Bella felt her eyes grow moist as Serena approached her husband-to-be. She’d never experienced this kind of romance. Never even been in love. She’d had boyfriends but nothing serious. It must be wonderful—and scary—to meet someone and know that this is the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with.
She snuck a glance at Rigo, who gazed at the whole proceedings with apparent stony disinterest. He was probably ruminating over the details of some pressing legal case in New York and barely paying attention to the romantic events unfolding right in front of them.
The service took place in the local language, which was then immediately translated into English by a perky female translator, so that the many American guests could follow along. When they said their vows—Sandro first, then Serena—there was barely a dry eye in the whole church. Their kiss was so tender it made her heart squeeze.
Beaming, Sandro and Serena made their way back up the aisle together and soon the assembled crowd rose to its feet with a rustling of programs and a muffled hum of conversation.
One down! She really had no idea how many more events today entailed because she hadn’t wanted to make a nuisance of herself by asking and the printed program was vague. While most of the guests filed out of the church one row at a time, starting with the back, the royal family—including her—was whisked out the side door and toward a train of waiting horse-drawn carriages. The horses had white plumes on their heads and black-and-gold harnesses.
“Oh, my goodness,” she exclaimed. A brocade-uniformed footman helped her in, and Rigo squeezed in next to her. The lovely carriage was clearly designed for the smaller people of an earlier time, and Rigo’s head almost touched the satin-quilted ceiling.
“Isn’t this lovely?” she exclaimed, peering out the rather small window.
“I can’t wait until this part is over. I feel like a sitting target. During Darias’s coronation someone lobbed a firecracker into the procession.”
“True. I remember reading about that.” Apprehension crept up her spine. “Do you think we’re in danger?”
“Probably almost every other person along the road back to the palace is hired security staff, but even they can’t always be trusted.”
“Maybe it would have been safer—if more boring—to go in limos.”
“The Leone family does not cower in the face of aggression.” He said it simply, not even turning to look at her.
“Of course not.” She straightened her shoulders. Still, she didn’t want to die. Who would take care of her animals? All of Squiggles’s fur would fall out again, and Pepe would go back to anxiously plucking his feathers.
Rigo turned to her. “I’ve made you nervous.”
“I’m fine,” she said, trying to sound brave.
“If anything happens to you today, I’ll make sure all your animals find good homes.” His eyes twinkled, like he was teasing.
She rose to the bait. “What if you’re dead too?”
“Then we can both come back and haunt someone into looking after them.” He said it as if he were deadly serious.
Which made her burst out laughing. She could picture the pair of them—in their ceremonial finery—wafting about Altaleone terrorizing people into buying cat food. “I think you’re crazier than I am.”
“I doubt it.” One brow lifted very slightly. That mischievous twinkle still sparkled in his dark eyes.
I could kiss him now.
Damn it, she’d like to. His mouth was only inches from hers, and the barest hint of a smile tugged at its reluctant corners.
But if she kissed him inside the carriage no one would see it and she would shock and alarm Rigo, thus blowing any chance of kissing him in a more public setting where she’d actually be following her father’s suggestion.
The carriage lurched into motion unexpectedly, throwing her against him. He flung out his arms to steady her, and they ended up wrapped around her.
Help! The warm male scent of him embraced her like the lure of madness. Why did he have to tease her and make her laugh? Rigo was much easier to handle as a humorless legal automaton.
The carriage rumbled along the road—the horses were trotting—and the seat, which must be on springs, bounced them around as if they were on a carnival ride. Rigo held her in a firm embrace, which grew more hotly weird by the second.
Oh, dear. His muscled arms felt way too good wrapped around her. His sturdy thigh mashed against the length of hers. His strong fingers pressed into her back.
“I’m afraid to let go,” he murmured. “Are you going to bounce off the seat?” The bench seat was quite narrow, and Rigo took up most of it.
“Possibly.” In her high heels she couldn’t use her feet to stabilize herself effectively. And she didn’t want him to let go. Which made no sense. Out the tiny window she watched the palace gate flash by and they trotted up the drive to the big courtyard in front of the palace.
Don’t kiss him. Her lips were only a few hot inches from his, as they sat, pinned together, side by side but with Rigo turned toward her, holding her. He looked out the window. “Almost there.” Then he turned to her and she tried desperately to think of something sensible to say but since sensible wasn’t her strong point instead she leaned in and kissed him.
Their lips barely brushed at first—just enough to send a cascade of sensation down to her belly—then Rigo leaned in and planted a firm, fast kiss that sucked all the breath from her lungs. Just as she was about to explode into flames of long-ignored passion, the carriage jerked to a stop and their mouths flew apart.
Before she could say something—anything—a uniformed footman jerked the carriage door open and she climbed out into the cobbled courtyard, face flushed and heart beating like it might burst into a million pieces.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Bella marched for the palace doors, where Serena, Sandro, Emma, Darias, Beatriz, and Lorenzo and their other siblings were already heading inside.
What was she thinking?
That’s the problem, my dear, you weren’t thinking. She heard her father’s voice in her head. He’d said that to her more than once. Except this time he bore some of the blame. He’d planted the idea of kissing Rigo again in her head, and it had quickly grown deep roots there.
“What a lovely wedding,” she exclaimed, as she caught up with Serena. “Do you need help getting changed for the reception?” She wanted to hide away in an upstairs bedroom for at least a few minutes and gather her wits before she had to accompany Rigo in the next phase of today’s events.
“Sure, that would be great. This dress has a lot of buttons down the back.”
By the time they got upstairs Serena’s sister was there to help anyway, but Bella tried her best to be useful. She helped Serena into the gorgeous fitted white silk dress she’d chosen for the reception and helped her change jewelry and climb into a pair of fearsome high-heeled shoes.
He kissed me back.
She couldn’t get the thought out of her mind. Yes, she’d started it, but he’d responded. In fact, she could almost swear she’d felt him press himself toward her, at least for a few split seconds before the carriage stopped in front of the palace.
She managed to chatter animatedly with Serena and her sister about how beautiful the cathedral was and omigosh-you’re-really-a princess-now and various other relevant topics, all while wondering how she would ever manage to look Rigo in the face again.
Let alone kiss him.
In public.
As they ventured back downstairs she scanned the hallways anxiously. Crowds of people who’d walked from the church were now arriving, ready for the reception laid out in the ballroom and an adjacent grassy courtyard. Rigo was easy to spot in a crowd because in addition to being tall there was something about him that commanded attention wherever he went.
Or maybe that was just her.
She took an offered glass of champagne and smiled and greeted a few people she knew, all while sneaking glances around so she wouldn’t be
surprised by Rigo and drop her champagne or pass out cold.
By the time she’d made her way to the courtyard, there was still no sign of him. Maybe he’d sloped off to escape the festivities. A party for a thousand people was hardly his idea of fun. She was beginning to relax a little, thinking that she could brazen her way through the rest of the afternoon without seeing him, when Beatriz came rushing over. “Where’s Rigo? It’s time for the ceremonial sword dance.”
“Uh…I’m not sure. I lost him after we arrived.”
Beatriz sighed. “He’s so exasperating! Why does he keep disappearing like this? Can you text him and tell him to get here as fast as he can?”
“Uh, sure.” She swallowed and pulled out her phone. Her finger hovered over the screen while her brain seemed to slow to a crawl. It’s time for the sword dance.
That should cover it. Then all she had to do was act like nothing happened. Maybe he’d decide he imagined the kiss.
She didn’t check for a reply because Rigo wasn’t one to waste time on pointless pleasantries. She did, however, become hyperaware of her surroundings—surveying every opening for his arrival so she wouldn’t be caught unawares. She glimpsed a tall presence emerging from an open set of French doors and her heart seized and she tried desperately to act casual, taking a sip of champagne.
“C’mon, Bella. It’s this way.” Beatriz again, hustling her out into the middle of the courtyard. Were they going to make her wield a sword?
No, it was a ceremonial courtly dance, which involved the men—including Rigo, Darias, Sandro, Lorenzo, and Amadou—standing on one side, and the women—including her, Emma, Serena, Beatriz, and their mother, Lina—standing opposite them, while going through a series of formal dance moves.
No one had bothered to show her the moves, and she could tell Lorenzo and Amadou were doing their best to keep up as well. Emma whispered that she’d had no idea what to do on her own wedding day one year earlier and to just try to follow along. At least it moved quite slowly, so she tried to look confident as they stepped back and forth and bowed or curtsied, then went to meet in the middle and take each other’s hands.…
Rigo’s hand felt hot and demanding. And why wouldn’t it? She’d kissed him—and he’d kissed her back.
She steeled herself to meet his gaze, wondering if he’d purposefully be looking over her shoulder into the far distance.
But he stared right at her, dark eyes fierce, as they stepped closer, hesitated with just a few inches of tension-filled air between them, then backed away again.
Two soldiers in ornate uniforms suddenly raised long, flashing swords into the air and held them high, forming a V-shaped arch. Rigo grabbed Bella’s hand, and they followed as each couple walked through the arched swords.
The crowd applauded, and Rigo dropped her hand as if it burned him.
I’m sorry.
She wanted to say it but how could she when they were surrounded by hundreds of people, including his entire family.
At least none of them knew what had happened.
Her phone pinged, and she hurried out of the melee to check her texts.
I’m here. Did you kiss him yet?
Her father. Of course she could text back yes in total honesty, but since no one saw it, the kiss wasn’t official. She glanced back to the center of the courtyard, where Rigo stood in conversation with a white-haired old man.
Where are you? She wanted to talk to him, not stand here texting in the middle of a party where she was supposed to be working, not relaxing.
Near a statue of a naked woman fondling a harp. She chuckled. She knew the one.
On my way. Glancing around to see if anyone was watching, she hurried toward the statue, which involved walking out of the courtyard and down a short colonnade. Hopefully she wouldn’t miss partnering with Rigo in some other embarrassing ceremonial escapade.
She spotted her father talking animatedly to a heavily made-up woman of a certain age who seemed to be flirting outrageously with him.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Ah, Bella.” He kissed her three times as if they were old friends, not father and daughter. Still, she enjoyed the closeness. It was always hard to get face time with her father since he traveled so much. He introduced her to the woman, then took her arm, excused them, and led her off to a quiet corner.
“You shouldn’t have texted about the kiss,” she said in a stage whisper. “What if someone had seen my phone?”
“They’d have no idea what I’m talking about.” He smiled. “I saw the way he looked at you during that ridiculous performance. It should be easy.”
“What? He didn’t look at me at all.” She leaned in. “And I already kissed him. By accident.”
Her father’s silver eyebrow raised. “Did anyone see?”
“No. It happened in the carriage on the way back from the church. I was thinking about how I would kiss him later and suddenly our lips were together.”
“Perfect. Now it will be totally natural when you do it again in front of everyone.”
“You don’t believe I kissed him.” She frowned. “If you did, then why do you need me to do it again?”
“I need it to be public.”
“But why?” None of this made any sense. “My kissing him might actually make him more hostile toward you. Maybe he’ll think I did it to try to curry favor with him for you.”
“As long as it’s public, then it would be unseemly for him to attack you—or by extension me. It’s simply an insurance policy. There’s a murder investigation going on and it’s unseemly for me to be hauled in for questioning when I’m obviously innocent. I just want to be left in peace.”
Bella glanced around to see if anyone could overhear. Music from the nearby courtyard drowned out other conversations, and no one was looking at them. “Is there some reason why you need one? What’s going on? Did you do something wrong?” Her chest tightened as she asked.
“Of course not.” Her father tossed back a gulp of champagne. “Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want him nosing around in my affairs, which are none of his business.”
“So—just to clarify—if I kiss him I can get fired today and you’ll still give me the money for my sanctuary?”
His expression faltered for a moment. Then he cleared his throat. “Yes.”
She blinked. “Okay.” Her heart pumped harder as adrenaline flooded her body. She could find Rigo and somehow manage to kiss him in front of everyone. It would be embarrassing, sure, but as long as he didn’t shove her away—might he do that? Panic surged through her. As long as he didn’t, her father would be happy and she—
Her father waved at someone behind her. Then he murmured, “I’ll be watching,” before he moved away with a fixed smile on his face.
Bella sucked in a breath. Rigo wouldn’t respect her, but then he probably didn’t anyway. Her filing and organizational skills were average at best, and he’d probably be glad not to have a ferret in the palace.
The palace now swarmed with guests who weren’t invited to the more intimate church ceremony but were included in the feast and reception. A bell clanged, summoning people to take their seats at the long banqueting tables set up under the colonnades around the courtyard. There was no seating plan since it had proven too complicated with so many guests, and she was one hundred percent sure Rigo wouldn’t want to sit next to her, so she decided to hide off in a quiet spot where no one would—hopefully—notice her. She slunk off down a shadowy colonnade zeroing in on a seat between two older couples.
“Bella!” She jumped at the sound of Emma’s voice. “Come join us.”
She smiled bravely. “Are you sure? There must be a lot of relatives to accommodate.”
“Don’t be silly.” Emma grabbed her arm. Had someone put her up to this? “Where’s Squiggles?”
“He’s probably busy gnawing his leg off or something. I left him with my neighbor.”
“You should have brought him.”
“I’m trying not
to be too high maintenance.”
“Are you kidding? We love Squiggles.”
It was true. Emma liked to hold him in her lap, and oddly enough, Squiggles liked it too. “You’re very sweet. I’m not sure Rigo knew what he was getting into when he hired me.”
“Rigo’s pretty uptight. I think he needs more ferrets in his life.”
Bella laughed in spite of herself. “You’re probably right.” They approached the main family table, already filling with relatives of Serena’s from the U.S. and close friends of the family from all over the world, as well as the family members she already knew.
“Are you sure?” She didn’t want to take a seat that could go to someone more important.
“Sit next to me.” Emma pulled out chairs for both of them. “I’m still not good enough with the language to carry on a conversation with one of the older generation so you’re doing me a favor.”
Bella grinned. She’d grown up speaking four languages fluently and barely even registered which one she was speaking at any given time. “It must be hard to learn a new language as an adult.”
“It is. I’m grateful that most people in Altaleone speak at least some English.” Emma thanked the waiter, who poured their wine. “And I’m not up for a challenging conversation. My brother was supposed to be here for the wedding, but he didn’t show up.”
“Why not?”
Emma shrugged, but her eyes were sad. “Who knows? He’s so unpredictable. Last time he came here he seduced one of Darias’s younger sisters, so maybe it’s better if he’s not here. He struggles with drug addiction.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say
“Rigo gave him a job in New York—a messenger for his law firm—but he only lasted three days. He’s impossible.” She sipped her wine grimly.
“Don’t feel too bad about it. It’s not your fault.”
“I know. It’s just frustrating. I used to say that he’s the only family I had left, but that’s not true anymore. I have a big, warm, wonderful family, and I should stop stressing over him.”
Taming the Royal Beast (Royal House of Leone Book 6) Page 8