‘Hi.’ It comes out as heady as I feel. Prepared? As if!
I’ve missed him. Oh, how I’ve missed him. And that look... His eyes smoulder and burn, his throat bobs and he raises his hand to his tie, adjusting it, though he doesn’t need to.
‘Buongiorno, Faye.’
It’s a deep murmur that has my insides quivering. I touch a hand to my hair again and he smiles. It’s dazzling in its intensity, breath-taking in its sincerity. ‘You look...you look exquisite.’
He pockets his hands and I wonder whether he wants to reach for me as much as I do him. Is he remembering the last time he said those words to me on the yacht, in the mirror...?
‘As do you.’
And truly he does. His hair is swept back high off his face, his facial hair groomed, enhancing his bold cheekbones and the cut to his jaw. The deep blue shade of his suit brings out the bronze of his skin, the molten chocolate of his eyes, and makes him appear every bit the successful and intimidating billionaire, though I know him to be so much more.
‘Grazie.’
It’s gruff, raw, and for the first time I see a smudge of black beneath his eyes and lines I don’t remember being so obvious before. I open my mouth to ask i
f he’s okay before remembering that now isn’t the time.
‘Nothing beats your little sister, though.’ I hurry out, stepping back to let him enter.
He walks in, his eyes leaving me to find Dani. His smile stills and his eyes shine. ‘Wow, sorellina.’
‘Is that a good wow?’ she asks tentatively. ‘Or a what were you thinking wow?’
‘Sei troppo bella.’ He pauses before her and shakes his head, clears his throat. ‘I only wish our father were here to see you.’
‘Don’t, Raf.’ She sniffs and stiffens her spine. ‘You mustn’t make me cry, not now.’
He pulls her into a hug that’s awkward due to the bouquet and the dress. ‘No tears.’
But his own voice is laced with them and I don’t need to see his face to know he’s suffering too. My own eyes spike and it’s me clearing my throat now.
‘Right, out of here,’ I bluster, ‘before we all end up a blubbering mess and draw attention for entirely the wrong reason.’
Dani blows out a shuddery breath and rolls her shoulders back. ‘Right, ready.’
‘Ready?’ I ask, looking pointedly at Rafael and ignoring the way my heart pulses at the emotion in his truly magnificent face. A face I can never imagine being immune to.
‘Born ready.’ He offers his sister his arm, his face so full of his love for her, and my eyes well up again.
‘Me too,’ Dani murmurs.
They make the most glorious picture and words fail me. I see the same effect on the staff as we make our way downstairs. I catch the wedding planner dabbing at the corners of her eyes as we make our way outside and pause just out of view of the guests.
I’m to go first and, as I leave them, I clutch my bouquet tighter and mouth, ‘Good luck.’
My eyes flit from Dani to Rafael and my breath catches. He’s not looking at Dani now; he’s looking at me. He’s looking at me with such emotion, adoration...love?
No, don’t get fanciful. Don’t go there again. Enjoy today. Enjoy the wedding and what time you have left.
‘Okay, Faye, the musicians are ready.’
I drag my eyes from his to the wedding planner and hear the string quartet begin Pachelbel’s Canon. ‘Here goes...’
* * *
I watch Faye disappear through the trees ahead and feel a trapped breath slowly leave me.