Their impending nuptials had certainly brought out the mischief maker in Gabriel. Or perhaps it was getting away from the palace and all his responsibility. Olivia made a note to kidnap him at least once a year and bring him somewhere with no cell phones and no television so they could get reacquainted.
“When I spoke with the doctor yesterday—” she gathered a deep breath “—he gave me some rather startling news.”
The wicked light died in Gabriel’s eyes. He grew somber. He caught her fingers in a tight grip. “Is something wrong?”
“No. In fact, I think everything might be okay in time.”
“How so?”
“He thinks that a fertility specialist might be able to harvest eggs from my ovaries.” She watched Gabriel carefully, hoping he was open to what she had in mind. “It would require finding a woman willing to be a surrogate, but it’s possible that you and I could still make babies together.”
“This is the most amazing news.”
Gabriel caught her around the waist and pulled her against his body. Dipping his head, he captured her lips with his for a long, slow kiss.
* * *
By the time he released her mouth they were both breathing heavily. Gabriel’s eyes sparkled like the sun on the water behind them. Joy sped through her as she realized she was about to marry the man she adored.
“Come on, let’s get you up on the donkey and get to the church.”
“Are you sure it’s tradition?” she protested, eyeing the creature doubtfully.
“Positive.”
Their parade up the steep street to the church was not the formal affair it would have been in Sherdana. There was no gilded carriage pulled by six perfectly matched white horses. No thousands of people lining the streets to wave and throw rose petals at them. But there were smiles and hearty cheers as Gabriel lead the donkey through the heart of the town.
When they reached the church, Gabriel introduced his housekeeper, Elena, who took Olivia aside to help her into the modest knee-length wedding dress with cap sleeves and a large bow at the waist. A note from Noelle accompanied the dress, explaining that Libby had come to her a few days after Olivia went into the hospital because Gabriel was planning on marrying Olivia in a small island wedding and wanted a dress to suit the occasion.
So, despite his lack of contact during her hospital stay, Gabriel hadn’t accepted that their engagement was at an end. He’d still wanted her as his wife, even though his family and political advisers would counsel him to move on.
Awash with joy, Olivia clutched the note to her chest and stared at her reflection. Although the design was much simpler than the lace-and-crystal-embellished gown she’d have worn to marry Gabriel in Sherdana, it was perfect. As was the man who awaited her at the front of the beautiful Greek church.
Gabriel’s gaze never once wavered as she walked toward him, accompanied by the song of a single violin. There was no doubt, no restraint in his golden eyes, only possessiveness, and she reveled in his love.
He took her hand as she came to stand beside him and she tingled in delight. Elena and her husband were the only witnesses. The intimacy of the empty church allowed them the privacy to focus completely on each other and they exchanged vows in reverent tones. When they returned to Sherdana, there would be celebrations with family and friends. Until then, all they wanted was each other.
After the ceremony, they exited the church and encountered a small crowd. Apparently Gabriel and his brothers were well liked in the coastal town and when word got out that he had come to the island to get married, many had turned out to wish him and Olivia well.
They lingered for several minutes, greeting people and accepting congratulations until Gabriel insisted it was time he took his bride home. Laughing and shaking his head at good-natured invitations to stay in town and celebrate their wedding, Gabriel slipped his arm around her waist and began to edge out of the circle of people.
“My car is this way.” He took her hand and began to lead her down the road.
“Oh, thank goodness, I was afraid you’d make me ride the donkey back to your house.”
Gabriel laughed heartily. “It would take him too long to carry you that far and I can’t wait that long to have you all to myself.”
Once he got her settled in the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel, he sat sideways in his seat and regarded her intently.
After several seconds of his attentive silence, Olivia grew restless. “What are you doing?”
“Appreciating our first private moment as husband and wife. The circumstances of the last few weeks haven’t given us any time together and when we leave here, there will be public appearances and meetings demanding our time. I intend to spend every possible moment until then showing my beautiful wife how much I adore her.”
Being his wife was her dream come true. Olivia smiled. “If I’m beautiful, you have Noelle to thank for that.” She gestured to her wedding dress. “Have you really been planning this romantic elopement since before I left the hospital?”
“It was your secretary’s idea. She knows how stubborn you can be and came to me with a crazy plan that I should steal you away to someplace exotic and marry you.”
“Libby?” Olivia considered her secretary’s encouragement anytime Olivia had doubted her future with Gabriel.
“She helped me with the dress and arranged the church and the flowers.”
“How were you planning to get me to agree to run off with you?”
“By offering you a ride home in our jet and then bringing you here. You made things a lot easier by asking to see me.”
“Did Stewart have any idea what you were planning?”
Gabriel shook his head. “Stewart’s loyalty is to Sherdana. Libby’s loyalty is to you.” He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips. “And so is mine.”
Olivia contemplated her new husband during the short drive to his villa, a two-mile journey around the horseshoe-shaped harbor. Never again would she underestimate his determination or his loyalty to her. He’d been willing to go against his family for her. She couldn’t ask for a better partner or soul mate.
Because they’d been delayed in town Elena had already arrived and was in the process of arranging a romantic table for them on the terrace high above the harbor. At Olivia’s prompting, Gabriel gave her a brief tour of the villa. In the spacious bedroom they would share, Gabriel drew her toward the window and they stared out at Kioni, its lights glowing bright as dusk descended. With his arms wrapped around Olivia’s waist and his chin resting on her head, he sighed.
Olivia chuckled. “Was that weariness or contentment?”
“Contentment. You will be hearing many more such sighs in the coming days while we enjoy some much-needed privacy.”
“We will have to go back eventually.”
His arms tightened around her. “I prefer not to think about that moment until it arrives.”
“Won’t the media come here looking for us?”
“In the past we’ve kept a low profile and the people who live on the island respect our privacy.” His lips trailed of fire down her neck. “Now, let’s go downstairs and enjoy our first dinner as man and wife.”