Page 20 of Forbidden Bride (Forbidden 1)
KARINA
My parents suddenly flank me.“Karina, come. It’s after eleven. We’re leaving now.”
No, no, no. I have to meet Marco. I’ll never get another chance if I go home now.
“Did Pietro leave already?” I ask, looking around as if I’m shocked. “I was just in the restroom for a minute.”
“Yes, he’s gone,” my mother snips. “We need to get to the valet before there’s a line.”
She looks tired—Mom is the type who can only play extrovert for just so long before she suddenly hits a wall. I decide I’m going to use it to my advantage.
“Why don’t you two go ahead? I’m having a good time meeting people with Mercutio, and he can give me a ride home,” I say, hoping it’s not a lie. “Besides, I’m getting married soon. Can’t I have a little fun before the wedding stress kicks in? These are my last days of freedom!”
I hope I’m not laying it on too thick. My parents look at each other and my mother’s lips purse as if she’s going to deny me. My heart sinks. But then my father shrugs and touches her arm placatingly. “Mercutio will keep an eye on her. That should be good enough.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is an absolute first. Way to play the marriage card.
“Thank you!” I practically squeal, giving my dad a rare side-hug. “See you at home.”
As soon as they leave, I meander through the partygoers, on cloud nine, and scout the area for my cousin. He’s easy to find at the bar, sidled up to the edge and deep in flirt with the gorgeous bartender. I tap him on the shoulder.
“Everyone has left but you and me, babysitter.”
He groans quietly, nodding toward the bartender. “Can’t you see I’m busy here?”
Shrugging, I tell him, “I’d be happy to leave you to it, but I doubt Uncle Sergio—”
“Deal,” he interrupts. “I won’t tell anyone if you don’t. Scout’s honor. Now go.”
Resisting the urge to kiss him on the cheek, I spin to go but he grabs my wrist. “When I text you that it’s time to leave, though, you better meet me at the valet. Okay? I mean it.”
“Seriously, Merc? I’m a good girl. You have nothing to worry about. I promise.”
For the first time in my life, I have zero intention of keeping my word. Because Marco makes me want to be a bad girl. I’ll be anything he wants if it means we get more time together.
Except for one small problem. I don’t know where we’re meeting. It’s dark beyond the lights of the garden and the main house, and despite the landscaping spotlights, it’s impossible to tell which part of the vineyard I’m meant to seek out. It’s not like the vines are labeled.
I’m lingering over by the tasting room pavilion, staring up at the hills covered in rows of vines, hoping for a sign or even the light of Marco’s cellphone—something, anything that will tell me which way to go—when someone comes up behind me.
“Are you lost?” a woman’s voice says.
Spinning around, feeling caught red-handed, I find the same woman from the bathroom earlier, staring at me expectantly. She’s a little intimidating. Beautiful. Confident.
“Yes? I mean, no. I was just…looking at the vineyard. It’s so…nice,” I babble.
She grins. “It’s your lucky night, then. I’m Candi Gallagher, and I’m a distributor for the winery. I’d love to give you a tour.”
I hesitate. “Um, I’m actually a little short on time right now. I’m meeting someone.”
Candi leans in. “Let me guess. Tall, dark, handsome, and also happens to race cars under the Bellanti name?”
Suddenly, I feel sick. “Wait. Did he ask you to meet him, too?”
“No! Oh gosh, no, nothing like that.” She laughs warmly. “Marco mentioned you earlier. He asked me to give you a personal tour of the noir vines. Karina, right?”
I melt, all my worries dissipating instantly. “Yes. Thank you.”
“Of course. Follow me.”
Candi leads me to a small gravel path that winds up into the vines. She seems to know her way around in the dark, but as I hike up my layered skirts, I worry I’m going to put a foot wrong and go tumbling down the steep rows—until a few steps in, when little garden lights turn on and line the path. Perfect. The sky is clear tonight, too, with an array of bright stars above. It’s a little magical and my pulse quickens with the excitement of finding out what happens next.
“I would be so lost right now if I’d tried to find my way on my own,” I tell Candi with a laugh, hoping a bit of small talk might ease my nerves.
“Oh, no doubt. This place is like a maze. The vineyards go on for acres and acres.” She turns at the end of a row and stops short. “Here we are!”
Up ahead, a marble fountain with three Roman goddesses spills water into a glowing basin. The flicker of candles on the ground behind it catches my eye. Candi touches my arm.
“Have a good night…” she says, and I’m pretty sure I detect the slightest note of teasing.
“Thank you,” I call after her as she makes her way back through the rows.
“Juliet, come here,” Marco commands, his voice like velvet in the night.
I move toward him, my whole body already tingling. He’s sitting on a blanket spread in the grass. There are lit candles lined up along one side and a picnic basket and bottle of wine in the center. He reaches for my hand and holds on to it as I sit beside him. Is this a dream?
“I noticed you didn’t get to eat any real food earlier.” He gestures to the basket.
“Those appetizers were pretty real,” I try to joke. “But I do prefer a sit-down meal. And I can always eat, to be honest.”
Marco laughs. “A woman after my own heart. I’m the same.”
He opens the basket and names each dish as he sets it on the blanket: there’s homemade rigatoni with sausage in a light cream sauce, buttery slices of toasted semolina bread, and a simple salad dressed in olive oil, lemon, and sea salt. The wine is, of course, a Bellanti vintage.
“Wow,” is all I can say. “This is perfect.”
He fills me a plate and makes one for himself, then pours the wine into stemless glasses—so we won’t spill, he says.
We dive in, Marco eating with gusto, me slightly less so. I feel self-conscious stuffing myself in front of him, and I’m also worried about getting food on my dress. But he notices.
“Is the food okay?” he asks. “I can get you something else—”
“No, it’s incredible. I love it,” I tell him.
“Quindi mangia a sazietà, bella,”he says with a wink.
So eat your fill, beautiful.
