“You’d better take good care of her,” the uncle said gruffly behind him. “After the year of hell you put her through.”
Stefano turned with a single brusque nod. “I will.”
“When will you marry?” the aunt asked, smiling.
He turned to Tess. “Tomorrow.”
They all looked at one another, astonished. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ll take you to London as my wife.”
Her beautiful face appeared entranced as she nodded, ducking her head. “All right,” she whispered. “Tomorrow.”
“I cannot wait,” he said huskily, feeling a swell of pride and the glory of conquest. Cupping her face in his hands, he lowered his mouth passionately to hers. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
“ARE YOU SURE about this, Tess?”
Tess looked up in surprise. She was wearing a wedding dress, sitting in a chair in an elegant private sitting room of the Campania Hotel, getting the final touches of her makeup done by a stylist. Doubt was the last thing she’d ever expected from Lola, of all people. Especially now, just minutes before the wedding ceremony was set to begin!
“Of course I’m sure,” Tess said uneasily. “Why wouldn’t I want to marry Stefano? He’s Esme’s father!”
Lola lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “I didn’t hear you say anything about love.”
“Of course Tess loves him,” Hallie protested, sipping a mimosa nearby. “She’s loved him for a year. Even when we teased her about it!”
“Yeah, I know. We thought you were crazy.” Lola’s eyes challenged Tess in the mirror. “So he’s everything you imagined him to be?”
Tess’s cheeks burned. “Pretty much.”
“He told you he loves you?”
Tess bit her lip. “Um...”
“Has he or hasn’t he?”
Looking between them, the stylist packed up her gear and excused herself, closing the door of the sitting room quietly behind her. With a deep breath, Tess looked at her two friends.
Lola and Hallie were wearing bridesmaid dresses in her favorite color, emerald green. Their three babies were already in the grand ballroom with Tess’s cousins and Hallie’s husband, Cristiano. The wedding was set to begin in minutes. Any moment now, the Campania’s wedding planner would burst in with her headset and clipboard to tell them it was time for the whirlwind ceremony to begin.
Tess said slowly, “I’ve realized we don’t really know each other that well. But we have a child now, so I...hope love will come in time.”
Hallie and Lola glanced at each other uneasily.
“He hasn’t told you he loves you?” Hallie said. “And now you’re saying you don’t love him?”
Turning in the chair, Tess glared at her friends.
“How long did it take for Cristiano to tell you he loved you, Hallie?” The brunette hung her head in answer. “And you.” Tess narrowed her eyes at Lola. “Aren’t you the one who’s always going on about how mothers have an obligation to be financially stable for their children?”
“That is what you always say, Lola,” Hallie said.
“But you’re not like me, Tess,” she said. “You don’t care about money. You just want to be loved.”
Tess felt a sharp pain in her throat.
“I want you to be careful, that’s all. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” The blonde looked away. “Don’t love him if you know he’ll never love you back.”
“Is that what happened to you, Lola?” Tess said timidly. “You’ve never said what happened with Jett’s father...”
“We’re talking about you, not me.” She looked down. Her voice became sad. “I don’t want to see you make a mistake, that’s all.”
Tess and Hallie looked at each other. This wasn’t like their brash friend. Usually Lola couldn’t wait to boss them around. Speaking the brutal truth with love, Lola called it, although her words were sometimes far more brutal than loving.
But then Lola hadn’t seemed quite herself lately. No wonder, Tess thought. Lola had a newborn. That kind of exhaustion would put any woman off her game.
Tess hadn’t slept very well last night, either. Knowing it was her last evening in her aunt and uncle’s Brooklyn apartment, she’d stared up at the shadowy ceiling, tormented by anxiety. Without Stefano’s overwhelming presence to reassure her, she’d felt a strange fear over this sudden marriage.
It’s just cold feet, she’d tried to tell herself then. But now she wondered—what if it wasn’t?
She’d never thought getting married would scare her. She’d always been sure that when she wed, she’d be so deeply in love she’d rush into the ceremony with a pure, joyful heart.
Today she was marrying a man she barely knew. Not for love, but because they had a child.
Maybe Stefano could love me, she told herself desperately. Someday. And if he did, who knew? Maybe she could someday be brave enough to forget how he’d hurt her. Maybe she could be brave enough to open up her heart again, too.
But was she willing to take the gamble? Because if Stefano couldn’t love her, why would she be stupid enough to open herself up to more heartbreak? She wouldn’t. Lola was right. She could never let herself love Stefano again, even if she wanted to. Not unless he loved her first.
But what if he didn’t? Could she live her whole life without love?
Tess glanced at the empty champagne glasses on the table, next to the bouquets made by the hotel florist. Yesterday she’d relished her friends’ shock and delight when she’d told them that her baby’s long-lost father had returned, revealing himself to be a billionaire prince. And, not only that, he wished to marry Tess immediately!
Lola and Hallie’s giddy squeals had been music to Tess’s ears. She’d loved showing off the sparkling ten-carat diamond engagement ring Stefano had bought her on Fifth Avenue, after they’d left City Hall with their marriage license. She was wearing the diamond ring now, and though part of her already missed the simple integrity of Stefano’s gold signet ring, obviously she couldn’t go around wearing it on her thumb. She’d told herself she’d get used to the cold weight of the diamond in time.
Getting ready for the wedding with her two best friends had seemed like a good idea. And at first it had been wonderful. They’d giggled, drinking mimosas, and Tess had felt contented.
But now the gorgeous platinum-set ten-carat diamond ring hung heavily on Tess’s left hand.
Shaking, she rose to her feet.
“Fine bridesmaids you two make,” she said accusingly, “trying to talk me into jilting him at the last minute.”
The other two hung their heads.
“Sorry, Tess,” Hallie said. “He is your baby’s father, after all.”
“Sorry,” Lola muttered.
Tess lifted her chin. “I never had a father or a real home. Don’t you think I want that for Esme?”
“Of course you do,” Hallie said soothingly.
“I’m sure you’ll be very happy.” But Lola didn’t sound sure at all.
Tess