Page 17 of Lorenzo

“I see you two have met,” Gina says. “Let’s find a private place so I can fit the veil on your head properly.”

“And I brought this!” Angie pulls a frilly white garter from her clutch. “In my book, it’s not a wedding until bachelors fight to catch it.”

With that, Gina and Angie take an arm each and lead me to a small room.

Yet as I walk, I feel eyes burning at my back.

I turn, and there’s Lorenzo Ricci, dark eyes on me.

CHAPTER 7

LORENZO

The wedding officiant greets me.

“It’s time,” he says, glancing at his watch. “You may wish to find your bride.”

Scotch in hand, I turn and scan the room.

Caterers finish setting up the buffet while guests take their seats.

But where is Emily?

Could I have scared the Boston Bluestocking off?

If I did, Dante would never let me hear the end of it.

First thing, I check the bar and the outdoor deck. She’s not in either place.

Shit.

My glass sweats against my palm.

I finally find her behind the slightly open door of the powder room I’d used earlier.

Angie is crouched at Emily’s feet, steadying her ankle. I see Gina coaxing a lace garter up the pale length of Emily’s calf.

Emily’s tweed suit jacket hangs on the towel hook behind her.

With the boxy jacket off, Emily has a remarkably fine figure.

At once, the girls notice me and straighten up. Gina smooths Emily’s outfit while Angie slips out past me.

“The officiant’s ready. Shall we?” I say, holding out my arm. Emily takes it without a word, her chin lifted and her jaw set.

We move down the hall together.

The small orchestra strikes up “Here Comes the Bride” as we round the corner into the room.

As soon as we take our places before him, the officiant begins the ceremony.

After his spiel, he turns to me.

“Now you may kiss the bride.”

I lift Emily’s veil. The real-life Emily is much more attractive than the photo Dante first showed me.

Up close, her complexion is vivid, her green eyes are as rich as emeralds, her red-auburn hair a tease the way it coils around her head like an ancient Greek statue.