Then they were in the limo and off to the basilica. It was Jazz Fest again, and the streets were filled with people and music.
“Ay, this looks so fun. Tommy has to bring me here,” Merelys remarked, peering through the window.
When they arrived at the church, they were met by Ling, who had helped coordinate the event on the Montreal side. She waved them in with a big smile.
“The groom and the groomsmen are here. We’re going in through this entrance,” she said.
Even though Vanessa had been wondering if it would be awkward for Ling to be there with both Virgil and Bobby in attendance —hell, if Virgil and Bobby would feel awkward around each other —everybody had so far been cool at the rehearsal dinner and on their sight-seeing excursions. It seemed they’d all accepted they were better off as friends. She traveled a lot for work, Virgil was busy with the hotel, and Bobby was in full-on working single dad mode. No one had time for drama.
Inside the massive church, Patrick was waiting for Vanessa at the doorway to the nave. He held out his arm with a courtly bow.
“You look beautiful. Ready, sweetheart?” he asked with a smile.
He’d been so happy to have her back in the family, he was first in line to ask if he could walk her down the aisle. She’d never let him know that she was still sad her own dad couldn’t be there for this moment, fulfilling this role. Another twinge of sadness touched her, thinking about Belle missing this, too. But that morning, Bobby had surprised her with a simple silver heart-shaped locket with Belle’s photo in it. It now nestled at the hollow of her throat.
Taking Patrick’s arm, she smiled and said, “I’m not ready for this crowd, but I’m goin’ in anyway.”
“That’s the spirit. Give ‘em hell,” he murmured with a devilish grin.
All the guests were assembled inside. They stood in the pews and turned to look at her. That was the part she’d been nervous about the most, being under scrutiny from so many eyes, but when Patrick put his hand over hers, she relaxed a bit.
Then, all at once, it was time to walk down the aisle. She’d been there a few times in preparation but walking there now underneath the beautiful blue dome, smelling the lit incense, feeling the cool air on the bare skin of her back where the gown dipped low, brought on an intense need to cry that she struggled to hold back. That feeling only deepened when her gaze fell on Santino.
There he was, at the altar, in his beautiful black suit tailor-made for him in Milan by an old fashion house, hair freshly cut, with his groomsmen arrayed beside him. Though his brothers had fought for the best man spot, they’d bowed down to Bobby to let him have it. His face was lit up, and he was smiling at her with encouragement.
As she approached the altar on the soft, white runner now strewn with flowers thanks to Isa and Everly, she ceased to benervous. Not because Patrick was keeping her steady or because of her brother. It was Santino and the way he was looking at her, like she was the one who’d put the sun in his sky. Like every vow he’d already made was at that very moment rooting even deeper into the soil of his heart, the way it now was in hers.
When she reached him, he held out his hands and took hers. She didn’t know how it was possible that after all this time, after everything they’d been through, this simple touch could still send shocks of electricity dancing along every nerve ending of her body.
“Dearly beloved…” the priest began.
“Prince,” Santino mouthed at her, and she had to hold back a laugh.
When they exchanged the vows they’d written, Vanessa could barely get through hers. Typically, she hated public crying, but she absolutely couldn’t stop the tears from welling and trickling down her face. Santino did a better job holding it in, but his eyes were watery too. Afterward, they placed the brand-new rings on each other’s fingers, and their kiss was long and gentle while everybody applauded.
He hugged her tightly, and she whispered in his ear, “Okay, big ceremony, check.”
“Are you happy?” he whispered back.
“So happy.”
Then it was party time back in the Gold Room at L’Hotel Li. The enormous ballroom had an old-world elegance with its gold-flecked marble flooring good for dancing and its amber-toned glass chandeliers that made everyone look as if their skin was made of satin. Even the sconces on the walls were decadent and gave the room a sensuous glow.
They made their entrance to more applause and whistles. The bridesmaids rushed them while the groomsmen shared private jokes that were making Bobby scowl; she could only imaginewhat they were talking about, but she guessed it might have something to do with the wedding night.
Nowthiswas the fun part. Vanessa couldn’t “turn up” like all the other adults, so she toasted her newish groom with sparkling champagne at the head table. She didn’t need alcohol. She was already intoxicated by the expression in Santino’s eyes every time he looked at her, the warmth and steadiness of his protective hand at her lower back. And when he traced circles on her skin with his fingers as they sat side by side, the rush of pleasure and anticipation was heady.
“You should stop touching me like in that public,” she said to him, bending close.
“This isn’t the worst I’ve done to you in public,” he scoffed with a sexy grin that stirred heat in everything already aching for him. “And it’s not the worst I plan to do. Sexy beach time up ahead.” He was referring to their honeymoon, this time in Santorini, Greece.
“Sand in many places up ahead.” Her response made him laugh out loud.
After the groan-worthy speeches by Santino’s brothers, and her friend’s that made her cheeks hot, it was dancing time. Bobby came over and wrapped her in a big hug.
“I’s married now!” she declared, holding up her ring.
Bobby laughed. “You should be used to this already.” He looked at the crowd, then back at her, his face softer. “I’m glad you didn’t listen to me. When I first saw you and Santino back together, I was ready to —” He threw an imaginary jab. “But seeing you like this, living your life and enjoying it…it’s good to see it. Really good. I’m proud of you, Van.”
