“I knew you were a decent enough driver that you wouldn’t let that happen. Decent.” Stefano saluted him with his champagne flute. “Just slow.”
With a snort, Cristiano shook his head. “There are more important things in life than winning some cheap gold trophy in a charity race.” He stroked his wife’s shoulder. “It’s a foolish man who’s determined to win at any price.”
“So losers always say.”
The two powerful men glowered at each other, then suddenly they both laughed. Smiling, Hallie rose to her feet.
She looked at Tess. “It’s time for your first dance as bride and groom, isn’t it?”
The last thing Tess wanted to do right now was slow dance in her new husband’s arms. Her cheeks went hot as she looked down at her clasped hands. “I think we’ve had enough traditions for one day...”
“Oh, please,” Hallie begged. “I was planning to sing for your first dance. As a surprise.”
Put that way, it seemed churlish to refuse.
“All right,” Tess sighed. “Fine.”
“Yay.” Hallie looked down at her seated husband with a tender smile. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it.” Cristiano pulled her into his arms and lifted his lips to hers in a sensual kiss. “You’ll knock ’em dead.”
Watching the other couple, so deeply in love, Tess again felt a pang over what she now knew she would never have.
As Hallie hurried toward the microphone on the grand ballroom’s stage, Stefano held out his hand.
“Shall we?” he said, smiling down at her as if he hadn’t just blackmailed her into marriage and threatened to destroy her family and take her child away.
Glaring at him, Tess grudgingly put her hand in his and tried not to feel the electricity of his touch.
“And now,” Hallie announced over the microphone, “for their very first dance, the Prince and Princess of Gioreale!”
A hush fell across the crowd as Stefano led her, in a swirl of her white satin skirts, onto the dance floor.
To the outside world, Tess knew it must look like a romantic moment, the handsome prince in his sleek, well-cut tuxedo, the bride in a lavish wedding gown sparkling with diamonds, dancing in his arms. The truth was anything but romantic.
The orchestra began playing the music of the song Tess had requested, one made famous by Etta James and that she’d loved since she was a child—“At Last.” Hallie’s beautiful voice started singing the haunting words, telling the rapturous tale of long-lost love finally requited.
Yesterday Tess had dreamily thought it was perfect. Now, in her husband’s arms, all she felt was bitterness.
She looked up at his face.
“I hate you,” she whispered. “You know that, don’t you?”
Stefano looked down at her as they swayed, his handsome face arrogant. “You don’t hate me. You’re just angry. It will pass.”
“Are you crazy? You forced me to marry you.”
“I didn’t force you. I offered you a choice.”
“What—marry you or lose everything?”
His eyes gleamed in the spotlight as they danced to the music. “I knew you’d make the right decision.”
Tess yearned to stomp hard on his foot with one of her stiletto heels. Instead, she bared her teeth into a smile for the benefit of the guests watching them as he whirled her around the dance floor.
“You are a monster,” she said sweetly.
“Cheer up.” He pulled her hard against his body. “I told you the truth. I intend to make you very happy in our marriage. Starting tonight.”