"You were planning this then?" she asked with laughter as she got up and did as he asked, joining him on the sofa.
"I was planning privacy. Now, I want to celebrate."
"Celebrate?"
"Oh, yes. That contract has us both stitched up tight."
"You liked that clause then?"
"Can you doubt it?" he was stripping methodically all the while watching her do the same.
She'd put a clause in that was her solemn promise to show up for the ceremony. She thought a businessman like him would appreciate her putting it in writing. He really did, it looked like.
An hour later, his suitcoat (which they'd used to protect the couch) would never be the same and Annette was left in no doubt just how enthusiastically her tycoon fiancé felt about the prenuptial contract he had just signed.
Annette woke on her wedding day feeling more anticipation than she thought she should. Sheshouldbe worried, but she wasn't. She was excited.
Today, she started building the family she had always craved.
Five years ago, she'd run from Carlo, out of fear of not being enough, and of quite honestly losing herself. She wasn't worried about that now. Carlo had promised he would never try to manipulate her into a big life change again, nor would he make choices that affected her without her input and buy-in. She trusted him to keep his word.
Equally important, Annette was no wilting flower. She could and would hold her own with the billionaire businessman.
Carlo might not be her Prince Charming, and head over heels in love with her, but she'd stopped believing in fairytales, so that was okay.
He was honorable and he believed entirely in the importance of family. He was willing to give what his own father had not. Carlo had promised his time to Annette and their unborn child, and to any other children they might have.
Maybe there was just a tiny bit of Prince Charming in him after all. At the very least that Knight in Shining Armor.
Annette's hand slid down to rest over belly. Their baby. Her family.
All of Carlo's actions to this point indicated a man intent on making a real go of their marriage. Annette couldn't ask for any more than that. Suddenly she felt a movement inside. The baby. She'd felt the baby move! She shifted, hoping it would happen again.
It did.
She was laying there, happiness just bubbling through her when a knock sounded on the door and Annette sat up. "Who is it?"
That hadn't been Carlo's usual knock and besides his mother had threatened him with dire consequences if he tried to see Annette before the wedding. Which meant she had slept alone the night before, but it had been surprisingly soundly.
"It is me, Valentina," her soon to be mother-in-law said through the door.
Annette jumped out of bed and grabbed her robe, calling, "Come in."
Valentina pushed open the door, a sweet smile on her face. "Happy wedding day, Annette."
"What is that?" Annette pointed to a pile of ivory silk shimmering with crystal beading, foaming over Valentina's arms.
Valentina walked forward and laid out the most exquisite antique gown. It had copious crystal beading in an art deco design. "This was my great grandmother's wedding gown."
Annette reached out and touched the embroidered silk. "It looks like it's from the 1920s."
"It is. My great grandparents married in 1927."
"Oh. It's beautiful."
"I've always thought so."
"If it fits," Annette couldn't help offering the caveat because she was a curvy five-foot-three. "I will be honored to wear it."