Page 75 of The Temptation

It’s the first time anyone has ever given me flowers, and it’s the most beautiful bouquet I’ve ever seen.

A huge smile curves my lips as I dip my face and inhale the sweet scent of the buds.

I lay them gently down on top of my bed and move towards my bedside table to grab my phone. I may not be able to share this day with anyone other than Romeo and Father Flannery, but I can take pictures and hopefully share them with Arabella one day.

As soon as I snap a few shots, I pull up my message thread and send Romeo a quick text.

Me: They are beautiful. Thank you.

Romeo: I asked them to include something for your hair, since you don’t have a veil. You might find it at the bottom of the box.

I peer back inside the box and find a matching rose-adorned hairpin sitting in a nest of white tissue paper. It’sdelicate and minimal, featuring just a few rosebuds mixed with baby’s breath, which creates a subtle elegance.

Taking it out, I rush over to the mirror. I left my long, dark hair down and added some soft curls to the ends. I sweep back one side and slide the hairpin into place.

I slip into my shoes, carefully pick up my bouquet, grab my phone, and move to stand in front of the full-length mirror again.

I look so different, so grown up, and for some reason, tears burn the back of my eyes as I lift my phone and take a few more pictures of my smiling reflection.

Me: I’m ready. I’m coming out now.

Romeo: Okay.

Me: Romeo

Romeo: Yeah

Me: I can’t wait to marry you and become Mrs Romeo De Luca.

I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something. Anything. But there’s only silence. Maybe he doesn’t feel the same way, or perhaps he doesn’t know how to say it.

This man eludes confidence and power, but I get the feeling deep down that he doesn’t think very highly of himself, and that only makes me want to love him even more.

I give myself a moment before I finally exit my bedroom and make my way down the hallway towards the main room of the house. When I reach the end, I take a few shaky breaths and fill my lungs.

This is it, the first day of the rest of our lives.

Romeo—and who I can only presume is Father Flannery—stand on the far side of the room. My future husbandhas his back to me, but when the aging priest glances up and notices me standing there, he nudges Romeo gently.

Romeo turns, and the second his eyes land on me, sweeping from head to toe, goose bumps prick my skin. For a heartbeat, he stares. It’s as if he’s frozen and forgotten how to breathe. But then something in his expression softens. His lips part as if to speak, but no sound comes. All I get is that look, raw and unfiltered, like I’ve knocked the wind out of him.

His gaze travels slowly, almost reverently, from my sparkly heels to the hem of the dress, lingering at the curve of my waist, then the neckline, and finally rising to meet my eyes.

When our gazes lock, he smiles. Not the careful, practised smile he wears when the world is watching, but the real one.

The one that takes my breath away.

The one that feels like it’s only meant for me.

In that quiet, suspended moment between us, he makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world.

Chapter 16

Romeo

Istand frozen, completely still, as I take in the breathtaking bride standing on the other side of the room. The one who’s about to becomemywife.

She’s unrecognisable from the casually dressed eighteen-year-old girl I first met. Lucia Rossi stands before me like something out of a dream. She’s poised, radiant, fucking exquisite. She’s utter perfection, and so damn gorgeous I could actually weep.