A Ring for Vincenzo's Heir(15)

But she wanted to love him.

Yes, Vin was ruthless. But he was also honorable, determined to do the  best he could-as he saw it-for their baby, and for Scarlett, too. He'd  repeatedly put her needs in front of his. Agreeing to drive, instead of  fly. Agreeing to introduce her to his family. Most of all, agreeing to  marry her without a pre-nup! She could only imagine how his shark  lawyers would have their heads blown off at that one.

"When is your wedding?" Giuseppe asked.

"I'm not exactly sure. Sometime soon in Rome. We haven't really planned it yet. But I do hope you'll all be able to come..."

Her voice trailed off as Vin saw her across the courtyard. He started pushing through the crowd toward her.

Her body felt the rhythm of the music, the beat of the dancers' pounding  feet against the flagstones. But she was unable to move, unable to even  breathe, captured in his dark hungry gaze.

He was breathtakingly handsome. His muscled legs were barely contained  by well-tailored black trousers and his broad shoulders seemed to expand  the sharp white shirt with the top button undone. But it wasn't the  broadness of his shoulders or sharp line of his jaw or even the  intensity of his black eyes that shook her. His sex appeal was obvious  to anyone with eyes.   





 

This was more.

Scarlett felt like she knew a secret. Something no other woman had been  privileged to see. Something he hid from the world and would deny to the  death if ever accused of it.

Beneath the layers of slick designer suits and hard brutal muscle, Vin secretly had a good heart.

"Scusi," he said now to his father, who smiled indulgently.

"But of course, you want to be with your future bride."

Reaching out, Vin pulled Scarlett away. Beneath his touch, her body  flashed hot, then cold. As they stood together on the crowded dance  floor of the villa's courtyard, as the fairy lights swayed above them in  the moonlit night, her heart was pounding.

She suddenly couldn't meet his eyes. She focused on the curve of his  neck. On the hair-dusted forearms casually revealed by his rolled-up  sleeves. The hard edge of his unshaven jawline. The upturn of his  cruelly sensual lips.

Blood was suddenly rushing in her ears. Her knees felt weak. What was happening to her?

"Cara," he said softly. "You look so beautiful in that dress." He pulled her into his arms. "Dance with me."

The slow dance was pure torture for Scarlett as she felt his hard,  powerful body brush against hers. His muscles moved against her breasts  and belly, and his hands slowly traced down her back.

Her full breasts felt heavy, her nipples tightening, aching to be  touched. Even the barest brush of him against her was almost too  much-and yet not nearly enough. Agonized desire flowed through her,  twisting deep, deep inside her. She ached for him to kiss her, to stroke  her naked skin, to thrust inside her, fill her fully, stretch her wide-

Her breaths came in gasps. She tried to hide her desire. She couldn't  let him know that such an innocent slow dance, while surrounded by his  family and friends at an engagement party, was making her insane with  need. How could she be so wanton? What was wrong with her?

The song finished, and she exhaled. "Um, thanks..."

But as she tried to leave the dance floor, he held her tight, murmuring, "Don't go."

His large hands moved slowly from her hips to her lower back. He pulled  her back against his body, crushing her breasts against his hard chest.  Dizzy with need, she looked up at him.

He smiled down at her. Powerful. Sure of himself.

There was a lull in the music. His expression changed, became dark. Hot. His lips slowly lowered toward hers-

"Vincenzo!"

They turned as Giuseppe's voice called across the courtyard. Vin's  father beamed at them, his arm around his wife's shoulders, with Maria  smiling beside them.

"My son," he announced, "there is no sense in you getting married in  Rome, with strangers." He gesticulated wildly. "We have decided you and  Scarlett should be married right here."

"Say yes," Maria begged.

"It would make us so happy," Joanne added warmly. "What do you say?"

Having her wedding at this beautiful Tuscan villa, surrounded by Vin's  family? Scarlett wanted it instantly. Holding her breath, she looked  hopefully at Vin.

But his expression was strangely shut down. Scarlett didn't understand  why he seemed so tense at the idea. But whatever the reason, she knew he  didn't want to do it. She sensed he'd been pushed as far as he'd be  pushed. But he remained stubbornly silent, forcing Scarlett to be the  one to give his family the bad news.

Biting her lip, she forced herself to say apologetically, "Thank you, but we want to be wed as quickly as possible-"

"All the more reason to do it here," Joanne pointed out. "What is the  point of getting married in Rome? It will just take longer to get all  the paperwork done. Here, it will be quicker because Giuseppe is mayor-"

"Sì, mayor," he repeated proudly.

"And he'll make sure all the necessary documentation is completed as  fast as humanly possible. You're both American citizens now-" Joanne  glanced humorously at her stepson, as if to say What a fool you were to  trade away this beautiful country "-so no banns are necessary."

"Please!" Maria clutched Scarlett's hands. "I'll arrange a beautiful  wedding for you. It'll be good practice for planning my own. Why  shouldn't you get married here? It's your home now, too, Scarlett!"

Put that way, it was impossible to refuse. Scarlett looked desperately at Vin.

He scowled. "I have connections in Rome. It can be done quickly enough."

Giuseppe snorted. "Amid strangers! What about your family? What about your bride?"

Vin's jaw tightened. "I don't-"   





 

"Please," Scarlett whispered.

He stared at her for a long moment, then sighed.

"Va bene." His shoulders looked tense. "We will have our wedding here,  since my bride wishes it." As Maria clapped her hands together with joy,  he added fiercely, "But I must be in Rome within five days."

"No problem!" Joanne said.

"Easy!" Giuseppe said.

"You will see," Maria chortled. "I bet we can do it in three!"

Vin's expression said he feared three days would last an eternity. Why?  Scarlett wondered. What could possibly be making him so tense? Was it  cold feet? Had he changed his mind about wanting to marry her? The  thought caused a shiver of nervousness to go through her. Because she  was starting to not hate the idea of marrying him.

"Perhaps it's not an entirely bad idea," Vin murmured, looking down at  her. His arms tightened. "If we're staying, that means no more driving  tonight. Which means," he whispered, "I can take you to bed now."

Fire flashed through her, and she almost tottered on her borrowed  strappy sandals. Her heart was pounding so hard and fast she felt  light-headed.

Her whole world shrank down to the sensation of his body near hers, his  hand supporting her arm. Did he intend to seduce her? No, surely not.  She was eight and a half months pregnant. Not exactly a sexpot. She  wanted him. Definitely. But she was surely imagining the dark fierce  smolder in his eyes.

And part of her was afraid of what would happen if he made love to her.  How much of her soul he might take, along with her body...

"My fiancée is tired," he said abruptly. "I am sorry, but we must cut our night short."

"Of course, of course," came the chorus around them in English and  Italian. Everyone looked at her belly and smiled. Everyone loved a  pregnant woman.

"Where can I take her to rest?"

"Follow me," his father said, waving them along. He took them through  the beautiful villa, up the sweeping stairs to the quieter second floor,  then triumphantly through double doors to a huge, luxurious bedroom.

"But there's only one bed," Scarlett whispered to Vin in consternation. His father heard her and chuckled.

"There is no reason for you to pretend you do not share a bedroom," he  said with a laugh, eyeing her belly. "We are not so old-fashioned as to  need that deception. Or so stupid as to believe it! Do not be  embarrassed. We wish you only to be comfortable."

Refusing to meet Vin's eyes, Scarlett said stiltedly, "Perhaps other rooms could be found-"

"Yes, of course." His father nodded, but before she could sigh with  relief, he finished, "The villa is full of party guests, but we did find  rooms for your bodyguards. I appreciate your concern for them," he said  approvingly. "You've chosen the right woman, Vincenzo. So thoughtful  and kind. Look." He nodded toward her duffel bag and his sleek designer  suitcase, stacked neatly on the closet floor. "Our staff already  unpacked your clothes for you. We were hoping to convince you to stay.  So now there is nothing-" his eyebrows wiggled suggestively "-to prevent  you both from having a good night's sleep."

Giuseppe left, shutting the double doors behind him.