She didn’t answer as I made my way to the bathroom, snapping off the condom contentedly.

Yep, she liked the room.

I showered quickly, eager to get to the part where Caro got all fancy. Plus, I was freakin’ starving after that work out.

She was staring at me, a puzzled frown on her face as I walked back into the bedroom.

“What?”

“Just wondering how the hell I ended up engaged to such a hot Marine. It’s been quite a week.”

Her words sent a shiver through my entire body. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you, Caro?”

She shook her head slowly. “No, Sebastian, I’m not. But you have to admit, it’s all been pretty fast.”

“It’s been ten years, Caro,” I contradicted, meaning every word. “I’ve waited long enough.”

Her gaze softened and her eyes got warm. Her smile left little crinkles at the corner of her eyes, and I wanted to kiss every fucking one of them.

“I love you so much, tesoro,” she said.

“Love you, too, Caro.” Then I grinned at her. “Now get your ass in that shower, before I throw you in there.”

“Fine, fine,” she grumbled. “I’m going.”

I waited until she was really moving before I turned to get dressed.

“I’ll meet you in the restaurant, Caro.”

“You’re not going to wait for me here?”

“Nope. I want to see you sweeping down that staircase and have all the other bastards wanting you, but knowing I’ll be the one taking you to bed later.” She rolled her eyes. “Humor me: it’s a guy thing.”

She shook her head, but was smiling as she closed the door to the bathroom.

I pulled on the unfamiliar tux, pleased at how well everything fit, even the pre-shone shoes.

Then I laid out my final two purchases that were seriously fuckin’ expensive. But if they looked as hot on her as I expected, worth every damn penny.

I wandered down to the restaurant, making sure that they’d reserved the table I wanted. It was in a small alcove, making it almost private, and it had amazing views down the cliffs to the sea. All for Caro. Christ, I was turning into such a pussy.

Married. Caro was the only woman I’d ever considered marrying. My parents had been just about the worst fucking example of wedded bliss that you could imagine: yelling at each other, hitting each other, fucking other people, drinking themselves into a coma most nights.

If it hadn’t been for Ches’ parents, I wouldn’t have known that marriage could be anything different. I wanted what they had: knowing that your wife had your back, no matter what—for richer, for poorer and all of that. Yeah, I wanted it all. I could tell Caro was still hesitant. Her answer of ‘I don’t know’ when Signora Carello had asked us when we were getting married made that pretty clear. I just didn’t know if that was because of her ex-husband … or because she wasn’t sure of me.

I leaned against the bar and ordered a beer. We’d have wine with the meal, but right now I’d take a beer.

I’d only enjoyed a few sips when I saw in the mirror that a woman was watching me. Attractive, yeah. Cougar, hell yeah.

I’d spent a lot of years with women like that. You might say they’d become my specialty. I could see her unashamedly running her eyes over my ass, and then she licked her lips and prowled toward me.

She was wearing a purple halter top that just about restrained her fake tits, and long silver-gray pants that showed off her tiny waist, and skin that was orange from too many sun-beds.

“Ciao!” she purred, leaning next to me on the bar so I could have a look at her tits. I couldn’t help glancing over when they were on display like that, but they weren’t anywhere near as good as Caro’s. No competition. But she’d seen me look, and that was enough.

“Hi,” I said in English, hoping that she’d leave me alone.

“Ah, Inglese? Americano?”

“American.”

“Oh, you are movie actor?”

I laughed and shook my head, subtly taking half a step away from her. But she didn’t take the hint, leaning in closer.

“Are you staying at Il Saraceno?”

I nodded and took another long drink of my beer. “With my fiancée,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

It didn’t slow her down for a second and she laid her hand on my arm in a seemingly friendly gesture, although I knew it wasn’t innocent.

“Congratulazioni,” she said, the smile failing to meet her eyes or move her forehead.

I turned slightly, so she was forced to drop her hand, but then I glanced up the stairs and saw Caro. My breath caught in my throat. So fucking beautiful.

She was always hot, but seeing her dressed up was every fantasy come to life. She gave me a small smile then carefully made her way down the wide staircase, clinging onto the handrail as the silky-blue dress made soft shushing noises by her ankles. I wondered if I could get her to practice walking around our bedroom in high heels. I licked my lips.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, I walked toward her, took her hand and kissed the back of it softly.

“You look beautiful, Caro.”

“Thank you, kind sir.”

I held out my arm, grinning at her teasing tone. Yeah, yeah. I could be a fucking gentleman. “May I escort you in to dinner, ma’am?”

“Why, yes you may.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw the woman at the bar scowl, then shrug her shoulders, moving onto the bartender who looked worried.

Sorry, buddy, you’re on your own.

I led Caro to our table, waving away the waiter and seating her myself, brushing a lingering kiss over her bare shoulder.

“I can’t wait to get you out of that dress,” I murmured, running my index finger from her earlobe to the base of her neck.

A soft sigh escaped her, and her eyes were only just drifting open when I sat across the table from her, grinning like an idiot.

“Every man in this room wants you, Caro. I’m so fucking proud, I can’t stop smiling.”

“Hmm, well I think you may be a little biased,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “I thought I was going to need a crowbar to pry that woman off you. Is it just me, or had she overdone the fake tan, because I haven’t seen that shade of orange outside of a drag review.”

Was she jealous?

“My girl’s got grit: I like it.”

“I felt like swinging her around by her hair extensions,” Caro admitted, the heat in her eyes making a lie of her mild tone. “Maybe some of your Marine training is rubbing off on me.”

“That comes after the main course.”

“Thank you for today, Sebastian,” she said, her voice becoming serious. “It’s been … perfect. Thank you.”

“It’s been a long time coming, Caro, but it was worth the wait.”

She held up her left hand, examining the ring, turning it so the diamond sparkled in the setting sun.

“Where did you get this beautiful ring? Because I didn’t see any shops in Salerno that…”

“I didn’t get it in Salerno,” I interrupted softly.

Her mouth popped open in surprise. “Then where?”

“Geneva,” I said, grinning at her amazement. “You know I was supposed to be at that fucking dull hostile environment briefing—which they’d given me as part of my ‘rehabilitation’ after Paris…” I raised an eyebrow, “but after I’d seen you … I couldn’t face going back. I was just wandering around trying to get my head together, and I saw it in a jeweler’s shop.”

“But … you still hated me then!”

I shook my head. “I never hated you, Caro, although I tried; I really fucking tried. But I just couldn’t do it.” I sighed and looked away. “That ring has been burning a hole in my pocket ever since. I was just waiting for the right time to give it to you.”

She blinked rapidly, and I really hoped that I hadn’t spoiled things and made her cry again.

“You’ve always been so sure,” she whispered, “I don’t understand why.”

My heart lurched sickeningly. She doesn’t feel the same.

“I told you, Caro. It’s only ever been you.”