Another self-deprecating smile twisted her mouth. ‘Flatterer.’
‘I’m serious, cara.’ He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. ‘You’re the most beautiful person I could ever wish to spend my life with.’
Her eyes rounded. Blinked. He even heard her gulp. ‘Did you say your… life?’
Lucca pulled her closer. ‘I’m asking you to marry me.’
Her mouth fell open. ‘How many vodka chasers have you had?’
He chuckled at her incredulous expression. ‘Am I so rubbish at this that you don’t believe me? I’m trying to tell you I love you.’
‘How can you possibly love me?’
‘How can I possibly not? I think I fell in love with you the first moment I met you.’ He cupped her face in his hands. ‘It’s taken me till now to realise it. You make me a better person. I feel like a better person when I’m with you. Marry me, tesore mio. Be my little princess for now and always.’
She threw her arms around his neck. ‘Oh, Lucca, I can’t believe this is happening. I love you so much. I’ve been distraught at the thought of you leaving but I didn’t want to be one of those awfully clinging women who won’t accept it when a fling is over.’
He looked down at her with a teasing smile. ‘Hey, what is this? Are you calling our relationship a fling?’
Her eyes started to moisten again. ‘Are we really engaged?’
‘Sure are.’
She stalwartly blinked back tears. ‘I’m not supposed to cry. It’ll ruin my make-up and make me look like a panda. Madeleine will be furious if I—’ She suddenly clapped her hands to her cheeks. ‘Oh, my God! I have to get back to the cathedral! I left Adam with the bouquets. The photographer will be having kittens, puppies and ducklings by now.’
Lucca grabbed her hand. ‘Come on. We’ll take my car. It’s waiting downstairs.’
A short while later Lottie burst out of the car, almost before they’d come to a halt. While she rushed inside, Lucca parked the car and, walking towards the church, pulled his phone from his pocket, dialling his brother’s number, hoping that this time the time zones and planets would align and Orsino would answer. He understood his brother’s need to get away by himself where no one could contact him but this special moment was something Lucca wanted to share with him before the rest of the world heard about it. ‘Listen, you’re probably halfway up a mountain, or rescuing puppies or something, but we need to talk. Gene and Giatrakos are playing games with us, but you probably already know that. I have some news. And no it’s not a joke. It’s the real deal. I wanted you to know first. Call me.’
Lottie floated down the aisle behind the bride and groom a short time later. Lucca and she had agreed on the race back to the church that they wouldn’t steal the limelight by announcing their engagement until the bride and groom had left the reception. The knowledge of his love for her filled her with such happiness she was sure she was going to burst.
He loved her! He loved her! He loved her!
Lottie wanted to skip and jump and do a happy dance instead of walking down the aisle with such sedate pageantry. Her hands shook with excitement, making the bouquet quiver so much some petals fell off. At this rate there would be nothing left but the florist’s wire by the time she got to the back of the church.
Yep. She was definitely going to burst. It would be hours before she could tell anyone. How would she stand it? She would have to tell someone. She would have to! Otherwise she would think she had dreamt it all.
Was Lucca finding it equally difficult? As she got a little closer she saw him standing at the back of the church, leaning against one of the pillars looking distinctly bored. He yawned widely and reached for his phone and started scrolling through his messages.
A worrying thought slipped under the guard of her newfound happiness. What if he’d been joking? What if this was all a set-up? Another one of his puerile little jokes? A game he was playing?
Did he really love her?
Oh, God, what if he was only pretending so he could get his money?
What if in three days’ time he left the island without her?
But as she walked past, Lucca looked up from his phone and gave her a secret message with his glinting dark eyes that was as loud and clear as if he had bellowed it from the bell tower: I love you.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this book, look out for the next instalment of
THE CHATSFIELD:
SOCIALITE’S GAMBLE
by Michelle Conder.
Coming next month.
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