Kidnapping His Bride

Which he was. But he had connections. He knew the owner through his sister. Renaldi Accessories had held a jewelry line launch at the location a little over three months ago. Not that he would reveal that little tidbit of information to Cat yet.

For whatever stupid reason, he wanted to impress her tonight. Wanted her to think he could pull strings, make things happen, make things fun for her. That he would do anything to ensure she had a good time.

Absolutely juvenile of him, but when it came to Cat, she made him act a little crazy.

“Evening,” he said to the two very muscular, very stylishly dressed men standing in front of the door. Their expressions were made of pure disinterest, their thick arms crossed in front of their chests, their matching smirks almost disconcerting in how similar they appeared.

Rafe couldn’t help but wonder if they were brothers—or linebackers.

“Line’s back there,” one of them said, flicking his chin. “I suggest you get in it and wait your turn like everyone else.”

Cat glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening. The line wound around the building. He heard it was like this every night. Stasia had told him more than once that Crimson was the hot spot to see and be seen.

Considering he’d come to New York to do nothing but work, he’d had to trust her on that knowledge, despite his playboy, man-about-town image. It was all just that for the most part—an image. One he’d cultivated gladly since it got him and the business plenty of press. He helped divert the media from questioning Stasia and her rather scandalous past too.

So he’d never discouraged the dating-a-bazillion-women-at-once image he had. Never thinking it could hurt his future marriage, which proved he was an idiot for never considering Cat’s feelings.

He was so stupid. It hurt him to know he hurt her. How he hated that.

But truly, there had only been one woman for him. Despite earlier dalliances, the occasional date with a beautiful woman, he knew Catalina was for him and no other.

Then she went and dumped him. Luckily enough, she dumped him and then promptly gave him a second chance at convincing her they could make this work.

Over the next few days, that was his plan. Convincing her they could work.

This night, this very moment, was the first of many steps.

Pushing his thoughts out of Cat out of his head, Rafe focused on the skeptical men in front of him. “I’m a friend of Terry’s,” he said, hoping like hell his name appeared on that magical list he’d heard Stasia refer to. She’d told him the night of the jewelry line reveal that all Renaldis had been put on the permanent entrance list. He hadn’t cared then.

He sure as hell cared now.

“Yeah, right,” the other doorman said with a snort. “You and everyone else is his friend. Stop wasting your breath, bro. Get in the back of the line.” He jerked his thumb toward the restless crowd.

“My name is Rafe Renaldi.” He tilted his head toward the clipboard the guy held. “Check your list.”

Growling irritably, the man flipped through the papers on his clipboard, running his finger down the list of names until it stopped…and he looked up at Rafe once more, his expression contrite. “You’re on the list.”

“I know,” Rafe said calmly, all the while feeling Cat staring at him.

“Guess we’ll let you in, then,” the man said almost reluctantly.

“Guess you will.” Letting his arm drop from Cat’s shoulders, he took her hand, entwining their fingers as he glanced at her pretty face. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

The little smile curving her lips was unmistakable. He had a feeling she’d enjoyed that display of power. And he’d done it all for her.