” His hand moved to her abdomen. “And I want this little guy or girl.”

  Tears of joy splashed onto her cheeks. “You do?”

  “I do. I love you. I think I fell in love with you at our wedding, when we were dancing and you stepped on my toes—”

  “I did not.” She smiled. “You stepped on mine.”

  “Did not.” He returned her smile.

  “Did, too.”

  “Either way, I knew in that moment that my life would never be the same. But the question is, what do you want?”

  She couldn’t believe he was saying everything she wanted to hear. “I want you, too. I think I fell for you back at Gianna and Dario’s wedding, but I was too stubborn to acknowledge it to myself or anyone.”

  “Ah, see...it was my dance moves.” He smiled proudly. “They won you over.”

  She let out a little laugh. “Is that what you call what you do on the dance floor?”

  “Hey, be nice.” He continued to smile at her.

  Her laughter bubbled over into a full belly laugh with happy tears in her eyes. It wasn’t the thought of him dancing, but rather a release of her pent-up worries. Her father had been right—Franco loved her. Her heart swelled with joy.

  Then Franco moved to kneel down on one knee. He took her hand in his.

  “Franco, what are you doing?” Heat warmed in her chest and rushed to her cheeks.

  “Something that I should have done months ago. I’m properly proposing to you.”

  “Oh.” Her heart fluttered in her chest as her lips bowed in a smile.

  “Carla Falco Marchello, I fell for you the first time we met in Lake Como. Your bright smile and sparkling eyes drew me in. But it was your caring heart and generous spirit that completely put me under your spell. I couldn’t imagine living my life without you. You are my sunshine in the morning and my twinkling star at night. Please say that you’ll marry me.”

  “But...but we are married.”

  “Will you marry me again?”

  She knelt down in front of him and threw her arms around his neck. “Of course I will. I’ll marry you over and over again. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He leaned forward and claimed her lips with a kiss that promised love forever.

  EPILOGUE

  Five months later,

  a small chapel in Lake Como

  IT WAS A wedding do-over.

  Carla never would have imagined that six months after saying I do to Franco, she’d be saying those words again and meaning them. This time it all felt right. Her father was there to walk her down the aisle, and she felt her mother’s love shining down upon her.

  Carla’s hand moved to her expanding midsection. “I love you, little one. And so does your daddy—”

  Knock. Knock.

  “Unless you’re Franco, you can come in.” Carla turned back to the mirror.

  She turned this way and that way in the same wedding gown. It had to be let out a little bit for her baby bump. There was something missing, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.

  Gianna poked her head inside the door. “It’s just me. Is it all right if I come in?”

  “Of course it is. You’re my matron of honor.” She glanced past her cousin. “Where’s your husband?”

  “He’s changing Georgia’s diaper.”

  “Wow. Impressive.” She couldn’t help but wonder if Franco would be that involved with their baby. If his current actions of attending all her doctors’ appointment and helping to decorate the nursery in their new house were any indication, he was going to be an amazing father.

  “I’m so happy for you.” Gianna hugged her.

  When they parted, Carla swiped at the tears of joy tracking down her freshly made-up face. “Everything is working out for the both of us. We’ve both found the men of our dreams. And we’re sisters-in-law, cousins and best friends.”

  Gianna smiled brightly. “I don’t think we could be closer if we were sisters.”

  “You are like a sister to me.”

  They hugged again. But Gianna quickly pulled back. “As much as I want to stand here celebrating all that is good in our lives, you have an anxious bridegroom waiting for you. We better get you down that aisle.”

  “I’m ready.” She’d been ready for a while now. She’d been so anxious to say I do again and this time mean it with all her heart.

  Gianna frowned at her.

  “What did I forget? I keep feeling like I’ve forgotten something.”

  “First, we have to fix your makeup. Have a seat.”

  Carla did as told and Gianna set to work covering the trail of her happy tears, but Carla was quite certain there would be many more of those happy tears spilled today. A little cover-up and powder fixed things.

  Gianna stepped back to admire her work. “You’re frowning. Don’t you like what I did?”

  “It’s not that. You did a great job. I just can’t shake the feeling I’m forgetting something important.”

  “Oh, that reminds me. Your father gave me something to pass on to you.” Gianna rushed over to the chair where she’d placed her beaded purse. When she turned around, she had a string of pearls in her hand. “Your father said you wanted something of your mother’s to wear when you walked down the aisle. He said your mother wore this necklace on their wedding day.”

  Again the tears rushed to her eyes. Carla blinked and fanned her face, trying to keep her emotions under control so she didn’t mess up her makeup again.

  “Can you put them on me?” Carla turned around. After her cousin hooked the clasp, Carla fingered the pearls as her heart filled with love for those who’d passed through her life, those who were in it and, as her hand lowered to her slightly round abdomen, those who would soon enter her life. “Now I’m ready.”

  With her father at her side, they set off down the aisle. Whereas the first time Carla had married Franco, her knees had felt like gelatin, this time her legs felt sturdy and she had to restrain herself from rushing down the aisle.

  This time when she met Franco’s steady gaze, she smiled—a big, sunny, full-of-love smile. This time they were getting married for all the right reasons.

  And their families were with them. His grandfather and her father were in the chapel without any arguments. Miracles really did happen.

  And though their respective businesses were both important to them, they were no longer the center of their world. Their love and their growing family would be their focus. The rest of it would fall into place.

  And when she finally stopped next to Franco, she turned to her father, who kissed her cheek. And then she turned back to Franco.

  She couldn’t help herself. She whispered, “I l
ove you.”

  He whispered back, “I love you, too. Let’s get married. Again.”

  * * * * *

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  ISBN-13: 9780369712950

  Falling for Her Convenient Groom

  Copyright © 2021 by Jennifer F. Stroka

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  There was a pause. A pause in which she held her breath, waiting for him to sign off the call, yet hoping he would not. Not yet.