Read The Prince's Gamble Online
Authors: Caridad Pineiro
The Prince's Gamble (19 page)
Epilogue
Atlantic City, New Jersey
One year later
The sounds of Pachelbel’s Canon swelled through the room from the string quartet tucked discreetly to one side of the Russian Nights event ballroom. The space was filled to capacity, with over three hundred guests occupying the seats on either side of the aisle laid with a royal blue carpet strewn with white rose petals. Woven into the carpet was the royal seal of the Ivanov family, reminding everyone that this was no ordinary wedding.
Kathleen gripped the heavy weight of the bridal bouquet in her hands. The aroma of the white roses teased her senses while a cascade of white orchids draped down from the mix of roses, and white and blue hydrangea. Larger arrangements of the same flowers flanked the corners of the room as well as the ends of each row of chairs down the bridal path.
“Are you ready?” Her father tucked her hand through his arm.
She had never been more ready.
With a determined step, she crossed the threshold and walked in time to the lush beats of the music, moving ever closer to the front of the room where the bridal party waited.
Peter Roman was the Best Man. Jim Reynolds joined two others as Alexander’s ushers.
Opposite them, Kathleen’s sister stood up for her as Maid of Honor, while Tatiana and two of Kathleen’s girlfriends balanced out the bridal party.
She searched for her husband-to-be, wondering where he was, but then he stepped forward from the side of the room and walked to the head of the aisle.
As always, he took her breath away. His designer tuxedo was neither black nor blue, but a combination that served to bring out the colors in his crystal blue eyes and midnight hair. The tux fit with precision across his broad shoulders and tapered in to display his lean midsection and hips.
He had lost some weight after being shot a year earlier, but had regained it in the months of his recuperation. If anything, he seemed stronger and larger now than before. More powerful…and maybe he was.
She knew she was. Being with him had brought her an inner strength and peace she had not possessed before.
Because of that, her strides, though measured, were certain and sure as she made her way toward him.
…
Alexander caught his first glimpse of his bride as she stepped onto the aisle, her father at her side.
His heart did a weird little flip-flop in his chest at the beauty of her. At the love that glimmered in her eyes, and the sexy smile that danced on her lips, promising him so much more.
Promising him forever.
He clasped his hands before him, fighting to keep from rushing down the aisle and ripping her from her father’s arm. It wouldn’t be appropriate wedding decorum, especially not for a prince. Not that he thought of himself that way when he was with his little cat.
With her he was only a man in love.
As she neared the head of the aisle, he stepped forward, ready to take his place at her side. His parents stood there, beaming with pride and joy. Any worries he might have had about their reaction to the news of his involvement with an FBI agent had disappeared with their first visit to meet Kathleen.
They had instantly approved of the woman who had brought such happiness to their son.
The music stopped just as Kathleen paused before him and met his gaze.
She was stunning in the cream-colored gown that accented the rich colors of her hair and myriad hues in her eyes. At her throat she wore the jewelry he had first presented to her a year earlier. The ruby and diamond necklace with matching pendant earrings gleamed against the warmth of her skin, but nothing was more beautiful or precious than his bride.
After a tight hug from her father, she stepped to his side and he grasped her hand tightly. “
Ko’shechka maja
. You look lovely.”
Her smile broadened and her eyes glimmered with delight. “So do you, Sasha. Are you ready?”
Grinning, he tucked her hand against his arm. “I’ve never been more ready.”
As they walked arm-in-arm to the priest waiting to marry them, Alexander knew that as long as he and Kathleen were together, they could face anything. Anything at all.
Loving this woman was the riskiest gamble he had ever taken in his life—but he’d won the biggest jackpot for which he could ever have hoped.
Her love.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author and 2012 RITA® Finalist Caridad Piñeiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of nearly forty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista. For more information, please visit
www.caridad.com
or www.rebornvampirenovels.com.
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