I need to keep reminding myself of that. I can so easily let myself get lost in the make believe of it all. Renato's acting as a devoted fiancé is good. Too good really.
“He’s getting married?” a woman's voice screeches from outside the bedroom. “To who? You better move out of my way, Antony!”
“No one is allowed in Maddie’s bedroom without the approval of Renato.”
The pissed-off woman shouts some more. Payton rolls her eyes, making me think she knows who is in the hallway screaming. The kittens start to lift their heads, their eyes opening at all of the commotion.
“This is my home too. Now move!” she orders Antony.
“You know I can’t do that,” he responds.
“He is supposed to be marrying me,” she hisses. My heart drops. Oh gosh. Who the heck is this woman? A girlfriend or something? She lives here. Why isn’t he marrying her then? A rush of anger and jealousy unlike any I’ve ever felt in my life suddenly fills me.
“Get your hands off me or I’ll have them chopped off and sent to your wife.”
“If she touches my husband, we’re going to have a problem.” Payton’s lips purse. Oh, I guess she’s married to Antony.
“Who is she?” I ask. My eyes sting with tears. I can’t control them. So many emotions are overwhelming me.
“Zoey. I suppose she’s your new mother-in-law,” Payton responds. Just when I thought things couldn’t get crazier, they do.
11
Renato
“The Ferrars wouldn’t be put off. They’re on the way here.” Claudio pinches the bridge of his nose. “This is bad.”
“If they want trouble, I’ll happily give it to them.” I finish my tie and check it in the mirror. It’s a matte black against the black of my tux.
“That’s what we don’t want–trouble.”
“They’re the ones trying to barge into my home. I can bar them at the gate if you’re worried.”
He groans. “That would make it so much worse.”
“So you want me to let them in or not?” I peer at him in the mirror. I already know what I’m going to do with the Ferrars, but I have to admit I’m secretly pleased that Claudio is taking such an interest. He’s been a passive part of this family for so long, but now that Dad’s gone, he’s trying to be helpful. He is, albeit, more reactionary than anything, but at least he’s making an effort.
“In, I guess?” He slides his tie too tight.
I turn to him and loosen it, then turn his boutonniere so it faces forward. “Trust me. I’m going to handle it.”
“I do trust you.” He flops down onto the sofa. “But everything is so fast. The Ferrars, and you said you found this woman in a cab? Don’t you think it’s weird to marry the first woman you meet?”
“I’ve met plenty of women.”
“I meant the first woman you met after Dad’s will. You never would’ve done this if he hadn’t forced your hand.”
I think on his words for a moment. If I had met Maddie without my father’s decree hanging over my head, would I have pursued her? It doesn’t take more than a split second for me to return a resounding ‘yes.’ There’s just something about her. I can’t put my finger on it. She has a certain innocence and pure heartedness that I know must be rare in this world. Her warmth is like a lit candle, one I want to protect.
“You’ve got a weird look on your face.” He stands again.
“I was just thinking about her.”
“Oh.”
“This is real, Claudio.”
“What? The Ferrars coming here to start shit? Yeah, I know.”
“No, not them. Maddie. I can feel her”–I tap my chest—“in here.”
He gawks. “But you barely know her.”
“Maybe so, but what I know, I love.”
“I think the stress of Dad’s death is doing crazy things to your brain.” He shakes his head. “And he must’ve been having some sort of episode when he wrote his will to even include a provision like that.”
“No.” I straighten my tux for the final time. “The more I think about it, the more I’m starting to believe Dad knew exactly what he was doing when he included that clause.”
“Well, can you enlighten me, then?”
I check the clock. “After the wedding.”
He lifts a brow. “Won’t you be busy after?”
I close my eyes and try to steady my pounding heart. Yes, I will be quite busy after the ceremony. I’m going to learn Maddie’s body and give her so much pleasure that she’ll never even think of another man. Just the thought has my blood running hot. She’s mine. The moment she jumped into that cab, something in me recognized something in her. Like two wolves meeting for the first time in snowy woods. We belong together.
He pokes his head from the room. “Priest is here.”
“Let’s get it done.” I’ve never been in a hurry. It’s not my style. But for Maddie, I’m impatient as all hell. Pushing past Claudio, I head down the stairs and greet the priest.