Dante's Stolen Wife by Day Leclaire Read Free Book Online Page A

twin brother.
    “A bride-to-be and a wife, all in one night.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure it gets much crazier than that.”
    “Give it time,” he said, hoping she missed the irony underscoring his comment.
    While Caitlyn freshened up, Marco placed a phone call to confirm the arrangements for their wedding, arrangements that would, he hoped, make the night as special as possible. The trip to and from the marriage bureau took hardly any time at all, though filling out the necessary forms gave Marco a moment’s worry. Fortunately, since Caitlyn had forgotten her reading glasses in her rush to meet him, the forms were a total blur.
    Draping an arm across her shoulder, he helped her without making it too obvious. And all the while he wondered how they’d get through the wedding ceremony. He had a serious suspicion that when she was asked if she took Marco Dante for her husband, she might take serious exception to marrying the wrong name, even if he were the right man.
     
    Returning to the hotel, Marco found his requests had not just been met but exceeded. The small chapel overflowed with flowers of every shape, color and variety, while pure white candles gave the room a soft glow. A string quartet played in the background, filling the room with soft, romantic music. He’d asked for a priest to officiate, preferably in the Latin he’d grown up with, and discovered that even that had been arranged. And the “attendants” he’d hired to help with any special touches Caitlyn wished to make to her gown, hair or makeup were waiting to usher her to a small anteroom, while he paced nervously in front of the altar.
    The minute the priest arrived, he explained the changes he wished to make to the ceremony. Come tomorrow there’d be hell to pay for this night. He’d have to deal with his wife’s shock and anger when she discovered his duplicity. With his brother’s fury. With his family’s disapproval at the method he’d chosen to circumvent Lazz. None of that mattered. All he cared about was Caitlyn’s instinctive reaction whenever he took her in his arms. Her head might not know him but every other part of her did, and responded with loving abandon. The rest would come in time.
    Assuming he could convince her to give him that time .
    She appeared in the doorway of the chapel just then, and he could have sworn his heart froze in his chest. He’d never seen anyone more beautiful in his life. With a shy smile she came to him, floating down the short aisle, her gown drifting around her as though spun from cobwebs. A wispy lace veil framed the elegant contours of her face, and she clutched a bouquet of simple white roses.
    The ceremony proceeded as though part of a dream. The one time the priest used Marco’s name, he leaned forward an instant beforehand and whispered a teasing comment in her ear so that the discrepancy went unnoticed. Toward the end of the ceremony, he put his ring on her finger, pleased at the sharp little gasp she uttered when she saw it.
    He’d chosen an exquisite fire diamond solitaire in an antique platinum setting from a selection of rings Nonna had obtained, along with matching wedding bands. “You planned this from the start didn’t you?” she asked in a shaken undertone.
    “Let’s just say I’d hoped that when I asked, you’d agree.”
    Color blossomed in her cheeks. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”
    He shot her a smoldering look. “Give it time. I intend to make you a lot happier in a little while.”
    Her color deepened, but she didn’t look away. If anything her eyes held a promise he hoped would last the rest of their lives. On the dot of midnight they were pronounced husband and wife, and Marco swept Caitlyn into his arms and kissed his wife for the first time.
    Afterward they returned to their suite. “Would you like another glass of wine?” he asked, stripping off his suit jacket.
    She gently set her bouquet on a side table and ran her