Page 31 of Bound by a One-Night Vow

WHEN IZZY WOKE the next morning Andrea was already up and showered. He brought her a cup of tea and some toast on a tray and sat on the edge of the bed as he set it across her lap. ‘How are you feeling this morning, cara?’

‘Much better, thanks.’ She took the cup of tea and cradled it in her hands. ‘Thanks for taking such good care of me. It’s a long time since I was cosseted like that.’

He gave her leg a little pat. ‘You deserve to be cosseted. I was worried about you.’

‘It would have been far more worrying if I hadn’t got my period.’ Izzy brought the cup to her mouth to take a sip of her tea.

‘True.’ He gave an on-off smile but a frown flickered across his brow.

There was a silence.

Izzy put her cup back on the tray. ‘What time do we leave for Venice?’

He rose from the bed. ‘Our flight leaves in about an hour or so. It’s a late afternoon wedding so there’ll be plenty of time to dress at the hotel before the service.’

‘Will it be a big wedding?’

‘Big enough.’

Izzy tilted her head at him. ‘You’re not looking forward to it, are you?’

He gave her another brief smile. ‘Let’s put it this way: I’ll be glad when today is over.’

* * *

They arrived at their hotel in Venice—one of Andrea’s smaller ones, but for all that no less gorgeous. Izzy freshened up her make-up and hair and then dressed in one of the outfits Andrea had bought her when they’d gone shopping a few days ago. It was navy blue satin that clung to her figure like a glove and she teamed it with a matching satin wrap and high heels.

Just as she was about to put on some costume jewellery, Andrea came over to her carrying a jewellery box. ‘These are for you,’ he said.

Izzy opened the box to find a stunningly beautiful sapphire and diamond pendant and matching droplet earrings nestled in a bed of luxurious velvet. ‘Oh, my goodness...they’re gorgeous.’ She glanced up at him but his expression was difficult to read. ‘You really shouldn’t have spent so much money.’

He shrugged as if spending thousands and thousands of euros on designer jewellery was no big deal. ‘You need to look the part at Patrizio and Elena’s wedding.’

Izzy felt a sharp pang of disappointment like a needle stab to her heart. He hadn’t bought the jewellery specifically for her but as a stage prop to convince everyone their marriage was not the sham it really was. She looked back down at the earrings and pendant, touching the shimmering diamonds with one of her fingers. ‘You have excellent taste in jewellery...’ Then she frowned and looked up at him again. ‘But I thought you said you never bought your lovers jewellery?’

He took the box from her and removed the pendant. ‘I don’t. But this is different. Turn around and I’ll put it on for you.’

Different? In what way? Did it mean he was beginning to care for her? To really care for her?

To feel close to her?

Izzy turned and lifted the back of her hair out of the way so he could fasten the pendant around her neck. The brush of his fingers against her skin made her shiver as if he had sent a current of electricity through her body. Once the pendant was in place she turned back around to face him. ‘Why is it different?’

His gaze drifted to her mouth and back to her eyes but his expression was still as inscrutable as ever. ‘You’re my wife. People will expect you to be wearing nice jewellery.’

Izzy touched the pendant hanging around her neck. ‘But I’m only a temporary wife. Spending heaps of money seems a little over-the-top, given the circumstances.’

His mouth tightened for the briefest moment as if her comment had landed like a punch. ‘No one knows this is temporary but us.’

‘And Gianna.’

He gave a grunt that could have been agreement or scorn or both. ‘I’m starting to wonder if I should have let her in on the secret.’ He picked up his jacket and shrugged it on. ‘You look beautiful, by the way. That colour suits you.’

Izzy smoothed down the front of her dress, ridiculously thrilled by his compliment. ‘Thank you.’ She picked up the earrings and inserted them into her ears. ‘Will I do?’

His dark gaze ran over her like a minesweeper and he gave her a bone-melting smile. ‘You’ll more than do.’

* * *

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