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Their gaz
es fused with longing. “Until tonight, tesora.”
While he walked away, she put the key in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. In a few minutes the limo pulled up to the entrance. The driver opened the rear door for her.
Fausta climbed in, secretly overjoyed that she was now Dr. Barsotti’s wife. Was she ever! Visions of what had happened a couple of hours ago when he’d taken her to another realm of existence robbed her of breath. If the bodyguards following them knew about the marriage already, it didn’t matter.
She put her head back and closed her eyes, dreaming of the night to come. If Nico’s mother had been this in love with his father, Fausta couldn’t imagine the pain they would have gone through to say goodbye.
Thank heaven Fausta didn’t have to face a permanent separation from Nico. They were husband and wife forever. As the priest had said, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
* * *
Nico was just leaving his office at 7:30 p.m. after a packed schedule when Felipe showed up at the door. The two men gave each other a hug.
“I’m glad to see you back, amico. Let’s get together. Want to go out for a beer right now? I want to tell you about my wedding plans.”
Stifling a moan, Nico said, “There’s nothing I’d like more, but I have to go out on an emergency house call. Can we do it tomorrow night? Five thirtyish? I won’t let anything get in the way.” He hated lying to his buddy, but he had no choice.
“Sure. You have a sick patient?”
“Very sick.” I’m the patient and need to get back to Fausta or I’m not going to make it.
“Then I won’t keep you. Until tomorrow night!”
Nico patted his friend’s arm and dashed for the stairs. A whole evening and night to make love to his wife. Was there ever a more beautiful woman alive, inside and out, or one more loving?
He drove to his apartment and parked the car, eager to get her to himself. She’d left the door unlocked. Something smelled delicious. After hurrying inside, he found her in the kitchen by the stove wearing a white lace negligee that caused him to gasp.
“What took you so long?” She flashed him a seductive smile that melted his insides. “Our dinner is ready to be eaten. Why don’t you freshen up and then join me at the table for our first meal together as a wedded couple.” She’d set it with glasses of red wine and a vase of white roses.
He could hardly think, let alone make a sound. Finally, he managed, “I’ll be right back.” A quick trip to the bedroom to change into his robe and wash his hands, he returned to the kitchen.
“Sit down, amato, and open your gift first.”
In a daze, he unwrapped the tiny box by his glass and pulled out a man’s gold band. “We’ll get it inscribed later. Try it on and see if it fits.”
His heart thudded. “I need your help.”
“No, you don’t, or this roast pig from Prospero’s will go to waste.”
Fausta...
“I guess we can’t have that.” He put it on.
“You’re mine now and I’ll adore you forever.”
Forever.
She put their dinner plates full of food on the table and sat down. While he was trying to take in her beauty and all that she’d created here, she lifted her wineglass. The blue diamond ring was back on her finger. “To the husband who has made me thankful I was born.” There were tears in her voice.
Nico lifted his glass. “To the wife who made an orphan feel like a king and has literally transformed my life.”
He clinked her glass and they drank the liquid, which glistened on her lips, reminding him of the first time at the cantina. He would have sold his soul to kiss her that night. Tonight he intended to kiss the two of them into oblivion.
Her eyes feasted on him as they ate. “Roast pig has become my favorite meal. Every step of your life has enamored me. I guess you saw Pippa give me a gift before we left the castello. They were little photographs of you taken from the time you were twelve. I studied them for hours.”
He took a quick breath. “Trust Pippa.”
