Kidnapping His Bride

“Who cares what she thinks? You leave them a note and you can call once we arrive in the city. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

She frowned, rolling her eyes. “You don’t know my sister very well then, do you? She will absolutely not understand.”

No, he didn’t know her sister at all, and he was glad for it. Annalisa Campioni was a bitter little thing who studied him as if he were some sort of sick bastard she planned on taking out. For good.

“Tell me, Cat. If you had no job, no responsibilities, would you come with me then?” He needed to know the answer. If her family obligations held her back, he could understand that. He had his own responsibilities he had to take care of.

If she flat out didn’t want to go with him because she despised him, hated him on sight, whatever, then he would leave.

That he’d sneaked into her room and tried to convince her to stay with him still blew his mind. Chasing after women, climbing the walls of their parents’ house and falling into an open window so wasn’t his style. Cat had turned him into a desperate man.

He could hardly wrap his head around it.

She offered a subtle nod in answer, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and excitement and fear. He smiled, knowing in that instant he had her.

“I can’t go with you, though, Rafe,” she said hurriedly. He wondered if she was a mind reader. “It wouldn’t be right, to abandon my family. I work at Campioni. I’ve become an integral part in the day-to-day duties. Annalisa needs me. They all need me there. I can’t just leave without an explanation.”

“So you won’t go with me?” Sadness filled him. He wanted her to go. Needed her to go.

Not that he’d ever admit it.

“I…I can’t.” Her soft voice was so full of regret he leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers in the sweetest of kisses. Felt her exhalation of breath gust against his mouth, the light press of her lips to his as she kissed him back. “What are you doing to me?” she whispered, sounding as distraught as he felt.

God, at least they were in this together. She still wanted him, this much was proven. He needed to do something drastic. Something big and bold so she couldn’t argue. A statement move, one that would explain his feelings for Cat without saying a word.

“Whatever it is, you’re doing the same thing to me,” he answered, kissing her yet again before he pulled away from her completely and hopped off the bed. Glancing about her bedroom, he eyed her closet, striding toward it so he could push open the doors and examine the contents within.

“What are you doing?” she called from where she still sat in her bed.

“Do you keep a travel bag in here?” he asked, rifling through her clothing, peering up at the full shelf above the rack of clothes.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because.” Rafe glanced at her from over his shoulder, unable to contain the grin that spread across his face. “I’m going to kidnap you.”

Chapter Four

He was crazy. There was no other explanation for his rash decision to kidnap his former bride-to-be and take her with him back to New York. She’d protested halfheartedly, had put up a bit of a fuss but nothing that would’ve made him walk away.

Secretly, Rafe knew she wanted to go with him. Somewhat. He was also sure that she believed him certifiably insane.

That was fine, he could deal with it. He thought he might be as well.

As promised, his sister Anastasia had sent over the Worth Luxury private jet from London to fly him and his newfound passenger back to New York City. Their mother had had a secret affair years ago with Michael Worth and the end result had been Rafe’s baby sister. They’d only discovered this fact a few years ago, after the death of Giorgio Renaldi, when the truth of Stasia’s paternity had been revealed during his will reading.

Stasia had been devastated. But then she’d picked up the pieces and forged a relationship with the three Worth brothers. Now, both families were close. His poor sister had six brothers to contend with at any given time.

Rafe could almost feel sorry for her when he thought of her situation like that. She was a strong woman, though, one who could hold her own. A smart businesswoman, a wonderful mother who’d married a man who was good for her.

His sister was in a good place. He envied her that.

“You’re lucky I found my passport so easily,” Cat murmured as they boarded the plane, sounding vaguely irritated. He followed behind her, admiring the delectable curve of her ass in the dark skinny jeans she wore, the scent of her hair, her skin driving him wild. “I wouldn’t have been able to travel without it.”