The tall, buff man was probably some other girl’s fantasy type, but he wasn’t hers. She held the door firm to ensure he didn’t try to get in again. “He’s probably said horrible things about me," he said, "but the truth was Olivia loved me and I loved her. Astorre refused to let her live her life and be happy and ensured we broke up.”
Interesting. She’d never met Astorre’s sister to form any sort of opinion on what had happened, so all she had right now was her instinct to guide her. She started to close the door but then more women came toward her room rolling carts she’d seen at countless of Rossie’s wedding events. “Look, I have to go.”
Maxwell reached into his suit jacket pocket and she braced like he might shoot her, but then he handed her a business card. “If you want to run from Astorre at any time, call me. I want to help you.”
Maybe she’d overreacted but she hadn’t always lived in good areas where she could trust strangers. Clara accepted the card. “Okay. Bye.”
Valentina motioned for the other women to enter and Clara closed the door once they were inside and checked the lock. Valentina asked, “Is everything okay, my lady?”
She probably was taking too many precautions. She’d seen Rossie’s quizzical gaze whenever Clara had double-checked all doors and windows were locked in their shared hotel room in Paris. She ignored how her hair stood on end and said, “Of course. I want to look fantastic for my wedding.”
The two new women opened their black cases to take out brushes or makeup trays as Valentina fastened the bathrobe around Clara’s white gown. “Then let’s get started,” Valentina said. “The ship's wedding coordinator arrives in half an hour to bring you to the wedding venue upstairs.”
Good. She sat down while Valentina went over the gown for wrinkles and to make sure that it was safe from hair and makeup. Clara said, “Well, I don’t expect a miracle. Let’s do this.”
She watched in the mirror as they created a face that seemed flawless.
Her pink lips and dewy skin was just icing on the cake. Her brown eyes were now… dramatic. She was never dramatic with black eyeliner but she loved it.
And her hair was up in curls like every cartoon character she’d seen heading off to dance with some prince.
A dozen of the ship’s staff, dressed in white jackets and blue pants, surrounded her as she left her room, like she was in need of high security.
A few hotel guests stared at her like she was someone special.
The late afternoon sun landed on the deck as she stepped out, though the shore and the ship's bow was covered in fog.
The dark and light mix added to the dreamlike state of the day.
Music played as she approached the red carpet set down as her aisle. Valentina handed her a bouquet of red roses.
Perfect.She whispered, "thank you,” and headed down the aisle.
A moment later the fog lifted enough for her to meet Astorre Manfredi’s gaze as he stared at her. She finally stood beside him, and in front of the stationary cruise ship's captain wearing a blue uniform with gold pins. “Astorre.”
“You’re a vision.” He hugged her waist.
His warmth was all she needed. She believed this was good, even if it wasn’t her original dream of waiting for true love. She’d never end up with that anyhow, so settling for Astorre wasn’t exactly a hardship. “Let’s not exaggerate. There is enough of that in your world.”
The captain asked, “Are we ready to begin?”
“Yes, this is breathtaking.” She peered at the fog that moved like clouds in the distance, covering the waters of the Atlantic, meeting the Mediterranean Sea.
The captain opened his bible as Astorre quickly said, “The Wheelhouse wedding venue fit us in as they had a cancellation because of the weather.” The top deck overlooked the Rock of Gibraltar.
Everything was falling into place. This grayish day and interspersed sunlight was exactly what she would have wanted, if she’d actually planned. Miami was always sunny except for the thunderstorms. The warmth was still in the air but the clouds provided a respite from the blazing late afternoon sun. “Perfect for us, as I love fog. Thankfully the rain ended for our ceremony.”
Astorre straightened his black tuxedo jacket. The color made him look devastatingly handsome, with his hard face and muscular body. “I booked us back into the penthouse for afterward, which you’ll enjoy… better seating.”
“What’s that?”
“Our hotel room. I upgraded us to the best suite, for tonight.”
Tonight? Her body trembled near him. Maybe that’s why she'd said yes. No one else ever made her feelanything. She looped her arm through his. He’d complained in Barcelona when he’d downgraded his suite to get her a room about the size, and mentioned more than once that he’d been uncomfortable in the smaller room. She said, “We’ll see.”
The captain said, “We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's most joyous moments, the joining of two hearts in love, and to give recognition to the union as I unite you in marriage.”
Well, he wasn’t exactly right on the love observation, but she ignored that as her skin zipped with the question of whether or not Astorre would kiss her. She whispered, “Astorre, I’m excited.”
