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"You’re not taking a commercial flight," Massimo says in a hard voice.
"Newsflash: it’s how we normal people do things. Which you are not." She looks him up and down. "But I wouldn’t expect you to understand, given your lifestyle. Also, I am not flying back in the same plane as you. I only agreed to come by private jet because I needed to get here in time to witness my best friend’s wedding, which—" She turns to face me. "I have now done." She steps forward and kisses me again on my cheek. "See you back at rehearsal."
She walks past us and heads for the door, then stops and glances over her shoulder. "You coming, Penny?"
Penny looks at her pleadingly.
Olivia scowls back at her.
"You're leaving? So soon?" I cry.
Olivia bites her lips. Then she closes the distance between us and hugs me again. "I am so sorry. I know it's hurtful of me to take off like this. It's just... I can't stand your brother-in-law."
I glance from her to where Massimo is watching her closely.
"Huh? Is there something between the two of you? Something you haven't told us?"
She hesitates, then leans in even closer. "I can neither confirm nor deny that statement," she mutters.
"Oh my god. So, you two have definitely met before? Have you slept with him?" I whisper-yell.
"Shh!" She peers at Massimo from the corner of her eyes. "Don’t worry about it. Anyway, today is not about me; it's about you. I truly hope that you'll be happy."
She kisses my cheek. "Please don’t be angry with me for leaving, okay?"
I take in her flushed features, the widened eyes. She's spooked all right.
"Fine." I blow out a breath. "Go on, get out of here. But you owe me an explanation."
"Thanks Jeanne." She squeezes my arm. "I'll see you in time for the rehearsal, okay?" She steps back.
Penny rushes over and hugs me again. "See you in a few, babe. Remember what I said about riding the stallion?"
Before I can ask her to shut up, she squeezes my arm, then follows Olivia out. The door shuts behind them.
"Your friend doesn’t like me very much," Massimo muses.
"Oh, she’s like that with everyone. She takes a little time to warm up to people. Just give her time; she’ll come around."
He scratches his jaw as if her entire reaction confused him.
"Uh, I should be leaving, too." The official hands an envelope to Massimo, then skitters away.
Massimo hands the envelope to Luca, who slips it into his coat pocket. Then, Massimo steps back and holds up his phone again.
"He needs another photo to share withla famiglia." Luca puts his arm around me and pulls me close. I try to smile, but my lips are frozen in a rictus. The heat of his body snaps around me and holds me in place as effectively as a noose. I draw in a breath, and the scent of him goes straight to my head. Oh, my god, there’s no escaping him. He’s all around me, in me, and now I’m married to him.
He turns and dips his head until his breath raises the hair on my forehead. "Relax, I’m not going to hurt you."
You already have. You just don’t know it.
He tips my chin up and peers into my eyes. "Trust me, Angel. Everything’s going to be fine."
I hold onto those sparks in the depths of his blue eyes like an ant clings to a leaf on the surface of a roaring river. He searches my features, hesitates, then as if unable to stop himself, lowers his head and presses his lips to mine. The softness of his kiss is a surprise. He holds his lips against mine as if content to savor the taste. His breath mingles with mine. The touch of his fingers is as if branded into my skin. The sensation of his mouth on mine is so tender. How can such a hard man feel so adoring? A shiver sluices through me. I tremble, and his grip on my chin tightens.
"That’s a great picture, you guys." Massimo’s voice cuts through the noise in my head.
Luca pulls back and so do I. His chest rises and falls. On his features is an expression of shock, which must mirror the confusion I’m feeling.
