Miracle for the Girl Next Door (11 page)

“That’s very kind of you to say.” He’d sounded as if he meant it. Just then her gaze met Valentino’s. Her husband-to-be looked happier than she’d seen him in days. Thank you for coming, Luca. You have no idea what it means to your son and to me.

She wished she could say the same for her twin brother, who sat a few feet away with Maria and the children, unable to pretend something he didn’t feel.

While both families greeted each other, Silvio stayed put and only stood up when Father Orsini entered the chapel from a side door. The priest nodded to everyone. “If you will all be seated, I’ll ask Valentino and Clara to come and stand in front of me.”

Valentino clasped her left hand and drew her toward the priest who’d been their spiritual mentor for the whole of their lives, but the broad smile he’d always had for them was missing. In its place he wore a solemn expression, as if he no longer saw them as children. His wise black eyes seemed to say it was time to put childish things aside for the real test of life.

Father Orsini knew this wasn’t a normal marriage between
two young lovers desperate to belong to each other. He was a realist who, though he hoped and prayed for the very best for them, had to consider there would probably be dark days ahead in the near future.

“Clara and Valentino? Normally we would celebrate Mass first, but, considering the unique circumstances, I’m going to marry you now. This will in no way make your marriage less sacred.”

She could have kissed the priest for his understanding, but she realized it was Valentino who’d prevailed on Father Orsini to keep the ceremony brief.

The older man cleared his throat. “I have one piece of advice for both of you. Strive to lose yourselves in making the other one happy, then you cannot fail.”

Since Clara had already determined to do her part no matter what, it wouldn’t be hard to take his advice.

“I see Valentino has already taken you by the hand, Clara. If you’ll repeat after me.”

Within a few minutes they’d both pledged to love, honor and sacrifice for each other, in sickness and in health. Maybe Valentino didn’t realize it—or maybe because he did—his fingers tightened hard around hers when the priest said, ‘As long as you both shall live.’

“You wish to exchange rings?”

“
Sì
, Father.”

Clara couldn’t repress a slight gasp as he produced a gold ring with a brilliant light green stone. He slid it onto the ring finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly.

She in turn waited for Bianca to hand her their grandfather’s ring so she could slip it on Valentino’s finger. Yesterday morning her grandmother had insisted she take it to give to her intended. It was one of those precious moments in life Clara would always treasure.

Father Orsini nodded. “I now pronounce you, Clara Rossetti, and you, Valentino Casali, husband and wife. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

“Amen.” Valentino’s deep male voice resonated throughout the chapel. Before she could think, he slid his hands to her shoulders and his mouth descended on hers, sending a river of heat through her already weakened body. It wasn’t like the warm kiss he’d given her in front of the farmhouse the other night. With this one she felt unmistakable desire arc through her.

Until now she’d had the impression she was in a strange and beautiful dream, but no longer. All of a sudden this man who’d just become her husband felt so alive and real, she was shaken by powerful new sensations. She broke off their kiss and eased away from him in confusion.

“Are you all right,
piccola
?” She could hear the concern in his voice.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. The ceremony has exhausted you. Go with your parents. We’ll meet at the villa in a few minutes as planned.” They’d agreed it would be better if they weren’t seen together leaving the church. Soon enough the world would learn Valentino Casali, the world’s most exciting, desirable bachelor, had married a little nobody from a town few had ever heard of.

Clara gave a slight nod. Without looking at him she started for the door where they’d come in a little while ago. She was the first down the passageway and out the back of the church, clutching her bouquet in her hand. Everyone hurried after her and rushed to the trucks parked a few feet away.

Once they were in the cab, her mother cried in alarm, “You look like you’re going to faint.”

“I’m all right, Mamma.”

“We’re almost to the villa,” her father muttered. “Then you will lie down and have a good rest.”

Wrong. Valentino had brought her senses alive. For once in her life, rest wouldn’t cure what was wrong with her.

His home was a small, ochre-colored palazzo perched on a summit of vegetation in flower. All the Di Rossi family’s royal properties had been built in the prime locations of the region. Any local could point them out, but you couldn’t get inside the grounds without passing through the gate.

Valentino had already given her father a remote and directions to the private road leading up to it. Clara’s family was still in awe that she would be living in this one with him. For her the only important thing was that she would be an intimate part of his life from now on. The setting was immaterial but lovely as they pulled up to the front with its profusion of flowers and ornamental trees.

Somehow her brand-new husband had beaten them here. He came out the tall paneled doors and pulled her from the truck into his arms.

“Tino—what are you doing?”

He flashed her that devilish smile she remembered from so long ago. “Isn’t it obvious?” he murmured against her tender neck.

Once he’d swept her over the threshold, she glanced around her in astonishment. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

From the elegant foyer to the salon, fresh flowers in every shade possible had been arranged around the period furniture. Flowers reflected in the gilt mirrors, creating the illusion of a wonderful garden.

“You love nature so much, I wanted to bring it inside for our special day.”

She was overcome. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Do you need to go to bed,
piccola
?”

“Not until later.” Not after everything you’ve done to make me happy. “Please put me down.”

“Where?”

“How about the love seat over by those tall windows? The view has to be glorious from up here.”

Once he’d set her on the small couch and had helped arrange her dress for more pictures, Valentino showed her family through the house. Before long food appeared from the kitchen. He brought her a plate of her mother’s cooking. While he sat next to her so they could eat together, Tomaso started taking pictures of the family.

Clara could almost believe she was a normal bride with the normal expectation of a long life with her loving husband and the children who would be born to them.

When she’d eaten all she could, Valentino took her plate. Holding her gaze, he said, “We got away with it,
piccola
. No paparazzi.”

“No, thank heaven.”

Her father raised his wine glass in salute. “To
all
my married children.” He winked at Clara. “I’ve wanted to say that for many years.”

“Papa…” She smiled at him. “Sorry it took so long.”

It prompted Valentino to make his own toast. He got to his feet with his powerful legs slightly apart. His gaze fell on Clara. “All good things come to him who waits. To my precious bride.”

A blush started at her toes and swept up to warm the crown of her head. With a toast like that coming from such a magnetic personality, there was no question he’d won her family over. But she didn’t have to look across the room to feel Silvio’s icy glitter.

She’d always been able to read her brother’s thoughts…

Valentino’s not in love with you, Clara. Personally I can’t stand to watch the show he’s putting on for the family, let alone that Mamma and Papa are buying into it. Let’s not pretend about what’s going on here. If you weren’t seriously ill, he
wouldn’t be making a martyr of himself in order to gain the world’s attention in a brand-new way.

A new terror seized her heart. Was Silvio right?

Valentino had asked the florist to put flowers in their bedroom. Not as many as in the front of the house, but enough to create atmosphere. While Clara was in the en-suite bathroom taking a shower, he lit the white scented tea-light candles he’d placed around, then he turned out the lights and headed for the guest bathroom at the other end of the hall.

Ten minutes later he returned wearing his navy sweats and discovered her lying under the covers in the middle of the king-sized bed. Her green eyes glowed like jewels above the blue and gold quilt.

“Good evening, Signora Casali.”

A smile lit the corners of her mouth. “Good evening, Signor Casali.”

“Alone at last.”

“My family didn’t want to leave.”

He sat down on the side of the bed. “It was my idea of the perfect wedding. Short and to the point. The groom gets to whisk away the bride. No endless throngs to navigate. No flash-bulbs going off. Fabulous food, compliments of my new mother-in-law. Of course that’s the selfish part of me talking. I’m sorry you couldn’t have your best friends and the whole town turn out after the banns were posted.”

“I had the part that mattered.” She smoothed her hand against the sheet, letting him know she had a lot more on her mind. “Why didn’t Isabella and your father come to the house after?”

“Papa told me he felt light-headed after the ceremony. I believed him. He rarely goes anywhere, so Isabella drove him home, but she wanted to come.”

Clara eyed him soulfully. “He was very sweet to me.”

“How could he not be?”

“I think he was so moved to see you get married, it affected him physically.”

“Tonight I’m in the mood to think only the best thoughts, so I’ll go along with your take on it.”

“Good.”

Valentino held up his left hand. “This ring came as a big surprise.” He had to wear it on his littlest finger.

“My grandfather had smaller hands than you. Nonna wanted me to give it to you. It’s her way of letting you know she approves.”

“I’m honored. Now I need to know if
you
do.”

“That question was answered the first day we met at school years ago. You made me laugh so hard, the teacher got mad at me instead of you.”

“Sorry about that.”

“No, you’re not,” she responded with a quick grin. “You don’t need to fish for compliments, but I’ll tell you one thing if it will make you feel better. You have exquisite taste.”

Looking at her right now, he agreed. She was sitting up in bed and rested against the headboard, allowing him a glimpse of the soft pink robe she’d put on. The color added a tint to her creamy complexion, drawing his attention until he couldn’t look anywhere else.

“I love my ring.” Her hand moved so the facets caught the light from the candles, but he found himself mesmerized by the glints in her dark, silky hair. She’d been blessed with perfectly shaped eyebrows the same color. His gaze fell to the alluring contour of her mouth. The desire to kiss her grew so intense, he was shaken by his feelings and got to his feet.

“I hoped you would like it. Is there anything you want from the kitchen before I put out the candles?”

“Nothing, thank you.”

In the next minute he’d blown them out. “Are you tired,
piccola
?” he asked in the darkness.

“I’m happy.”

He should have known better than to ask his valiant bride, whose exhaustion had probably reached its peak before their guests left the palazzo. “I want to get to know all your habits so I can be of the most help. When you go to bed at night, what do you normally do?”

“Just what I’ve done tonight. Take a shower and climb in bed. Usually I’m asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow. What about you?”

“The same, but I usually toss and turn for a while first. When my restlessness is bad, I turn on television. The noise usually puts me out.”

“Isn’t it strange we’ve known each other since we were children, yet we don’t know all those little things about our everyday lives.”

“This is a new adventure for both of us, one I’m already enjoying more than you can imagine. If you’ll take the right side of the bed, then I won’t worry about rolling onto your arm in the night.”

He heard the bedding rustle, then he climbed in and stretched out before pulling the covers over them. Her fragrance was so intoxicating, he feared he’d be walking the floors within the hour.

He turned on his side so he was facing her, but he didn’t dare touch her tonight. His fear that she’d push him away was very real. He was still raw from her rejection after he’d taken her to Gaeta. How could he bear it if she accused him of making love to her out of pity? What he needed to do was seduce her slowly; a kiss here, a caress there, until the moment when he knew she wanted all of him.

“Now that I’m your husband, everything has changed. We’re going to build a new life together.”

He leaned over to kiss her lips. “
Buona notte, mia sposa
.”

W
HEN
Sunday morning came, Clara was awake before Valentino, whose well-honed body took up most of the bed. In truth, after he’d given her that brief kiss, she’d spent the rest of the night in agony because he hadn’t reached for her.

Valentino afraid to make love to her because she was ill? Tears smarted her eyes. She’d give anything to go back to a few days ago when he didn’t know about her condition. In the natural progression of things she felt sure he would have started kissing her until neither of them could hold back.

While he slept she was able to study her husband’s striking features without his being aware of it. To know she would be waking up next to such an exciting man from now on filled her with intense pleasure, but if he never possessed her, she didn’t know how she’d be able to stand it.

Already she loved their new life together so much, the thought of it coming to a quick end because of her illness too unbearable to contemplate. Before she gave in to her emotions and kissed him awake, she slid out of bed and hurried into the bathroom to freshen up and brush her teeth.

With her robe still on, she padded down the hall to the kitchen to fix them a meal. The key was to stay busy. For days now Valentino had been doing everything for her. It was time for him to be the recipient.

Her mother had stocked the fridge with food. All Clara had to do was warm things up and they’d have a feast for breakfast. After making cappuccino, she was ready to go get him when she heard him call out her name.

“I’m in the kitchen!”

He emerged from the hallway in his sweats looking disheveled from sleep and sounding the slightest bit out of breath. The shadow covering his firm jaw made him even more disreputably gorgeous. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Because you were in a deep sleep and needed it.”

She could tell he wasn’t in a playful mood. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!”

“What? That your wife got up to make breakfast?”

“You know what I mean.” That hint of anxiety was in his eyes.

“Tino—when I’m feeling good, I intend to do what comes naturally. If I need help, you’ll know about it. Unfortunately you haven’t always seen me in top form and it has made you think I’m a twenty-four-hour invalid. Come and sit down.”

He was clearly out of sorts and raked a hand through his dark hair before doing her bidding.

“Mamma left us a veritable banquet,” she chatted. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving this morning. At our house we always put a little chocolate in the cappuccino. If you don’t like it, I’ll make you regular coffee.”

To her delight he drank a whole mug before lifting his head. At last she saw a smile. “I’ll never drink anything else again.” On that note he popped two sausage-filled rolls in his mouth. “After we eat, I’m taking us for a scooter ride.”

The situation was improving. “On your latest model?”

“I think so.”

“I can’t wait!”

When he looked at her, she could tell he wanted to ask her if she was sure she was feeling well enough, but he refrained.
She’d never seen his brown eyes so alive. “Neither can I. Even though the temperature’s supposed to climb today, we’ll dress you warmly.”

She finished munching on a roll. “Where are we going to go?”

“Here and there.”

Just as they used to do after school. “I’ll hurry and get ready.”

Valentino devoured two more rolls. “While you do that, I’ll shave.”

“No, don’t—”

His eyebrows lifted.

“I—I mean, you don’t have to do it,” she stammered.

An unexpected gleam entered his eyes. “You don’t mind my scruffy look?”

“It suits you,” she mumbled before clearing the table.

“Leave the dishes, Clara. While we’re gone the housekeeper will be in to clean up and unpack the bags your parents brought over in the truck. All you need to do is get ready.”

By tacit agreement they left the kitchen and walked back to the bedroom. Valentino disappeared in the walk-in closet and brought out some packages he put on the bed. A ghost of a smile hovered around his mouth. “After you’re dressed, put all this gear on. We’ll see if I bought the right sizes for you.”

The second he walked out the door, she pulled underwear, jeans and a cotton sweater from one of her suitcases and was dressed in a flash. In the first bag she found socks and black boots. The next bag contained a woman’s stylish leather jacket in white with green side stripes and a mandarin collar. Another bag held matching gloves. In the last large sack she found a woman’s helmet.

“Everything fits!” she cried when he came walking in their bedroom a few minutes later carrying his black helmet. He wore black boots and a black leather jacket with blue side stripes. His
powerful body looked even bigger in his riding gear. She felt his dark eyes roam over her in male appreciation.

“You have a stunning figure,
piccola
. In an outfit like this, it’s dynamite. You’ll have to hold me tight around the waist so some dude doesn’t pluck you off the back while we’re tearing around.”

“Tino—” His absurd remark made her laugh.

“You think I’m kidding—” The sudden seriousness of his tone caused her pulse to race. “Have you looked in a mirror lately? Maybe taking you out in public is going to be too dangerous.”

“That’s what I’ve thought about you for years.” She spoke her mind before she realized what she’d said. In a quick move she dropped the helmet’s shield so he couldn’t see how red she’d turned. “Shall we go?”

He led her down the hall to the back of the villa. They stepped outside into a small courtyard where she could see the garage. With the remote on his key chain he opened the door. Next to the Ferrari sat a gleaming cobalt blue and gold motor scooter.

Valentino put on his helmet before walking it out into the courtyard. “They brought over the deluxe Tourister. See this pillioned seat?” She nodded. “It lets you ride higher behind me. When I designed this, I had you in mind because you always used to tell me you wished you could see better when we rode around together.”

He shouldn’t have told her that. It meant too much to her. “The Violetta Rapidita is a beautiful machine, Tino.” Her voice caught.

“Wait until you ride on it. You’ll be totally comfortable. Climb on behind me.”

His excitement infected her. After she got settled and wrapped her arms around his torso she said, “Your mother would have been thrilled to know you named it after her.”

When her words computed, he squeezed her mid-thigh. She felt the sensation like a dart of flame. “Outside of my
family, no one knows its origin. Nothing escapes you, does it? Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

He lifted his hands to put on his leather gloves, then they were off. She felt his imprint long after they’d passed through the gate and were zigzagging down the hillside past the patchwork of charming villas partially hidden by lush foliage.

With one of the world’s greatest drivers at the controls, Clara gave no thought to anything but the joy of being alive to share this incredible day with Valentino. Sitting on the scooter put you right next to the earth where you could feel and smell nature, hear all the sounds, yet the higher seat allowed her the full sight of her surroundings.

This was so different than riding in a car or a truck or bus. It took her back to her early teens when he offered her rides home after school or church. Sometimes he’d drive haphazardly on purpose, sending her into peals of laughter while the locals shook their fingers at him. Of course they were much younger then and didn’t wear the safety equipment they wore now.

In those days the two of them felt invincible. Was he remembering those matchless moments, too? Half the time his old scooter had let him down and he’d had to walk it or push it. Though she would offer to take a turn so he wouldn’t have to do all the work, Valentino always refused. Even then there’d been a chivalrous streak in his nature.

Sometimes they ended up walking all the way to the road leading into the farm. When he waved goodbye and kept walking, she always felt a wrench. In truth she’d been so crazy about Valentino, if he’d asked her to go on a walk around the world with him, she would have gone.

Clara had dreamed her dreams, but she could never have imagined that over a decade later she would end up being his wife, riding pillion on this streamlined version of comfort and
perfection he’d invented. She nestled tighter against him, resting her chin on his shoulder to feel his body and prove to herself he was flesh and blood, not a fantasy conjured in her imagination.

“Are you all right?” he called to her, turning his head to the side.

“I’m wonderful!” she shouted back. “This is heaven!”

At her comment he twisted the throttle, accelerating them around the next curve where the countryside opened to their gaze. Euphoric, they whizzed past manicured fields and vineyards. Without a cough their scooter ate up the kilometers of rolling hills.

Before long they veered onto a farming road rarely used by tourists. It eventually circled around the furthest end of her family’s lemon groves. There was no sight like the straight rows of twenty-foot trees thriving in the sun. Delectable yellow fruit peeked out from the dark green foliage.

It was at the top of one of the trees she could see in the distance where she’d cut her leg, but she didn’t want to think about that right now. Please no shadows. Not today.

Valentino didn’t slow down. He kept heading south past other farms and cypress trees. This whole area burgeoned with nature and represented paradise to her. She couldn’t get enough of it. Eventually they came to the shimmering blue water of Lake Clarissa. Valentino had grown up along this shoreline.

She’d driven past his home many times out driving in her family’s truck with Bianca, but that had been when Valentino was winning races in other parts of Europe or the States. Clara had yet to see the inside of his home; knowing it held one of the most painful memories for him, she could understand why he didn’t want to stay there now.

He drove them around the west end. When they came to a lay-by, he pulled into it and shut off the motor. They both removed their helmets to take in the lake’s beauty. There was a path leading through a meadow-like patch to the water.
Anxious to follow it down, she swung her leg over and climbed off the scooter.

“I think we’ll rest here and enjoy a snack.” He fastened their helmets to the bars, then opened the trunk. To her surprise he’d packed a light blanket. Beneath it she discovered bottled water, apples and a carton of chocolate biscotti. He must have made preparations after she’d fallen asleep last night.

“You remembered—” she cried in awe before reaching for it. “I haven’t eaten these since the last time you got sick after splurging on three packs at once.”

He tossed back his dark head and laughed. It was a man’s deep belly kind of laughter. She felt it rumble through her nervous system with a sense of wonder.

“If you noticed, I only bought one this time. I can’t risk becoming indisposed when I’m driving such precious cargo around.”

“Indisposed hardly describes your former condition,” she quipped to cover her emotions, which were jumping all over the place. Gathering the other items, she started toward the path.

A chuckling Valentino followed her. Several feet from the shore of the lake he spread the blanket over the wild grass and they both sank down. She whipped off her gloves so she could open her water and drink. “Um. That tastes good.”

“It does,” he agreed after swallowing half of his in one go.

Clara fell back against the blanket and stared up at the sky, where she could see clouds building. “There’s going to be a storm later today.”

He lay down next to her and opened the carton. “Then it’s good we came out here early.”

Suddenly he rolled on his side, bringing him breathtakingly close. Without saying anything, he put a cookie to her lips. There was a mirthful glimmer in his eyes. She took a bite. He finished it off and fed her another one.

After three bites she couldn’t keep up with him. “No more.”

“No? Then how about a different treat?”

“I think I’ll save the apple for later.”

“I wasn’t thinking of fruit.” The amusement she’d seen had faded. In its place she glimpsed something else that made her mouth go dry and sent pleasure pains to her palms. “In the past you and I did just about everything together, but we never played six minutes in
paradiso
or spin the
bottiglia da vino
.”

A smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “That’s because you were too busy playing those games with every other girl in our class. It made the boys furious. As I recall Aminta, Bettina and Crocetta were all enamored of you at the same time.”

He traced the line of her mouth with his finger. “I’ve grown up since then and have developed an appetite for a new treat. Be kind to me,
piccola
.”

Valentino didn’t give her time to think before he covered her mouth with his own. For once she didn’t want to think. His playful mood had infected her, making her want to give in to the sensuous side of her nature. She had one, but had never allowed herself permission to enjoy what other girls took for granted.

Now that there was a time bomb ticking away inside her, she didn’t want to leave this world never having known this pleasure with Valentino. “If it’s kindness to kiss you back, then I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more.”

His jacket was open. She slid her hands up his chest and wrapped them around his neck to get closer. In a slow, sweet rhythm she began responding to the urgency of his demands. The pressure of his mouth invading hers melted her insides, sending a languorous warmth through her body.

This was what she’d been waiting for last night. It was ecstasy. She knew what the word meant and had an intellectual knowledge of it, but now that she was experiencing it she didn’t
want to do anything else. The freedom to do whatever she desired had taken hold of her.

He was such a beautiful man she needed to kiss every centimeter of his face. The best way to do that was to slide on top of him in order to find those favorite spots. She wished they weren’t wearing their leather jackets, but she was too enraptured to take the time to remove hers.