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After the ceremony, they exited the church and encountered a small crowd. Apparently Gabriel and his brothers were well liked in the coastal town and when word got out that he had come to the island to get married, many had turned out to wish him and Olivia well.
They lingered for several minutes, greeting people and accepting congratulations until Gabriel insisted it was time he took his bride home. Laughing and shaking his head at good-natured invitations to stay in town and celebrate their wedding, Gabriel slipped his arm around her waist and began to edge out of the circle of people.
“My car is this way.” He took her hand and began to lead her down the road.
“Oh, thank goodness, I was afraid you’d make me ride the donkey back to your house.”
Gabriel laughed heartily. “It would take him too long to carry you that far and I can’t wait that long to have you all to myself.”
Once he got her settled in the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel, he sat sideways in his seat and regarded her intently.
After several seconds of his attentive silence, Olivia grew restless. “What are you doing?”
“Appreciating our first private moment as husband and wife. The circumstances of the last few weeks haven’t given us any time together and when we leave here, there will be public appearances and meetings demanding our time. I intend to spend every possible moment until then showing my beautiful wife how much I adore her.”
Being his wife was her dream come true. Olivia smiled. “If I’m beautiful, you have Noelle to thank for that.” She gestured to her wedding dress. “Have you really been planning this romantic elopement since before I left the hospital?”
“It was your secretary’s idea. She knows how stubborn you can be and came to me with a crazy plan that I should steal you away to someplace exotic and marry you.”
“Libby?” Olivia considered her secretary’s encouragement anytime Olivia had doubted her future with Gabriel.
“She helped me with the dress and arranged the church and the flowers.”
“How were you planning to get me to agree to run off with you?”
“By offering you a ride home in our jet and then bringing you here. You made things a lot easier by asking to see me.”
“Did Stewart have any idea what you were planning?”
Gabriel shook his head. “Stewart’s loyalty is to Sherdana. Libby’s loyalty is to you.” He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips. “And so is mine.”
Olivia contemplated her new husband during the short drive to his villa, a two-mile journey around the horseshoe-shaped harbor. Never again would she underestimate his determination or his loyalty to her. He’d been willing to go against his family for her. She couldn’t ask for a better partner or soul mate.
Because they’d been delayed in town Elena had already arrived and was in the process of arranging a romantic table for them on the terrace high above the harbor. At Olivia’s prompting, Gabriel gave her a brief tour of the villa. In the spacious bedroom they would share, Gabriel drew her toward the window and they stared out at Kioni, its lights glowing bright as dusk descended. With his arms wrapped around Olivia’s waist and his chin resting on her head, he sighed.
Olivia chuckled. “Was that weariness or contentment?”
“Contentment. You will be hearing many more such sighs in the coming days while we enjoy some much-needed privacy.”
“We will have to go back eventually.”
His arms tightened around her. “I prefer not to think about that moment until it arrives.”
“Won’t the media come here looking for us?”
“In the past we’ve kept a low profile and the people who live on the island respect our privacy.” His lips trailed of fire down her neck. “Now, let’s go downstairs and enjoy our first dinner as man and wife.”
They returned to the first floor and accepted glasses of champagne from Elena. She gestured them out onto the terrace and retreated to fetch the first course.
“This is beautiful,” Olivia commented, admiring the simple but elegant scene.
With the sunset long past, the sky had deepened to indigo. A row of white candles stretched along the low terrace wall, pushing back the darkness, their flames protected by glass containers. More candles had been placed in the center of the table, their flickering glow making shadows dance over the fine white tablecloth, beautiful china and colorful flower arrangements.
Gabriel led her to the table and helped her into a linen-clad chair before taking his own seat beside her. The romantic lighting softened his strong bone structure and brought out the sensual curve of his lips as he smiled. “Here’s to following our hearts.”
Olivia smiled as she clinked her glass to his and marveled at her good fortune. She never would have guessed that she had to lose everything in order to gain the one thing she needed most.
Setting her glass down, Olivia reached for Gabriel’s hand.
