Page 62 of The Tycoon's Shock Heir

Ruby looked at her fairy godmother-in-law, as she was beginning to think of her, and then, emboldened by her strong, unflinching presence, took the steps along to top of the stairway.

She looked at her feet in pointed cream satin shoes. Ahead a mirror showed her the image she still couldn’t get used to. The dress—provided at short notice by the famous designer Giorgos, who just happened to be one of Matteo’s closest friends—fitted her to perfection. Sleeveless, with a bodice cut sharply to reveal her collarbone, it dipped in a V that displayed a tiny hint of her cleavage. The empire line swelled into a tulip-shaped skirt, which ended mid-calf. Plain, simple, perfect. Her hair was piled high on her head, and a tiara of pearls held it in place.

The tiara was her ‘old’—all the Rossini brides had worn it, and Coral had taken the greatest care in settling it onto her head. Her underwear was the ‘blue’—silk and lace—and the ‘borrowed’ was the pearl and diamond earrings from Coral, which hung in simple perfection from her lobes.

The ‘new’ was the tissue-wrapped stockings she’d smoothed onto her legs and held in place with a suspender belt she’d never dreamed in a million years she’d wear. But the effect was lovely. And the thought of Matteo unfastening everything later was delicious.

She clutched a tied bouquet of orchid stems and stood there at the top of the stairs, waiting while Coral skirted past her. Then, as a trio of strings started to play one of her favourite pieces by Bach, they both started to walk down.

At the bottom, in a veil of sunbeams, she made her way through a pale-carpeted corridor to the room where Matteo stood, waiting. He wore a simple dark grey morning suit, a shirt as creamy as her dress, and no tie. But a little ivory rose poked above his breast pocket. His hair was swept back from his brow and brushed his collar. He turned and his brown berry eyes beamed right into hers and his mouth burst into a warm smile.

Her heart thudded in her chest and her knees began to shake. The lump in her throat swelled and burned and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

He saw her falter and a look swept his face. He turned round and with the full force of his body and the power of his stare drew her towards him, one step at a time.

My beautiful Ruby, he mouthed keeping his eyes trained on her. ‘Absolutely beautiful,’ he said aloud, when she took the final steps to him.

All she could do was nod as she took her place beside him for the wedding ceremony, barely aware of the rows of people behind and the indomitable Coral in her green dress by her side.

There were words and vows and rings, and despite no rehearsal he spoke clearly and confidently. And when he slid the solid gold band onto her finger she stared at it for a moment, almost unbelieving that it had actually happened.

Then he pulled her towards him and gazed down at her. And, oh, how she loved him—so much that she could burst. She loved his mind and his spirit. She loved his beautiful soul. She loved what he had done for her and she loved the thought of a future together with him. She could barely trust herself to hope her dream would come true. She loved him—loved every pore and nerve and fibre of his body. Only him.

He kissed her, and she told him with her lips how her heart beat only for him. And as he pulled back and smiled straight into her eyes, bathing her in warmth and tenderness, she knew he was finally going to say the words she had been longing to hear.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Thank you for making me the happiest man alive.’

Her heart flooded—but not with joy—and she fixed her smile into place. That was the moment. If he had felt love that was the moment he would have said it.

Coral rushed up to them, and then things swirled around her—from signing to smiling and posing for photographs. And the whole time she felt Matteo’s arm around her shoulders or her waist, or his hand holding hers, whispers in her ear, stolen kisses.

‘We’ll get some pictures taken at the fountains later,’ he said.

Her smile was still fixed. It was fine. This was how it was going to be. She loved him and he was happy.

‘The happiest man alive.’

The most important thing was that her daughter was going to have a daddy. He was invested in their child. Coral too. She didn’t need to worry.

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