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“Grazie.”

He stared at the stranger in the mirror. No one would call him perfect today. His hair was sticking up, his eyes were bloodshot, and stubble darkened his cheeks. He splashed his face with cold water, ran his hands through his hair and then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called his driver.

When he got back to the sitting room, the air was thick with tension between Josh and Lexi. He was clearly interrupting something, and he needed to get out of there and leave them to it. He glanced between the two. “I’ve phoned my driver,” he said. “He’ll be here in a few minutes.” He stepped into the room, came to a halt in front of Lexi. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

As he turned to go, Josh jumped to his feet. “Can you give me a lift? I left my car at the office.”

“Of course.”

Lexi looked like she wanted to say something, but she bit her lip and kept quiet.

Josh turned to her. “I’m glad everything has worked out for you.” He strode to the doorway as though he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. “I’ll send someone over for my things.”

Josh definitely had feelings for his wife, but something was standing in their way. Vito turned from the now empty doorway and stared down at her. “Just tell yourself that he wouldn’t be running so fast if he didn’t care. And don’t give up on him.”

Him giving relationship advice. What a fucking joke.

The car was waiting at the end of the drive, through the wrought iron gates. He climbed into the back beside Josh, and the driver pulled out into the traffic. After five minutes of silence he glanced sideways.

“Are you okay?” he asked. Josh didn’t look okay. He looked like Vito felt—like shit. But he nodded.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Can you let me out here?”

Vito spoke to the driver and the vehicle slowed and pulled over. “Are you sure you’re okay? Come back to the hotel with me. We’ll get some breakfast…”

“No. I’m good. I need some fresh air, that’s all.”

“Okay.” He opened the door. “By the way, I like your wife.”

“So do I,” Josh said as he climbed out.

He watched as Josh walked away. It should be comforting that the others were also finding fulfilling their vows a disaster. But it wasn’t. He would have liked it if at least one of them wasn’t regretting their actions.

He sighed. He had to get through today, which would mean the end of an era, the end of the D’Ascensio Corporation and all it stood for. Then he could go back to his real life.

He’d get over her.

But he had a strange feeling that getting over Gabby would be far harder than getting over Gabrielle had ever been.

If the ship hadn’t gone down, if he hadn’t nearly died, would he ever have gone after her?

He thought not. It had been easy to stay away. Whereas now, every cell in his body was screaming to go after Gabby.

Maybe before he went back to that real life, he could have one more look.

After all, she’d never know.

…

They halted at the stage door. Theresa rested a hand on her arm. “I’m going to go get a coffee and then catch the show.”

“You don’t have to stick around.”

“Don’t say that. I’ve bought a ticket. And I love this show. I’ll come and see you at the intermission.”

“Dave will let you backstage. I’ll tell him you’re a nurse. He has a thing about the medical profession.”

“Lovely. Maybe I should have worn my uniform.”