Page 5 of Till Death Do Us Part

You can do this.

I repeat the mantra over and over again for long silent seconds.

With a deep breath, I open my mouth and finally the words come. A collective sigh rings around the room, the relief palpable as I speak my vows.

“I, Pippa, take you, Antonio, to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forwards—”

A door slamming pulls my attention to the back of the church. I turn my head, facing the intrusion, my body locking on contact.

A man stands there, dressed in a black suit similar to the others around us, but it looks much different on his frame. Better. The material moulds to his body perfectly, as though the suit were handcrafted with him in mind.

He struts down the aisle, not at all bothered by the fact he stopped the wedding in its tracks. Unsurprisingly, I am not bothered either.

In fact, I am trying hard to keep a smile off my face.

Not only has he given me a moment’s reprieve, but he has actually brought a slither of entertainment to an otherwise long and boring ceremony, and for that, I could kiss the man.

It also helps that he is the most handsome man I have ever seen.

His hair is a shade or two darker than mine, and as he gets closer, I lose myself in deep brown eyes. His shoulders are broad, and his legs long.

He must be at least six foot five and has tattoos peeking from under his suit.

Glorious, beautiful tattoos.

They cover his hands and there’s black ink working its way up his neck. I can’t deny that I’m intrigued to see what it all looks like under the fitted black shirt he’s wearing.

Only when Antonio coughs do I realise I’m staring at the newcomer, my mouth gaping slightly. I quickly turn my head back to face the front, ignoring the flush that spreads over my cheeks at being caught ogling a man that is not my future husband, on my wedding day.

Well, shit a brick.

Forgive me Father, for I think I am going to sin.

The guests watch in rapt silence while the man continues to make his way towards us. When he stops just ahead of Antonio, the two men shake hands with a smile before Antonio mutters, “Always do like to make an entrance, don’t you, Leonardo.”

“You know me.” The man chuckles, and if it were not for Antonio’s grip on my arm, I am sure the sound would have sent me buckling to the floor.

I have never heard a voice so low, or a laugh so deep, and it does something to me I can’t comprehend. He slaps a hand on Antonio’s shoulder before speaking again. “Happy wedding day, friend. Now, where the fuck do I stand?”

The priest steps in then, guiding him into position beside Antonio. With them standing side by side, I am hit with a fresh wave of anxiety.

It is one thing to find another man attractive that is not your groom, it is a whole other when he’s the best man.

When the priest asks me to repeat my vows, they come easily this time. Though it is not Antonio my eyes lock on when the words fall from my mouth.

It’s his best man.

His eyes darken as he watches me, the brown becoming almost black when I vow, “Till death do us part.”

CHAPTER TWO

Thepitterpatterofrain on the windows and the rumble of the engine beneath us fill the awkward silence in the car. My hands twist nervously in my lap as I keep stealing glances at the man beside me.

There hasn’t been a single word uttered between Antonio and me since we stepped out of the church as husband and wife. If anything, he seems to be going out of his way tonotspeak.

The anxious pit in my stomach worsens the longer the silence drags on. There are too many questions running through my mind, too much confusion.

Why me?

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