Chapter 12
They walked down the long hallway she had walked down a thousand times before. “When I was a kid, I used to imagine I was a queen walking down this hallway and that monstrous staircase at the end. Today I fully expect to topple down every last step.”
“We’re going to do just fine.”
“We’re about to pretend to be husband and wife in front of thousands of people.”
“No, we are husband and wife. We only have to pretend to be in love.”
He was right, of course, but she wasn’t sure she knew how to do that, wasn’t sure she trusted this man enough to act out the scene that was required of them.
They paused on the top step, taking in the throngs of people below, and she clutched his arm more tightly. One by one, heads turned to see the newly married couple, and Grace’s stomach danced with anxiety.
Her eyes met her father’s and he raised his glass. After all the years she had fought against him, all the distance she had put between them, she was right back here living in his house, completely under his thumb.
Matteo turned her toward him and cupped her jaw. “If we were really in love, I’d want to kiss you in front of all these people. Is that okay?”
Excitement trailed along her spine. He was an attractive man, no matter this was all a charade, and her heart beat faster when he looked at her like that. She nodded. His arms came around her waist and her hands rested on his chest as he tipped her chin up and lowered his head.