by Jennie Lucas
Still kneeling, he fervently kissed her hand, then slid on the gold signet ring engraved with the Zacco coat of arms. Her fingers were too delicate, so it would fit only on her thumb, and even then, she had to keep her hand closed.
“We’ll get you another ring immediately,” he promised, rising to his feet. But he didn’t release her hand. He loved the feel of her smaller hand in his own, and soon he would have more of her.
All of her.
Tess gave him a shy smile. “I like your ring fine.”
“Plain gold? No. You’ll have a diamond. The best in the city.” Only one woman in a million, he thought, would have said she didn’t need a big diamond ring. Only one woman would have been reluctant to marry him unless it was for the right reasons. A woman who put her child above herself, and who was loyal and kind and true.
As he stood beside her in the weak September light from the bakery’s windows, her family rushed forward to congratulate them. Stefano looked at Tess, now being hugged tearfully by her aunt and cousins.
He could hardly wait to marry her.
“You’d better take good care of her,” the uncle said gruffly behind him. “After the year of hell you put her through.”
Stefano turned with a single brusque nod. “I will.”
“When will you marry?” the aunt asked, smiling.
He turned to Tess. “Tomorrow.”
They all looked at one another, astonished. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ll take you to London as my wife.”
Her beautiful face appeared entranced as she nodded, ducking her head. “All right,” she whispered. “Tomorrow.”
“I cannot wait,” he said huskily, feeling a swell of pride and the glory of conquest. Cupping her face in his hands, he lowered his mouth passionately to hers. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
CHAPTER FOUR
“ARE YOU SURE about this, Tess?”
Tess looked up in surprise. She was wearing a wedding dress, sitting in a chair in an elegant private sitting room of the Campania Hotel, getting the final touches of her makeup done by a stylist. Doubt was the last thing she’d ever expected from Lola, of all people. Especially now, just minutes before the wedding ceremony was set to begin!
“Of course I’m sure,” Tess said uneasily. “Why wouldn’t I want to marry Stefano? He’s Esme’s father!”
Lola lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “I didn’t hear you say anything about love.”
“Of course Tess loves him,” Hallie protested, sipping a mimosa nearby. “She’s loved him for a year. Even when we teased her about it!”
“Yeah, I know. We thought you were crazy.” Lola’s eyes challenged Tess in the mirror. “So he’s everything you imagined him to be?”
Tess’s cheeks burned. “Pretty much.”
“He told you he loves you?”
Tess bit her lip. “Um...”
“Has he or hasn’t he?”
Looking between them, the stylist packed up her gear and excused herself, closing the door of the sitting room quietly behind her. With a deep breath, Tess looked at her two friends.
Lola and Hallie were wearing bridesmaid dresses in her favorite color, emerald green. Their three babies were already in the grand ballroom with Tess’s cousins and Hallie’s husband, Cristiano. The wedding was set to begin in minutes. Any moment now, the Campania’s wedding planner would burst in with her headset and clipboard to tell them it was time for the whirlwind ceremony to begin.
Tess said slowly, “I’ve realized we don’t really know each other that well. But we have a child now, so I...hope love will come in time.”
Hallie and Lola glanced at each other uneasily.
“He hasn’t told you he loves you?” Hallie said. “And now you’re saying you don’t love him?”
Turning in the chair, Tess glared at her friends.
“How long did it take for Cristiano to tell you he loved you, Hallie?” The brunette hung her head in answer. “And you.” Tess narrowed her eyes at Lola. “Aren’t you the one who’s always going on about how mothers have an obligation to be financially stable for their children?”
“That is what you always say, Lola,” Hallie said.
“But you’re not like me, Tess,” she said. “You don’t care about money. You just want to be loved.”
Tess felt a sharp pain in her throat.
“I want you to be careful, that’s all. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” The blonde looked away. “Don’t love him if you know he’ll never love you back.”
“Is that what happened to you, Lola?” Tess said timidly. “You’ve never said what happened with Jett’s father...”
“We’re talking about you, not me.” She looked down. Her voice became sad. “I don’t want to see you make a mistake, that’s all.”
Tess and Hallie looked at each other. This wasn’t like their brash friend. Usually Lola couldn’t wait to boss them around. Speaking the brutal truth with love, Lola called it, although her words were sometimes far more brutal than loving.
But then Lola hadn’t seemed quite herself lately. No wonder, Tess thought. Lola had a newborn. That kind of exhaustion would put any woman off her game.
Tess hadn’t slept very well last night, either. Knowing it was her last evening in her aunt and uncle’s Brooklyn apartment, she’d stared up at the shadowy ceiling, tormented by anxiety. Without Stefano’s overwhelming presence to reassure her, she’d felt a strange fear over this sudden marriage.
It’s just cold feet, she’d tried to tell herself then. But now she wondered—what if it wasn’t?
She’d never thought getting married would scare her. She’d always been sure that when she wed, she’d be so deeply in love she’d rush into the ceremony with a pure, joyful heart.
Today she was marrying a man she barely knew. Not for love, but because they had a child.
Maybe Stefano could love me, she told herself desperately. Someday. And if he did, who knew? Maybe she could someday be brave enough to forget how he’d hurt her. Maybe she could be brave enough to open up her heart again, too.
But was she willing to take the gamble? Because if Stefano couldn’t love her, why would she be stupid enough to open herself up to more heartbreak? She wouldn’t. Lola was right. She could never let herself love Stefano again, even if she wanted to. Not unless he loved her first.
But what if he didn’t? Could she live her whole life without love?
Tess glanced at the empty champagne glasses on the table, next to the bouquets made by the hotel florist. Yesterday she’d relished her friends’ shock and delight when she’d told them that her baby’s long-lost father had returned, revealing himself to be a billionaire prince. And, not only that, he wished to marry Tess immediately!
Lola and Hallie’s giddy squeals had been music to Tess’s ears. She’d loved showing off the sparkling ten-carat diamond engagement ring Stefano had bought her on Fifth Avenue, after they’d left City Hall with their marriage license. She was wearing the diamond ring now, and though part of her already missed the simple integrity of Stefano’s gold signet ring, obviously she couldn’t go around wearing it on her thumb. She’d told herself she’d get used to the cold weight of the diamond in time.
Getting ready for the wedding with her two best friends had seemed like a good idea. And at first it had been wonderful. They’d giggled, drinking mimosas, and Tess had felt contented.
But now the gorgeous platinum-set ten-carat diamond ring hung heavily on Tess’s left hand.
Shaking, she rose to her feet.
“Fine bridesmaids you two make,” she said accusingly, “trying to talk me into jilting him at the last minute.”
The other two hung their heads.
“Sorry, Tess,” Hallie said. “He is your baby’s father, after all.”
“Sorry,” Lola muttered.
Tess lifted her chin. “I never had a father or a real home. Don’t you think I want that for Esme?”
“Of course you do,” Hallie sai
d soothingly.
“I’m sure you’ll be very happy.” But Lola didn’t sound sure at all.
Tess swallowed. “Stefano has promised to be faithful. All he wants is to make me happy.” Her voice trembled. “He’s going to whisk me away to London and Milan and Paris for our honeymoon—”
“Some honeymoon.” Lola snorted. “A fashion CEO dragging you to all the Fashion Weeks. That’s not a honeymoon—it’s a business trip!”
“I studied fashion design,” Tess said defensively. “I can’t wait to be a part of it!”
“Sure, as his trophy wife. Not a designer.”
Tears rose to Tess’s eyes.
“You hush,” Hallie told Lola harshly. “Don’t listen to her,” she said, patting Tess’s hand.
“I’m just trying to save you from a lot of grief,” Lola said flatly. “The fact that he’s a billionaire only makes it worse. Because billionaires don’t know how to love anyone.” Her eyes were bleak. “I know.”
“Excuse me,” Hallie said.
“Except your husband, Hallie. He’s one in a million.” Lola’s face gentled into a smile. Then she shook her head. “Doesn’t Cristiano have anything to say about this wedding? He hates Stefano Zacco!”
Hallie shrugged. “Cristiano says since Tess has a child with Stefano, she must see something good in him, and on her own head be it.” She grinned. “I think my husband must be remembering that I didn’t always think so highly of him, either.”
Slowly Lola picked up her bridesmaid’s bouquet in a rustle of rose petals. “I think it’s a mistake to leave your family and friends, and get married after a one-day engagement to a man you barely know.” Wiping her eyes, she tried to smile. “But, of all people, you deserve the fairy tale, Tess. If you’re sure Stefano’s the one, then I wish you every happiness. I...” Her voice broke. “I’ll see you in there.”
The blonde hurried out of the room.
“She’s just worried about you,” Hallie said.
Tess looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Stefano had arranged for one of his smaller luxury fashion brands, Fontana, to make her a lavish wedding dress. The gown was exquisite, made of white satin, with full skirts and a corset bodice with a sweetheart neckline. The edges were embroidered with tiny diamonds, and so was the long white veil that trailed down her back, over her red hair that was pulled back into a chignon. Anchoring the veil was a 300-year-old diamond tiara, an heirloom of the Zacco family.
Her green eyes were lined with black kohl and mascara, her lips ruby red with lipstick. As Tess looked at herself in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. But in spite of the gown, the veil and the tiara, she suddenly thought she didn’t look right for a bride. There wasn’t any joy in her expression. Her eyes were scared.
“This is your life, and Esme’s,” Hallie said quietly, handing Tess her bridal bouquet of pink roses. “Trust your heart. It will tell you what’s right.”
Slowly taking her bouquet, Tess thought of how she’d felt when Stefano had pulled her into his arms in the bakery and demanded that she become his bride. Everyone had been so happy for her. In that moment, she’d felt like the luckiest girl on earth. Wasn’t she?
And the decision was already made.
Wasn’t it?
Taking a deep breath, Tess turned to Hallie. “Could you ask Stefano to come talk to me?”
“Right now?”
“Yes. Just for a moment, here in private?”
Hallie’s eyes widened, then she said quietly, “Of course. I’ll go get him. Then I’ll wait in the hall for...for whatever you decide,” she finished lamely. She left, closing the door softly behind her.
Tess looked out at the golden afternoon sunlight pouring through the window. Setting down her bouquet, she placed her hands against the corset boning of her gown’s bodice, trying to make herself take long, slow breaths instead of panicked little gasps. Why was she suddenly so afraid?
Closing her eyes, Tess had the sudden memory of the day long ago when her mother had collapsed on their old shabby sofa, sobbing, unable to catch her breath.
“It’s over,” Serena Foster had choked out, whispering, “He’s never coming back.”
“Who?” Tess had asked anxiously. Just eight years old, she’d been alarmed to see her determinedly cheerful mother fall apart without warning.
Shaking her head, her mother had wiped her eyes and tried to smile. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Pinkie loves you, Mama,” Tess had said desperately, pushing her ragged pink unicorn into her mother’s arms. “And so do I.”
“Thank you, darling.” Hugging Tess fiercely, Serena had wiped her eyes. “I was stupid to love him. But he’s a bigger fool by far...”
Tess opened her eyes when she heard a single knock at the door. It creaked half open.
“This is a bad idea,” came Stefano’s gravelly voice from the other side. “I don’t generally care about wedding traditions, but even I know the groom isn’t supposed to see the bride before the ceremony.”
Her heart lifted at hearing his voice. She knew once they talked she’d feel better. “I don’t care. Just come in. I need you.”
Stefano peeked his head around the door, then came toward her in the hotel’s luxurious private sitting room.
In his well-cut tuxedo, Stefano looked powerful, broad shouldered and devastatingly handsome. His dark eyes widened above his chiseled cheekbones when he saw Tess in her wedding gown. “You are so beautiful, cara.” As he took her in his arms, the hard lines of his face glowed with fierce pride. “I can hardly wait to take you as my wife.”
Taking a deep breath, she said timidly, “But you don’t love me, do you?”
Stefano blinked, then pulled back, his forehead furrowed. “What?”
Nervously she licked her lips. “I’m just wondering if we’re doing the right thing,” she whispered, staring down at the elegant Turkish rug on the gleaming hardwood floor. “I mean, we don’t love each other. I’m wondering...if someday you think we might... I’m just scared this whole thing might be a terrible mistake.”
Her words seemed to echo against the walls. She waited desperately for him to kiss her, to reassure her. Instead, he said nothing. Finally she looked up.
Stefano’s dark eyes were cold as ice. The expression on his handsome face chilled her to the bone.
“You wish to cancel the wedding?” he said softly. “To disgrace my name? To take my child away?”
What she’d wanted was reassurance. This was exactly the opposite. “All I want is for us to talk—”
“Is there another man?”
“No, of course not!”
“But you are having second thoughts.” He gave her a bitter smile. “Or is this a ploy to renegotiate the prenuptial agreement you signed yesterday?”
“No!” Why would she want to alter the prenup? She’d barely read it. She took a deep breath. “I’m afraid.”
“And I am afraid,” he said with dangerous silkiness, “that you already gave me your word. We have a verbal contract. It’s done.”
Tess herself had thought something similar just moments before—that the decision had already been made, so there was no backing out. But hearing him speak the words like a threat made her back stiffen. “What are you saying?”
His eyes narrowed.
“You’re wearing my ring.” He looked down at the big diamond on her left hand. “You will take my name. You will be my wife, and we will raise our daughter. Our wedding will go forward as planned.”
She tried to toss her head, not easy when it was weighed down with a heavy diamond tiara. “Maybe I won’t!”
His lips twisted. Reaching out, he cupped her cheek, running his thumb along her shaking lower lip.
“And maybe,” he said tenderly, “I’ll hire a team of lawyers to utterly destroy you and your family. Maybe I’ll take our daughter and make sure you never see her again.”
Then Stefano drew back, his dark eyes smiling down at her as if he’d been flirting
.
The room, with all its elegant furnishings, seemed to spin around her. Tess stared up at him, her eyes wide with horror.
“Are you ready, Miss Foster?”
Tess turned to see the hotel’s wedding planner with her headset standing in the doorway. Behind her, Uncle Ray hovered.
“Yes. She’s ready.” Stefano’s eyes were callous as he looked down at Tess. “Aren’t you?”
Feeling sick inside, she gave an unsteady nod.
“What are you doing here, Your Highness?” the wedding planner chided. “You’re supposed to be waiting in the ballroom.”
“Of course.” Deliberately, Stefano reached down and pulled the translucent white veil over Tess’s tiara, over her face. He said lightly, “I can’t wait to marry you, cara mia.”
And, after kissing her cheek through the veil, he left.
Tess stood in shock as her uncle came forward with tears in his eyes.
“You look beautiful, Tessie.” He held out his arm awkwardly in the new designer tuxedo that Stefano had provided for him. “Are you ready for this?”
Numbly Tess took her uncle’s arm. She picked up her bouquet.
“Thank you for walking me down the aisle, Uncle Ray,” she said, barely knowing what she was saying. She felt frozen, like she was in a bad dream.
“My little sister would be so proud of you,” her uncle said, blinking back tears. “Of the woman you’ve become.”
“I wish Mama was still here,” Tess whispered. After Tess’s father had left, her mother had gone through many other short-lived romances—surely Serena would have known what to do now.
They followed the wedding planner down the elegant hallway, toward the entrance to the grand hotel ballroom, where her two bridesmaids waited outside the door. Lola refused to meet her eyes. Hallie took one look at Tess and demanded, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Tess said, looking away.
“Stefano just rushed by us. I guess that means you guys worked it out?” she said hopefully.
“You might say that,” Tess said. Maybe I’ll take our daughter and make sure you never see her again.
The double doors opened and a wave of music swelled as the orchestra started the first notes of the wedding march. Bouquets held high, Lola walked in, followed by Hallie.