The Heir the Prince Secures

“This is your life, and Esme’s,” Hallie said quietly, handing Tess her bridal bouquet of pink roses. “Trust your heart. It will tell you what’s right.”

Slowly taking her bouquet, Tess thought of how she’d felt when Stefano had pulled her into his arms in the bakery and demanded that she become his bride. Everyone had been so happy for her. In that moment, she’d felt like the luckiest girl on earth. Wasn’t she?

And the decision was already made.

Wasn’t it?

Taking a deep breath, Tess turned to Hallie. “Could you ask Stefano to come talk to me?”

“Right now?”

“Yes. Just for a moment, here in private?”

Hallie’s eyes widened, then she said quietly, “Of course. I’ll go get him. Then I’ll wait in the hall for...for whatever you decide,” she finished lamely. She left, closing the door softly behind her.

Tess looked out at the golden afternoon sunlight pouring through the window. Setting down her bouquet, she placed her hands against the corset boning of her gown’s bodice, trying to make herself take long, slow breaths instead of panicked little gasps. Why was she suddenly so afraid?

Closing her eyes, Tess had the sudden memory of the day long ago when her mother had collapsed on their old shabby sofa, sobbing, unable to catch her breath.

“It’s over,” Serena Foster had choked out, whispering, “He’s never coming back.”

“Who?” Tess had asked anxiously. Just eight years old, she’d been alarmed to see her determinedly cheerful mother fall apart without warning.

Shaking her head, her mother had wiped her eyes and tried to smile. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Pinkie loves you, Mama,” Tess had said desperately, pushing her ragged pink unicorn into her mother’s arms. “And so do I.”

“Thank you, darling.” Hugging Tess fiercely, Serena had wiped her eyes. “I was stupid to love him. But he’s a bigger fool by far...”

Tess opened her eyes when she heard a single knock at the door. It creaked half open.

“This is a bad idea,” came Stefano’s gravelly voice from the other side. “I don’t generally care about wedding traditions, but even I know the groom isn’t supposed to see the bride before the ceremony.”

Her heart lifted at hearing his voice. She knew once they talked she’d feel better. “I don’t care. Just come in. I need you.”

Stefano peeked his head around the door, then came toward her in the hotel’s luxurious private sitting room.

In his well-cut tuxedo, Stefano looked powerful, broad shouldered and devastatingly handsome. His dark eyes widened above his chiseled cheekbones when he saw Tess in her wedding gown. “You are so beautiful, cara.” As he took her in his arms, the hard lines of his face glowed with fierce pride. “I can hardly wait to take you as my wife.”

Taking a deep breath, she said timidly, “But you don’t love me, do you?”

Stefano blinked, then pulled back, his forehead furrowed. “What?”

Nervously she licked her lips. “I’m just wondering if we’re doing the right thing,” she whispered, staring down at the elegant Turkish rug on the gleaming hardwood floor. “I mean, we don’t love each other. I’m wondering...if someday you think we might... I’m just scared this whole thing might be a terrible mistake.”

Her words seemed to echo against the walls. She waited desperately for him to kiss her, to reassure her. Instead, he said nothing. Finally she looked up.

Stefano’s dark eyes were cold as ice. The expression on his handsome face chilled her to the bone.

“You wish to cancel the wedding?” he said softly. “To disgrace my name? To take my child away?”

What she’d wanted was reassurance. This was exactly the opposite. “All I want is for us to talk—”

“Is there another man?”

“No, of course not!”

“But you are having second thoughts.” He gave her a bitter smile. “Or is this a ploy to renegotiate the prenuptial agreement you signed yesterday?”