Page 30 of Twin Surprise for the Italian Doc

CHAPTER SIX

ITWASTHEmost perfect setting for a wedding.

The tiny stone chapel had an archway that Georgia and Kate would be making their entrance through any minute now. There was a soft glow of candlelight from within that warmed the surface of the ancient stones far more than the moonlight out here as the two women paused to wait for their signal.

The sound of bagpipes to accompany Kateon her walk down the aisle to meet the love of her life would also be perfect for this gorgeously Scottish wedding. Everything about this moment was making Georgia ridiculously happy—including the way that this soft, midnight-blue dress draped over the enormous bump of her belly and made her feel like a Madonna. Maybe not that beautiful but a perfect foil for how amazing Kate looked. Her dresshad a fall of ivory silk that was brushing the cobblestones and an exquisitely bead-encrusted bodice with a sweetheart neckline in the front and a deep V at the back. The bunch of pale peonies she was holding, with the silk bow that matched her dress, was simple and as elegant as everything else was turning out to be, but it was the glow of sheer joy on her face that really made her look more beautifulthan Georgia had ever seen her look. She couldn’t wait to start this new life with Luke, could she?

Suddenly Georgia couldn’t wait either. Where was the piper who was due to start this ceremony?

‘Oh, look...’ There was a beat of excitement to add to her happiness now. ‘I think that’s him getting ready.’ Her breath came out in a sigh. ‘I do love a man in a kilt.’

She could hear the piper gettingready to play. Any moment now and those muffled squeaks as he filled the bag with air would burst into the full glory of her favourite musical instrument.

‘Stand by...’ she whispered loudly, her lips curving into a grin.

‘No...’ the call came from behind them.‘Wait...’

Oh...no...

Georgia knew that voice. Thataccent...

Good grief... It felt like her bones were actually melting—possibly dueto the weird explosion of every cell her in body, which was creating a tingling sensation that was so strong it was almost painful.

Both women turned in unison, so fast that Georgia’s smile didn’t have time to fade completely.

‘Matteo...’Kate sounded overjoyed. ‘You made it.’

‘I didn’t think I could. Not after the last delay with the fog.’ Matteo must have run up all the steps to reach thispart of the castle but he still looked immaculate in his black, beautifully tailored suit and a bow-tie nestled in the collar of a snowy, white shirt. With the soft moonlight, against the backdrop of this wonderful castle, he looked like an advertisement for some fashion house.

Just...impossibly gorgeous.

And it was having the same effect on her that it had had when she’d seen him for the veryfirst time, at that competition briefing in Rakovi.

She needed to get a grip on this. Fast...

Matteo was still speaking. ‘But I couldn’t let my best friend get married without me.’ He put his hand to his chest as he tried to catch his breath. He hadn’t taken his eyes off this bride-to-be yet. Hadn’t even looked at Georgia.

That hurt.

‘You look...bellissima, Kate. Luke is a very lucky man.’

‘He certainly is.’ Georgia had to say something. To force Matteo to acknowledge her? Her heart was doing strange things—missing beats and then racing so fast it was scary.

No.Thiswas scary.

Dangerous.

But...thrillingat the same time.

Oh, help... Why did she have to have this personality flaw that made danger so exciting? It was that addiction to an adrenaline rush that made her job sucha part of who she was.

A part of why she had found such a compelling connection to this man. And being able to harness that adrenaline rush was part of what made her so good at her job but it was not a good thing as part of a personal relationship.

Not that she had a personal relationship with this man.

Not that she evercould.

‘Hi, Matteo.’ It was a test to see if she could actually say hisname without giving away any of the shock that still clutched at her heart. It was a relief to find that she could.

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