Page 72 of Keeping My Bride

Chapter 46

Verona

AFEW DAYS later, I wake up to Luca waving a gift in front of my face. Over the past couple of days he’s seemed happier, having almost completely gotten over the whole Constantine fiasco that happened at the art gallery, and I’m glad for that.

“What is it?” I ask, sitting up in bed.

“Open it and find out,” he says before setting the present down on the mattress in front of me.

The only gift I’ve ever received from Luca was our wedding photo album, and I don’t think anything could top that. Still, I’m curious to see what he’s done, so I carefully untie the silver ribbon from the white box and open it.

Inside is a small flip style cell phone. I carefully pull the phone out to study it.

“I had Aldo, my IT guy, modify it a bit. There is a tracker programmed into it that works independently whether the phone is on or off. The battery lasts for years instead of days. And my number is programmed into the speed dial. You can call me anytime by just pressing and holding the number one key down.”

After I absorb all of that new information, I furrow my brows in confusion. “What’s going on? Am I in danger?”

“No, of course not. This is just a precaution. Call it peace of mind for me, if you will.” His fingertips graze my jaw, and he turns my head so that my eyes meet his. “I want you to keep this on you at all times, Verona. Can I count on you to do that?”

“Yes.”

He smiles at my answer. “Okay, good.” Then, he releases me and nods to the box. “There’s more inside.”

Turning my attention back to the gift, I lift a piece of tissue paper to reveal two plane tickets. I pick them up and read the destination — Aspen, Colorado.

“What’s in Colorado?” I ask, confused.

“Our honeymoon,” he says before placing a kiss on my temple and standing up. “Our plane leaves in a few hours. Pack only the essentials. We’ll buy warmer clothes when we get there.”

A smile forms on my lips as I realize Luca planned this trip for us. Just us. No bodyguards. No first or second or third in command. Only us.

I’m overcome with happiness, so much so that I jump off the bed and tackle my husband. I catch him off-guard, but he still manages to fall with me in his arms to the floor gracefully.

“I take it that you’re happy?” he asks with a chuckle.

I lean down and place a kiss on his lips. “So happy,” I agree.

“Good. That’s all I want.”

I give him another kiss before I quickly climb off of him and run to the closet. “I need to pack!” I say, my voice high-pitched and weird with excitement.

Luca simply shakes his head in amusement before he leaves the room.

* * *

After we land in Aspen,Colorado, we have a rental car waiting for us at the airport. It’s a big Chevy Suburban with huge winter tires. I wonder out loud if it’s overkill, but Luca informs me we’ll need it for where we’re going.

Excitement is dripping out of every pore in my body on the car ride to our destination, and I’m so nervous that I can barely sit still.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this anxious before,” Luca remarks, reaching over to hold my hand. “Well, maybe on our wedding day.”

“I thought I was going to pass out just from my nerves,” I confess.

He gives my hand a light squeeze. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t. Although I do recall you saying ‘I do’ in the form of a question like we were on an episode of Jeopardy.”

I laugh hard at that. Our wedding day was so hectic and nerve-wracking. I didn’t know which way was up or if I was coming or going. But I’m glad we got through it. And even though we had a rough start to our marriage, we got through all of that too. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be married to anyone else.

“I love that sound,” he remarks.

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