Page 65 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

Gabby took it. The envelope was thick, cream, looked expensive. “What is it?”

“How should I know? But open it, or I will.”

She slid her finger along the seal then pulled out the card inside. “It’s an invitation to a dinner at the Ritz to celebrate the opening of the D’Ascensio Charitable Foundation.”

“Cool. You’ll get to see Asshat again.”

“It’s a mistake. The list was probably done before Vito found out about me.”

“Does it matter? You wanted to see him. Here’s your chance.”

“It’s on Friday.”

“That’s two days to perform a miracle.”

“What miracle?” she asked suspiciously.

“Have you looked at yourself recently? You’re a mess.” Theresa leaned across and patted her on the arm. “But don’t worry. I’m here to sort you out. Cinderella, you shall go to the ball.”

Chapter Fifteen

The party room was filling up, but so far no sign of Gabby.

Would she come?

Over the past few days, Vito had resisted phoning his new friend Luca and asking him to find out from Theresa. He had to have faith.

And if faith didn’t work, and she didn’t turn up, then he would just have to go and find her and drag her here. Tonight there would be no more running. It was time for them both to face up to who they really were and who they wanted to be.

Luca was already here, along with his sister, who kept casting him sideways glances as though she was holding herself back from coming over and saying…what? Sorry, perhaps.

Across the room, Luca raised a glass to him. He nodded back.

He was paying for this party himself as a thank-you to all the executives at the D’Ascensio Corporation who had helped him through the past year despite his plans to effectively take their jobs away. Now he looked around at the familiar faces.

He would miss the cut and thrust of business.

But it wasn’t the life he wanted for himself. No, he knew what that life was and who he wanted at his side. He was just in no way sure she wanted the same thing. How much had been real for her?

He was aware she’d been trying to get in touch with him, and it gave him hope. He looked at the door again and cracked his knuckles.

Madre di Dio, where the hell was she?

“Are you okay?” his father asked, coming up beside him. “You seem a little distracted.”

His father was going to take on the running of the charitable trust. He’d turned sixty this year and claimed he was getting too old for field work.

“I’m fine.”

But he wasn’t fine, because it was becoming clear that she wasn’t coming. He shouldn’t have left her this long, but he’d wanted to get his life sorted so he knew what he could offer her. Perhaps he should have just gone to see her and groveled.

Then the door opened, and she was there.

Would she be Gabrielle or Gabby tonight?

If he was honest, he’d admit he was greedy and wanted both of them, all wrapped in one pretty package. And, in fact, she was a curious mixture of both. She wore a black lace dress, demure except for the slit up the side. She’d had her hair redone, and the magenta pink glowed against the blonde. She wore a pink stud in her nose, and pink high heels.

She stood just inside the door, searching the room—for him?—and nibbling on her lower lip. Finally, she caught sight of him and went still.

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