As careful as he was to hide it, Lilly could see he was disappointed at having to delay their marriage, and the truth was she didn’t care if they were married in a courthouse or a chapel, but her parents would care and Simon’s parents would probably feel the same way. Still, putting together the size of wedding that their combined social status required could take weeks even if they rushed it.
She’d have to shop for a wedding gown and dresses for the bridesmaids, and they’d have to arrange for a caterer and select the food and cake and what drinks to serve. Then there was the church to book and a reception to plan; the list seemed endless and Lilly wasn’t at all happy with the idea of having to wait that long.
“I don’t think we can get out of having a formal wedding,” she told him, “but I believe I may have figured out a way we can make everyone happy.”
By the time Lilly finished outlining her idea, Simon was nodding in agreement and sporting a broad smile.
EPILOGUE
The first wedding took place in a courthouse four days later with only Milana and Luc as witnesses. Simon was beside himself because he’d gotten exactly what he wanted; to make Lilly his wife as quickly as possible. After swearing his sister and Luc to secrecy he carted Lilly off to Italy for a honeymoon and to show off his native land, though they’d seen precious little of it, having spent most of their time cocooned in one of his smaller estates near the coast.
The second ceremony was performed a month after they returned from Italy in a church that was filled to the brim with friends and family, followed by a reception that was nothing less than spectacular. Lilly was elated when Simon agreed to have a second wedding and she’d been even more ecstatic when their mothers joined forces to plan the entire affair.
She’d been a little intimated when she first met Ravenna Vittorio because the woman had swept into the room looking very regal and extremely unapproachable. Ravenna presented her cheek to Simon with all the mien of crowned royalty, and Lilly had braced herself for the disdainful glance she was positive Ravenna was about to bestow on her. But to her surprise, and immense relief, Simon’s mother turned to Lilly with warm acceptance in her eyes.
“So you are the young woman who has captivated my son’s heart. We had almost given up hope he would ever fall in love and give us grandchildren.”
Lilly’s eyes flew to Simon. “I thought we agreed…” she started, then clamped her mouth shut when he shook his head.
There was a moment of silence as Ravenna took in the warm blush that was creeping into Lilly’s cheeks. Obviously, Simon hadn’t told his mother about the baby, and Lilly couldn’t decide if she wanted to laugh or kick herself. Even if her own guilt-stricken expression hadn’t been a dead giveaway, Simon’s blatant avoidance of eye contact with his mother certainly was.
Ravenna turned to her son. “Simon, È incinta?”
A smile as big as Texas spread across his face. “Sì, mamma, stiamo avendo un bambino.”
Ravenna wasted no time telling everyone that she was going to be a grandmother, though Lilly and Simon did manage to tell her own parents before word got around. And once the news had spread, Vittorio’s from both the States and Italy showed up in hordes to congratulate them in person. There had been quite a period of adjustment during those first few months of marriage when it seemed as if their home had turned into a hotel for Simon’s relatives, but Lilly hadn’t minded too much. Yes, she’d missed her quiet days with Simon, but there was always the nights, and in time everything returned to normal.
There had been some bumps along the way, but with a man as passionate as Simon was, she hadn’t expected any less. He’d been fiercely protective of her during her pregnancy and insisted she quit her job, but Lilly had been just as adamant about continuing her work. In the end, they compromised. Simon financed the construction of a rehab center where Lilly could train others, and through them, she was able to accomplish more than she ever could have on her own. She loved being a physical therapist, but after the birth of their son, Simon Alexander, she found it increasingly difficult to go to work and leave him behind.
When Lilly discovered she was pregnant again, just a few months after Alex’s first birthday, she left the Vittorio Rehab Center in the capable hands of her staff and became a full time mother. Simon couldn’t have been happier and she found a greater joy in taking care of her family than she ever thought possible. Nico’s birth had been every bit as celebrated by their families as Alex’s had been, and two years later Lilly bore a third son they named David, after her father.
It was after Nico was born that Simon finally made the decision to relinquish some of his control in the family business, delegating a good portion of his responsibilities to the three younger Vittorio males. He’d been moving in that direction for quite some time, albeit a bit sluggishly, because he hadn’t felt confident his brothers could run the company as well as he did. But when Alex took his first steps while Simon was working overtime, he started to resent being away from his family and resolved to make the transition complete as soon as he could.
The last straw was when he nearly missed out on David’s birth altogether because he was in a board meeting and didn’t get the message Lilly had been taken to the hospital until almost two hours after she’d been admitted. She’d been upset with him when he arrived and accused him of caring more for his job more than he did her. She knew she was being unfair, but she was hurt because she’d needed him and he wasn’t there. Simon hadn’t taken it well. He’d let her down, something he promised he would never do, and Lilly had forgiven him long before he forgave himself.
And now, as she stood in the doorway of David’s room watching Simon tuck him in and press a soft kiss to their baby’s forehead, she felt such a rush of love for her husband she could have cried. Her hand moved absently over her belly; the bump barely noticeable even though she was in her fifth month. She remembered her first pregnancy and how worried she’d been that Simon would find her unattractive once her figure started to expand, but to her amazement it had just the opposite effect.
He was completely enamored with the idea that it was his child growing inside of her and couldn’t seem to resist any opportunity to touch her, especially once the pregnancy became more obvious. It was incredibly endearing to watch his eyes light up when he ran his hand over her stomach, as if it was Christmas morning and he had just received the most wonderful gift. It made her feel loved and secure, confident in both herself and their marriage. Lilly couldn’t have asked for a better husband or father than Simon.
“He is asleep already,” Simon said in a hushed tone as he slipped his arm around her waist and walked her back to their bedroom.
“I’m not surprised,” she laughed, “he was a holy terror today.”
“My son is not a holy terror, he is a little demanding perhaps…”
Lilly stopped beside the bed, arching an incredulous brow. “A little! You weren’t there when your son decided Alex needed to wear the strained carrots Luisa was attempting to feed him, nor when he got a fist full of Nico’s hair and wouldn’t let go.”
“He is like his father,” Simon said proudly, “a force to be reckoned with.”
Lilly dropped her robe to the floor and slipped between the sheets. “You are far too indulgent when it comes to your boys,” she sighed. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that you’ll toughen up before this one comes along.”
Simon flipped off the light and climbed into bed, pulling her up close to his side. “I am not indulgent, cara mia, I am merely allowing my sons the freedom to express themselves. As for the new baby, he will be treated no differently than the others.”
“Oh, I have a feeling this one will be ruling the roost from day one.”
“You really think he will have a stronger personality than David?”
“I’m sure of it,” she said with conviction.
“And just what makes you so sure, carissima?”
“Something the doctor said.”
Sim
on muttered a few oaths under his breath. “I cannot believe I forgot to ask how your appointment went. Forgive me, darling.”
Lilly smiled up at him. “Well, it is getting to be a little old hat since we’ve already gone through three pregnancies.”
“It is not getting old,” he said with a frown. “I should have been there, I should have…” Simon stopped abruptly, the furrow between his brows deepening. “The doctor said this one is different than the others?”
She traced the lines on his forehead, touched by his concern even though it had always been this way. He worried constantly that something would go wrong, but Lilly had carried all three of their sons to full term with little difficulty so she had no reason to fear there would be any trouble this time around.
“Don’t upset yourself,” she gave him a reassuring smile, “the baby and I are both fine.”
Simon’s hand moved over her belly, an audible sigh whispering through his lips. “He is healthy then?”
“Perfectly healthy, I promise. There is one more thing I would like to talk to you about. I know we usually pick out the name together, but I was thinking…I’d really like to name the baby Raven.”
Lilly watched his face carefully and though his expression didn’t change, she could almost hear his masculine hormones groaning at the thought of his son being named Raven. There was a moment of silence as he tried to come up with a diplomatic way of telling her no. It was all she could do to keep from laughing when he cleared his throat then kept an admirably even tone when he asked why she had chosen that particular name.
“After your mother,” she said, as if it was a silly question.
“I am sure she would be flattered, but the name is a little…feminine.”
“Well, I should hope so,” Lilly smiled, no longer able to contain herself. “After all, a girl should have a feminine name, don’t you think?”
It hit him square in the chest, knocking the air out of him for several minutes. A baby girl. Simon loved his sons dearly, but he’d longed for a daughter he could spoil, a little girl with eyes like her mother’s that he could pamper in a way he couldn’t do with the boys. Raven Vittorio, he mouthed the name and smiled. Yes, he liked that.
Simon’s heart leapt with joy, his big body shaking from an emotion so powerful he couldn’t have controlled it if he’d tried. He moved over Lilly, seeking her mouth with his and made love to her without having uttered a word, but his wife knew him too well not to understand how he felt. There was no need for conversation…only this; this joining of husband and wife, friend and lover, heart and soul.
Afterwards, Lilly stroked his dark hair as he rested his head just above the swell of her belly, his warm hand moving tenderly back and forth as he’d done so many times during the course of her previous pregnancies. He was murmuring in Italian, something about pretty dresses and parties and giving his daughter whatever her heart desired. There was that fierce protectiveness in his voice, the one she’d learned over the years was reserved for the women in his family, and it brought a poignant smile to her lips.
They had a good marriage, a solid relationship that had endured its ups and downs because they’d learned from the mistakes they’d made during their tumultuous beginning. What they’d built together was open and honest and there wasn’t anything they couldn’t talk about with one another. She adored her husband and children, and loved the way the close-knit Vittorio clan had welcomed her into the fold as if she’d always belonged.
She even enjoyed the endless stream of relatives that always seemed to find a reason for dropping by, especially since Milana and Luc and their two boys were among the more frequent visitors. Lilly was happy, content in a way she’d never dreamed possible. And now with a baby girl on the way, there wasn’t a single thing she could think of that would make her life more complete.
She had it all. A mixture of love and pride swelled in her chest when Simon lifted his head and met her adoring gaze with one that was equally tender. Cupping her face in his hands, Simon claimed her mouth, just as he had claimed her heart years ago. His possession was made complete with the words that never failed to make her fall in love all over again.
“Mia donna,” he whispered, “mia moglie.” My woman, my wife.
Table of Contents
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events are the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
EPILOGUE
VITTORIO'S WOMAN Page 17
