Harlequin Romance April 2015 Box Set (45 page)

“Go. You are needed. We can talk about this later.”

Later?
How was she supposed to concentrate on anything until she knew what he was going to say? Her intuition told her that he was about to say he loved her. But was that just wishful thinking?

She walked closer to the group of excited young women. Their faces were all
aglow with hopeful smiles, but there was nothing but turmoil lurking behind Jules’s smile. The wedding may be in Italy, but Lizzie insisted on mixing traditions between those of Dante’s family and what they were used to in New York. That had included the Chicken Dance, which had succeeded in getting everyone laughing.

Catching the bridal bouquet was one tradition that Jules could do without.
A happily-ever-after didn’t appear to be in the cards for her. As if fate wanted to teach her a lesson, the bouquet of pink, orange and white blossoms landed squarely in her hands.

While everyone clapped, her gaze strayed to Stefano. He wasn’t clapping, but he was staring directly at her. She wished she could read his mind.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

S
TEFANO
’
S
HEART
SLAMMED
into his chest as he stared at Jules’s holding the bridal bouquet. She stared right back at him.

She was trying to tell him something, but what? He had to get this right. He couldn’t afford to make any more mistakes.

Had she forgiven him? Was she willing to give him another chance?
Live in the moment
—her words echoed through his
mind. He needed to trust her and her decisions—no matter what direction they led her. Although he prayed that it would be toward him.

Stefano straightened his shoulders. This had been put off long enough. He would let her know that he loved her and then he’d accept whatever decision she made.

He started toward her only to have her pulled aside for more wedding photos, this time holding
the bridal bouquet. There was no way he was intruding on that moment. He’d had enough photos of himself taken to last him the rest of his life. But he also wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

He didn’t know how much time passed as he talked to one distant relative after the other—some he didn’t even recall their names and had to fake it. And every time he was free, Jules was having more
photos taken or being escorted around the dance floor. Even his father had taken his turn dancing with her.

“What are you waiting for, boy?”

He turned to find Nonno behind him. His grandfather’s gaze moved from him to Jules, who was getting a drink of punch. How did his grandfather know what he was waiting to say? Was it that obvious?

“I...I didn’t want to bother her.”

With
the aid of a walker, his grandfather moved next to him and lowered his voice. “You aren’t going to bother her. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Don’t let her get away.”

“You...you think she’ll want me after I messed up?” His grandfather nodded and Stefano added, “Thanks, Nonno.”

“Go. Be happy.”

Jules didn’t see him approaching, and she started to walk in the opposite direction.
He wasn’t going to turn back, not until he got this off his chest. He continued following and inwardly groaned when she approached Dante and Lizzie. The last thing he wanted to do was lay his heart on the line in front of his brother. There had to be a better way, but he was running out of time. Determined not to lose his chance, he continued over and joined the small group. They were deep in conversation.

Jules looked directly at her sister. “I wanted to let you two know that I won’t need a ride tomorrow morning to the airport.”

“What?” Lizzie’s eyes opened wide. “But why not?”

“You know I love you.” Jules’s tone was low and firm. “And I know that if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be standing here. You’ve been the most amazing sister, but there’s something I’ve been trying to tell you.
For one reason or another it was never the right time. I’m beginning to think there’ll never be a right time, so I’m just going to say it.”

No one moved. Stefano wasn’t even sure that Lizzie breathed as she stood transfixed on her sister. Mentally he urged Jules onward. It was finally time that she spoke up for herself.

“It’s past time I start making my own decisions and for you to respect
them.”

Lizzie sent her a worried look. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.”

“Probably not. But here it goes, anyway. I’m not going to grad school.” Lizzie opened her mouth, but Jules held up her palm, silencing her. “I know that you already paid the tuition. Whatever isn’t refundable, I’ll pay you back.”

Lizzie looked more stunned than upset. “But why? I thought this is
what you wanted—to help the kids like us.”

“I do. But social work isn’t for me.” Jules glanced down and wiggled her sandaled foot on the floor. “The thing is I can’t follow all of their rules all of the time. Sometimes they just don’t make sense. And, well, I spoke up one too many times, and they let me go from my internship early.”

“Oh. Jules, I’m sorry. But that doesn’t mean—”

“It means that I wasn’t happy there. And I will find another way to help less fortunate children. I already have some ideas.”

Concern creased Lizzie’s face. “I...I don’t know what to say. Are you sure about this?”

“I’m absolutely certain. This isn’t a decision I made lightly. I’ve thought about it for a long time.”

“Then I guess there isn’t anything else to say, except I love you.
And I’m here if you need me.”

They hugged. And though everyone else wore serious expressions, Stefano couldn’t help but smile—his first genuine smile that day. He was so happy for Jules to speak up for herself. Now it was time that he did the same thing. Whether his brother witnessed his groveling or not, he was speaking his heart, here and now.

He cleared his throat. “Jules, can I speak
with you?”

She spun around, and her expression was perfectly serious. “Not before I have my say.” She pointed a finger at him. “And I’ve made a decision about you.” She poked at his chest. “I’ve decided that you are stubborn and irritating, but that I love you, anyway. And I’m not giving up on you because I think you love me, too.”

The way she gazed at him, it was as if she could read
his every thought. And though not so long ago that would have scared him, now he found comfort in someone knowing him so well.

Stefano wrapped his hand around hers and pressed her palm to his pounding chest. “Thank you for being so insistent and giving me a chance to come to my senses because I do love you. I love you with all my heart.”

“You do?”

“I do.”

She smiled broadly.
“Just remember those words because you’ll be saying them again soon.”

“I can’t wait.” He could already envision their future, and it was going to be a happy one. He’d never again become disconnected. He’d make Jules’s happiness and their marriage his top priority.

Jules leaned up on her tiptoes as he leaned down. Their lips met in the middle. The empty spot in his heart flooded with
love. He wrapped his arms around her and swung her around in a circle. He never planned to let her go.

EPILOGUE

One year later...

“I
T
’
S
OFFICIAL
.”

Jules smiled up at her very sexy husband and gave off a squeal of excitement. The noise of the family picnic in the background covered up her excitement. She’d never been so happy in her life. She almost had everything she wanted. Almost...

Stefano gathered her in his arms and swung her around as his lips pressed to hers.
It didn’t matter how many times he kissed her, her heart still fluttered with excitement.

“And what’s going on over here?”

Stefano set her feet back on the ground. She straightened her purple top and black miniskirt. When she glanced up she found Lizzie looking expectantly at both of them as she rested a hand over her expanding midsection.

“Your sister is now an official Italian
citizen,” Stefano said proudly.

“Is that so?” Lizzie radiated with a motherly glow. “Well, if you two aren’t careful with the celebrating, you’ll end up like me. Swollen ankles. And a backache to boot.”

“And you look so miserable,” Jules teased her, knowing full well that Lizzie was absolutely thrilled with her handsome husband and their impending bundle of joy.

“What can I say?
I’m deliriously in love.” Lizzie grinned.

“Are you talking about me?” Dante sauntered up and put an arm around his wife’s expanding waist, pulling her close.

“Don’t worry,” Jules spoke up. “We’ve got an announcement to make, too.”

Lizzie straightened. Her eyes widened. “Jules, are you preggers?”

She shook her head, sending her pigtails swishing back and forth. Both Dante and
Lizzie sent her a puzzled look. When she just grinned at them, they turned to Stefano for answers.

He smiled and shrugged. “She’ll tell you.”

“Well, tell us—we’re dying to know.”

Stefano’s arms slipped over her shoulders. She loved the feel of him next to her. He was her best friend. Her lover. Her soul mate. With him by her side anything was possible.

“We’re going to be parents,
too.”

Lizzie’s forehead wrinkled. “But you said you aren’t pregnant.”

“I’m not. We’re going to adopt some of the older kids that need a loving home. We have this big place and think it would be nice to share it with some children that don’t have a home.”

Lizzie’s eyes filled with tears. “You found a way to help kids like us, after all. You are amazing. Both of you are amazing.”

Jules gazed lovingly into her husband’s eyes. They were amazing together. And Jules couldn’t think of anything better than living and working next to Dante while opening their hearts and home to some less fortunate children. Their journey was just beginning, and she knew that it wouldn’t be all roses. There’d be a few thorns along the way, but together they’d work their way past them.

* * * * *

This is the second story in Jennifer Faye’s fabulous
THE DEFIORE BROTHERS DUET
. The first in the duet, THE PLAYBOY OF ROME, is already available—don’t miss it!

Keep reading for an excerpt from IT STARTED AT A WEDDING... by Kate Hardy.

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CHAPTER ONE

N
O
.

This couldn’t be happening.

The box had to be there.

It
had
to be.

But the luggage carousel was empty. It had even stopped going round, now the last case had been taken off it. And Claire was the only one standing there, waiting with a small suitcase and a dress box—and a heart full of panic.

Where was her best friend’s wedding dress?

‘Get a grip, Claire Stewart. Standing gawping at the carousel isn’t going to make the dress magically appear. Go and talk to someone,’ she told herself sharply. She gathered up her case and the box containing the bridesmaid’s dress, and went in search of someone who might be able to find out where the wedding dress was. Maybe the box had accidentally been put in the wrong flight’s luggage and
it was sitting somewhere else, waiting to be claimed.

Half an hour of muddling through in a mixture of English and holidaymakers’ Italian got her the bad news. Somewhere between London and Naples, the dress had vanished.

The dress Claire had spent hours working on, hand-stitching the tiny pearls on the bodice and the edge of the veil.

The dress Claire’s best friend was supposed
to be wearing at her wedding in Capri in two days’ time.

Maybe this was a nightmare and she’d wake up from it in a second. Surreptitiously, Claire pinched herself. It hurt. Not good, because that meant this was really happening. She was in Naples with her luggage, her own bridesmaid’s dress...and no wedding dress.

There was nothing else for it. She grabbed her mobile phone, found a quiet
corner in the airport and called Ashleigh.

Whose phone was switched through to voicemail.

This definitely wasn’t the kind of news Claire could leave on voicemail; that would be totally unfair. She tried calling Luke, Ashleigh’s fiancé, but his phone was also switched through to voicemail. She glanced at her watch. It was still so early that they were probably in the middle of breakfast
and they’d probably left their phones in their room. OK. Who else could she call? She didn’t have a number for Tom, Luke’s best man. Sammy, her other best friend, who was photographing the wedding, wasn’t flying to Italy until tomorrow, after she’d finished a photo-shoot in New York. The rest of the wedding guests were due to arrive on the morning of the wedding.

Which left Ashleigh’s brother.
The man who was going to give Ashleigh away. The man who played everything strictly by the rules—and Claire had just broken them. Big time. He was the last person she could call.

But he wasn’t in Capri yet, either. Which meant she had time to fix this.

What she needed was a plan.

Scratch that. What she
really
needed was coffee. She’d spent the last two weeks working all hours on
Ashleigh’s dress as well as the work she was doing for a big wedding show, and she’d skimped on sleep to get everything done in time. That, plus the ridiculously early flight she’d taken out here this morning, meant that she was fuzzy and unfocused.

Coffee.

Even thought she normally drank lattes, this called for desperate measures. She needed something strong and something fast. One
espresso with three sugars later, Claire’s head was clear enough to work out her options. It meant more travelling—a lot more travelling—but that didn’t matter. Claire would’ve walked over hot coals for Ashleigh. She was more than Claire’s best friend; she was the sister Claire would’ve chosen.

She tried calling Ashleigh again. This time, to Claire’s relief, her best friend answered her mobile
phone.

‘Claire, hi! Are you in Naples already?’

‘Um, yes. But, Ash, there’s a bit of a problem.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Honey, I don’t know how to soften this.’ There wasn’t a way to soften news like this. ‘Is Luke with you?’

‘Ye-es.’ Ashleigh sounded as if she was frowning with concern. ‘Why?’

‘I think you’re going to need him,’ Claire said.

‘Now you’re really worrying
me. Claire? What’s happened? Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine.’ Claire had no option but to tell her best friend the news straight. ‘But I’m so sorry, Ash. I’ve really let you down. Your dress. It’s gone missing somewhere between here and London.’

‘What?’

‘I’ve been talking to the airline staff. They phoned London for me. They said it’s not in London, and it’s definitely not in Naples.
They’re going to try and track it down, but they wanted us to be prepared for the fact that they might not be able to find it before the wedding.’

‘Oh, my God.’ Ashleigh gave a sharp intake of breath.

‘I know. Look—we have options. I don’t have time to make you another dress like that one, even if I could get the material and borrow a sewing machine. But we can go looking in Naples and
find something off the peg, something I can maybe tweak for you. Or I can leave the bridesmaid’s dress and my case here in the left luggage, and get the next flight back to London. I’m pretty much the same size as you, so I’ll Skype you while I try on every single dress in my shop and you can pick the ones you like best. Then I’ll get the next flight back here, and you can try the dresses on and
I’ll do any alterations so your final choice is perfect.’

Except it wouldn’t be perfect, would it?

It wouldn’t be the dress of Ashleigh’s dreams. The dress Claire had designed especially for her. The dress that had gone missing.

‘And you’ll still be the most beautiful bride in the world, I swear,’ Claire finished, desperately hoping that her best friend would see that.

‘They
lost my dress.’ Ashleigh sounded numb. Which wasn’t surprising. Planning the wedding had opened up old scars, so Ashleigh had decided to get married abroad—and the dress had been one of the few traditions she’d kept.

And Claire had let her down. ‘I’m so, so sorry.’

‘Claire, honey, it’s not your fault that the airline lost my dress.’

That wasn’t how Sean would see it. Claire had
clashed with Ashleigh’s brother on a number of occasions, and she knew that he didn’t like her very much. They saw the world in very different ways, and Sean would see this as yet another example of Claire failing to meet his standards. She’d failed to meet her own, too.

‘Look, I was the one bringing the dress to Italy. It was my responsibility, so the fact it’s gone wrong is my fault,’ Claire
pointed out. ‘What do you want to do? Meet me here in Naples and we’ll go shopping?’

‘I’m still trying to get my head round this. My
dress
,’ Ashleigh said, sounding totally flustered—which, considering that Ashleigh was the calmest and most together person Claire knew, was both surprising and worrying.

‘OK. Forget Naples. Neither of us knows the place well enough to find the right wedding
shops anyway, so we’ll stick with London. Have a look on my website, email me with a note of your top ten, and we’ll talk again when I’m back in the shop. Then I’ll bring your final choices on the next flight back.’ She bit her lip. ‘Though I wouldn’t blame you for not trusting me to get it right this time.’

‘Claire-bear, it’s not your fault. Luke’s here now—he’s worked out what’s going on
and he’s just said he’d marry me if I was wearing a hessian sack. The dress isn’t important. Maybe we can find something in Capri or Sorrento.’

Ashleigh was clearly aiming for light and breezy, but Claire could hear the wobble in her best friend’s voice. She knew what the dress meant to Ashleigh: the one big tradition she was sticking to for her wedding day. ‘No, Ash. It’ll take us for ever
to find a wedding shop. And what if you don’t like what they have in stock? That’s not fair to you. I know I’ll have something you like, so I’m going to get the next flight back to London. I’ll call you as soon as I get there,’ she said.

‘Claire, that’s so much travelling—I can’t make you do that.’

‘You’re not making me. I’m offering. You’re my best friend and I’d go to the end of the
earth for you,’ Claire said, her voice heartfelt.

‘Me, too,’ Ashleigh said. ‘OK. I’ll call the spa and move our bookings.’

So much for the pampering day they’d planned. A day to de-stress the bride-to-be. Claire had messed that up, too, by losing the dress. ‘I’m so sorry I let you down,’ Claire said. ‘I’d better go. I need to get my luggage stored and find a flight.’ And she really hoped
that there would be a seat available. If there wasn’t... Well, she’d get to London somehow. Train, plane, ferry. Whatever it took. She wasn’t going to let Ashleigh down again. ‘I’ll call you when I get back to London.’

* * *

‘Please don’t tell me something’s come up and you’re not going to make it in time for the wedding.’

‘Of course not,’ Sean said, hearing the panic in his little
sister’s voice and wondering what was wrong. Was this just an attack of last-minute nerves? Or was she having serious second thoughts? He liked his future brother-in-law enormously, but if Ashleigh had changed her mind about marrying him, then of course Sean would back her in calling off the wedding. All he wanted was to see Ashleigh settled and happy. ‘I was just calling to see if you needed
me to bring any last-minute things over with me.’

‘Oh. Yes. Of course.’

But she sounded flustered—very unlike the calm, sensible woman he knew her to be. ‘Ashleigh? What’s happened?’

‘Nothing.’

But her response was a little too hasty for Sean’s liking. He deliberately made his voice gentle. ‘Sweetie, if there’s a problem, you know you can always talk to me. I’ll help you fix
it.’ OK, so Ashleigh was only three years younger than he was, and he knew that she was perfectly capable of sorting out her own problems—but he’d always looked out for his little sister, even before their parents had been killed in the crash that had turned their lives upside down six years ago. ‘Tell me.’

‘The airline lost my dress,’ Ashleigh said. ‘But it’s OK. Claire’s gone back to London
to get me another one.’

Sean paused while it sank in.

There was a problem with his sister’s wedding.

And Claire Stewart was smack in the middle of the problem.

Why didn’t that surprise him?

‘Wasn’t Claire meant to be bringing the dress with her?’ he asked.

‘It wasn’t her fault, Sean.’

No. Of course not. It would never be Miss Follow-Your-Heart’s fault that something
went wrong and everyone else had to pick up the pieces.

But he wasn’t going to spoil his sister’s wedding by picking a fight with her best friend. At least, not in front of Ashleigh. He fully intended to discuss the matter with Claire herself—sooner, rather than later. ‘OK. Is there anything else you need?’

‘No, it’s fine.’

But his little sister didn’t sound fine. She sounded shaky.
‘Is Luke there with you?’ he asked.

‘Yes. He said the dress didn’t matter and he’d marry me if I was wearing a hessian sack. He says it’s our marriage that matters, not the trappings.’

Sean mentally high-fived his brother-in-law-to-be. And thank God Luke was so sensible and reliable. Ashleigh’s last boyfriend had been selfish, thoughtless and flaky—and he’d just so happened to be the
best friend of Claire’s boyfriend at the time. Which figured. Claire always seemed to leave chaos in her wake.

‘I could’ve told you that, sweetheart. Luke’s a good bloke and he loves you to bits. Look, I’ll be there later tonight, OK? If there’s anything you need, anything at all, just call me. And I’m with Luke. Even if you’re wearing a hessian sack, you’re going to be the most beautiful
bride ever.’ The bride his father should’ve been giving away. His throat tightened. If only. But the crash had happened and they’d had to make the best of it ever since. And Sean was determined that his little sister was going to have the wedding she really wanted. He’d
make
it happen.

‘Thanks, Sean.’ She blew out a breath. ‘I’m fine. Really. This is just a little hiccup and Claire’s fixing
it.’

Yes, Sean thought grimly, because he’d make quite sure that Claire did exactly that.

‘See you tonight,’ she said.

‘See you tonight.’

Sean checked his diary when he’d put down the phone. All his meetings that afternoon could be moved. Anything else, he could deal with in Capri. A quick word with his PA meant that everything would be sorted. And then he called Claire.

Her phone went straight through to voicemail.

So that meant either she was on the phone already, her phone was switched off completely, or she’d seen his name on the screen and wasn’t answering because she was trying to avoid him. OK, then; he’d wait for her at the shop. And he’d make absolutely sure that Ashleigh’s dress didn’t get lost, this time round.

It didn’t take Sean long
to get to the terraced house in Camden which held Dream of a Dress on the ground floor and Claire’s flat on the top storey. Although the sign on the door said ‘closed’, he could see light inside—meaning that Claire was there, or whoever she’d employed to man the shop in her absence. Either would do.

He rang the doorbell.

No reply.

OK. Play dirty it was, then. This time, he leaned
on the doorbell until a figure hurried through to the door.

A figure wearing a wedding dress.

Claire narrowed her eyes at him when she opened the door. Though he noticed that she didn’t ask him why he was here. Clearly she had a pretty good idea that he already knew she’d lost his sister’s wedding dress and he wasn’t happy about the situation.

‘I’m Skypeing Ash right now,’ she said
quietly. ‘And I don’t want her upset any more today, so can we leave the fight until she’s chosen another dress and I’ve said goodbye to her?’

Claire clearly realised that they were about to have a fight. A huge one. But Sean agreed with her about not rowing in front of his sister. Right now, Ashleigh’s feelings had to come first. ‘OK.’

‘Good. Come in. If you want a drink, feel free
to make yourself something. There’s tea, coffee and mugs in the cupboard above the kettle, though I’m afraid there’s only long-life milk.’ She gestured to a doorway which obviously led to the business’s kitchen.

‘Thank you,’ he said. Though he wasn’t about to accept any hospitality from Claire Stewart, even if it was do-it-yourself hospitality.