Chapter 1
Julia quickly checked her reflection one last time in the mirror. Her floor-length dress was silver and backless with a halter-style neckline. It was probably a bit plain compared to others, but she’d given her blond tresses a sweeping side part and gentle waves to add a little elegance.
She wore simple, understated jewelry because that was her preference. Just one of the things her mother had complained about over the years. The dress didn’t allow for a necklace, anyway, which saved her about five minutes. That was a good thing since Julia was the Maid of Honor and expected to be at La Festa before the guests arrived.
Grabbing her clutch, she hurried from her room and down the stairs. Of course, she’d have the bad luck of running into her parents in the foyer.
“Running a bit late, don’t you think, Julia?” her father asked.
She refrained from rolling her eyes. Barely. Her parents were dressed to impress. Her father in a tailored tuxedo with his light brown hair feathered away from his face. He was quite handsome and tall with broad shoulders. But he was an even bigger snob than her mother. Raised in a family of Old Money and old traditions, he didn’t budge when it came to his many prejudices.
Her mother wore a sapphire blue gown that had a sweetheart neckline, showing off her ample cleavage, that—like her skin—didn’t look a day over twenty-five. Her blond hair was slightly darker than Julia’s and had been curled before being twisted up into a stylish chignon.
“Darling, is that what you’re wearing?” her mom asked, as giant diamonds glinted at her earlobes and around her neck.
Julia didn’t know what upset her more: that her mother acted as if their big blow-out had never happened? Or that she still believed she had the right to an opinion about how her grown daughter dressed?
“Oh, my God, mother,” she muttered with an exasperated sigh, marching right out the front door without pause.
Twenty minutes later, she was pulling into the parking lot of La Festa. It was a beautiful location that overlooked the water across from downtown. Since it was nighttime, the city lights reflected off the water’s surface, adding even more beauty to the scenery.
Security was already posted at every entrance, and Julia spotted the various reporters lying in wait to rush the guests as they arrived. Two valets were also in position, though they seemed a bit nervous. The intimidating giant of a man guarding the front entrance probably had something to do with that.
“Evening, Mr. Hail,” Julia greeted him.
He was the only one of the Romanos’ security team that she knew by name.
“Evening, Miss Karlsson,” he returned, opening the door for her. “You know you can just call me Hail, right?”
She smiled at him and continued into the restaurant. Even though she’d been there earlier, seeing the completed transformation was still exciting. Drawing a quiet breath, Julia peered around at the silk streamers, dangling orbs of various sizes, and urns of fresh flowers. Fairy lights draped back and forth in zigzagging patterns to glint off the metallic dusted glass of the orbs, giving the whole restaurant a magical and romantic atmosphere.
Tables had been combined for groups and candles glowed around the peony and rose centerpieces. Some of the staff were still finishing with the place settings and making sure the linens were straight. Julia crossed the room to where her best friend, Serafina, was standing with her grandmother, Arianna Romano, as they watched the musicians setting up on the central stage.
A large, draping banner hung along the very back wall, blocking some of the floor-to-ceiling windows. It read: Congratulations Serafina & Alessandro!
Julia drank in her best friend’s red gown of overlapping layers and the black outlines of hand-beaded roses that further accentuated her hourglass figure. Her long, ebony locks fell to her lower back in big, sexy curls.
“Now, who’s making everyone feel underdressed?” Julia teased, as she approached.
Sera turned and laughed, hugging her. “Are you kidding? You look like a Hollywood starlet right now.”
“Hi again,” she greeted Arianna with a hug, as well. “Where’s Elena?”
“She should be here any minute with the rest of the family,” Arianna answered, glancing at her watch.
Julia felt marginally relieved that she hadn’t been the last one to return. The entire bridal party had been at La Festa’s earlier, overseeing the first half of the decorating. Only Arianna had been missing so she could get ready for the party and relieve them early enough to rush home and do the same.
“Where’s your lucky man?” Julia asked.
Serafina rolled her eyes. “With the security team. I think they’re getting ready to lock him out of the room.”
Julia chuckled. “I saw Hail out front,” she remarked. “And the band of reporters already frothing at the mouth.”
“I’m sure that will get worse as the minutes count down,” Arianna remarked.
“Excuse us, ladies,” one of the musicians said from on stage. “You might want to take a step back. We’re going to do a soundcheck and it might be a little loud.”
“Thank you,” Arianna said, giving him an appreciative smile, as they moved off the dance floor.
The door opened just then, followed by Elena and Cecilia’s cheers, as they hurried through the restaurant to greet them. Elena looked elegant in a frost blue gown with spaghetti straps and sequined patterns. It was form-fitting until just above her knees where it turned to sheer gossamer in the same colors and patterns.
Cecilia wore a strapless gown of dusty rose. Camilla, who looked remarkably like Arianna’s sister, rather than daughter, wore a sparkling champagne gown, while Stephanie had chosen a classic black number that crisscrossed at the back.
Their husbands, Leo and Rocelin, along with Leo’s twin brother, Enzo, all looked very dashing in their tuxedos. Then, Serafina’s grandfather walked in and damn near put them all to shame. Like Julia’s father, Nicola Romano looked debonair in his tux. Only, he was far from being the same shallow snob William Karlsson could be.
Nicola wasn’t prejudiced, either, only proud of his Italian heritage. Even she didn’t hold her family’s pride for their Scandinavian roots against them. It was their Elitist mentality that drove her nuts.
Last to enter were the boys. Enrico didn’t appear too happy about being in a tux, since he kept tugging at his shirt collar. The twins, Massimo and Stefano, didn’t seem to care, either way.
“I believe the guests are starting to arrive,” Nicola announced, as he lifted Serafina’s hands and looked her over with a warm smile before kissing her cheeks. “Bellissimo, amore mio.”
“The first guests will probably be my parents,” Julia said. “They were getting ready to walk out the door when I left the house.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with them being here?” Sera asked her quietly.
“Absolutely,” she said, giving her a reassuring smile. “This night is about you and your d—fiancé.”
Sera chuckled. “I’m so glad I’m not the only one having trouble watching my tongue.”
Julia laughed with her. It was definitely going to be a challenge throughout the night. Especially, once everyone started drinking.
“Where is the photographer?” Arianna demanded, looking at her watch nervously. “They should’ve been here ten minutes ago.”
“Looks like my brother got to him, first,” Camilla pointed.
They all glanced toward the front of the restaurant to see Alessandro walking toward them with a man carrying a tripod, his camera hanging around his neck. Out of all the Romanos, Serafina’s dad won the title for most attractive. His black hair was swept away from his face, but long enough to tell it was naturally curly. It was his bright blue eyes that captured one’s attention right away.
He wasn’t an easy man to read and Julia suspected that was part of his allure. The mystery and intrigue. She’d always thought he looked like a movie star, yet found him more intimidating than approachable.
Alesso brought the photographer to them, stopping along the way to wrap an arm around Julia’s waist—which was completely unexpected. Pulling her close, he kissed her cheeks, giving her a whiff of his tantalizing cologne.
“You look beautiful, Julia,” he greeted.
“Thank you.” She smiled, undeniably affected by the surprise greeting.
She’d have to be dead not to be.
Where’s a bucket of ice when you need one?
“Can we get the music started, please? We have guests arriving,” Arianna asked the musicians, who nodded and started playing.
“It was nice to meet you all,” the photographer was saying. “I was thinking we could do group photos after the cake cutting. Is there a specific area where that will be set up?”
“Yes, right over here,” Stephanie answered, leading him away to show him.
Serafina suddenly grabbed Julia’s hand, capturing her attention. “I love you, Jules,” she blurted, her eyes darting to the entrance over Julia’s shoulder.
She let out a sigh. “It’s my parents. Isn’t it?” she asked, bracing herself before turning to see if they were approaching.
All the blood drained from Julia’s face, and her lungs seized. Her heart dropped to the floor only to bungee right back into her chest and beat wildly. Paralyzed with shock, she could only stare as the sexiest man alive walked toward them. His tux was just as tailored as the others, showing off his six-foot frame of broad shoulders and packed muscles.
His dirty blond hair was short and swept to the side a little. It appeared darker than she remembered, but the groomed beard and mustache on his chiseled face betrayed his Viking roots. Blue-gray eyes sparkled, framed in golden lashes, and when he smiled, laugh lines cupped the corners of his mouth nearly as deep as dimples.
Abruptly, Julia’s lungs started working again and she inhaled a gulp of precious air before exhaling it with his name.
“Uncle Elias?”
