Rome for Always (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) (19 page)

“Don’t be,” he said smugly. “We’ve decided you and Rome
are going to get married right here in Italy.”

“What?” Now Arie sat up straight. “We can’t get married
in Italy. We’ve already made all the arrangements here.”

“Yes, yes, a small wedding with just family and close
friends.” Vittorio’s tone said none of that was important. “I know what you
said but Lily and I were talking and we were saying how we need to make things
up to you, make you see how much we want to welcome you into the family. What
better way than to throw you the perfect wedding right here where the entire
family can get to meet you? Rome has aunts and uncles and tons of cousins who
want to be there.”

“Vittorio, are you serious?” Arie asked, incredulous.
“The wedding is just two weeks away.”

“Plenty of time for my team to pull things together,” he
said with confidence.

“But I would have to cancel everything…” Her voice
trailed off. It wouldn’t be impossible. After all, they’d only planned a small
event. But what about her friends? There was no way she was getting married
without Lena by her side. “I can’t do that, Vittorio,” she said firmly. “I
can’t disappoint my friends.”

“No-one will be disappointed. They’ll be flown to Italy
in my private jet. We’ll arrange accommodation for everyone.” Then he chuckled.
“And who knows? Your friends may love a free trip to Rome, compliments of your
father-in-law.”

It was the way he said it that finally convinced her.
Vittorio really wanted to please her. And, to be honest, changing plans
wouldn’t be so hard. It wasn’t like she had a lot of friends. Even more
convenient, she had no family, none outside of Maya. And then she smiled as she
thought about it. Lena and Marylin would love the free trip to Italy. She was
sure of it. “Maybe,” she said, thinking out loud. “Maybe we can make it happen
but I’d have to speak with Rome first.”

“Beat you to it,” Vittorio said. “He’s on board. He just
wanted me to clear it with you before he made any commitments.” Vittorio
chuckled. “Smart boy.”

Arie didn’t know what to say to that. Vittorio had gone
ahead and had discussions behind her back. She should be peeved about that. She
should definitely be annoyed. Somehow, though, all she felt like doing was
exactly what Vittorio had suggested. Right then, what she wanted to do was
focus on her baby and let somebody else worry about pulling the wedding
together. Like Rome told her once, it was so much easier if, on the appointed
day, you just showed up.

It was so tempting to take him up on his offer.  Maybe
she was just tired. She sighed. “All right, Vittorio. It sounds like it could
work. Can we talk about this tomorrow?” She was dying to catch a few winks before
Maya woke up for her feeding.

But, like she’d sent her a message by telepathy, the
baby woke long before feeding time, letting out a wail so loud it had Arie
cringing.

“Is that the
bambina
?” Vittorio asked, his tone
indulgent. “What is the matter with her?”

Arie sighed. “I think she’s teething. I’ve tried
everything but nothing works. She’s so cranky. Can you hold on a second?”

She ran and got the baby and tried desperately to hush
and soothe her as she again reached for the phone. Maya only wailed louder. “I
don’t know what to do,” Arie cried, almost going crazy with frustration. “I
tried everything.”

Then she heard Vittorio call out, “Lily, time to come
work your magic on your grandbaby.”

And that was how Arie finally got some sleep that night.
Lily had the perfect answer for teething, an old Italian remedy – a bit of
lemon skin to rub on the gums.  She tried it immediately and it worked like a
charm.

And then Lily said the one thing that gave Arie a level
of comfort that made her sleep soundly that night. “If you have any questions
about the baby never hesitate to call me,” the older woman said. “Remember, I’m
your mother now.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"My daughter, I have never seen you more
beautiful." Vittorio smiled down at Arie as she slipped her hand into the
crook of his arm.

"Thank you, Vittorio."  She would probably
never call him Dad but that was okay.  They'd reached a point where they had a
certain level of respect for each other and that was the most important thing,
wasn't it?

"Shall we go?"  he asked, with a gallant bow.

She smiled, her heart full of happiness.  "We
shall."  And, to the sound of the organ playing 'Here comes the bride',
Arie took her first steps down the aisle, leaning on the arm of her giveaway
father.  Slowly and carefully she walked the length of the chapel, her eyes
fixed on the man who had stolen her heart and returned it to her, filled to
overflowing with love.  As she drew closer and closer, her eyes never leaving
his deep, dark ones, his mouth curved in a smile and his eyes shone with
emotion, leaving her in no doubt that he was as touched by the moment as she
was.

When they got to the front of the church Vittorio turned
her to face him and lifted the veil, revealing her to the view of friends and
family, then he turned her toward her husband-to-be. As the well-wishers looked
on he took her hand and laid it, palm down, on top of his son's outstretched
one.  "She's all yours," he whispered, smiling as he delivered Arie
into Rome's hands.

 As soon as his father stepped away and headed back down
the aisle Rome  enclosed her hand in his and drew her close, his eyes glowing
as he gazed down at her.

And then the ceremony began.  "Dearly beloved, we
are gathered here together to celebrate the love of Rome Milano and Aristotle
Angelis."  As she'd expected, Arie's given name brought a couple of
titters from their audience but she was too lost in love to care. "Into
this holy estate, these two persons present now come to be joined.
If any person can show just cause why they may
not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.
"

"Mama!" Maya's yell was followed by a chortle
that made the whole congregation break into laughter.

Arie turned to see her daughter bouncing up and down on
Lily's lap, waving her chubby arms like she wanted to be picked up. And Lily,
her soon-to-be grandmother, was beaming so proudly that anyone would have
thought this was her first grandchild.  Arie blew Maya a kiss then turned back
to the matter at hand, the business of tying the knot with the man standing by
her side.

And in the deep, mellow voice she had grown to love he
began his vows to her. "
Io,
Rome Milano, prendo te, Aristotle Angelis, come mia sposa e prometto di esserti
fedele sempre," he said for the benefit of the non-English speakers and
then he followed in English, "I, Rome Milano, take you, Aristotle Angelis,
as my wife and promise to be faithful to you always."

They were the sweetest words she'd
ever heard.  Following his example, she said her vows in the Italian she'd practised
and then in her native English.  And then the minister said the long
anticipated words, "I now pronounce you man and wife.  You may now kiss
the bride."

To Arie's surprise, her brand  new
husband let out an audible sigh like he'd been holding his breath all that
time.  And then his face relaxed into a smile that was tinged with relief and
he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly, right there in front of family,
friends and the smiling minister.

And then they were walking down the
aisle together, hand in hand, and then out the open door where they were pelted
with rice and flowers, the primary perpetrators of whom were Lena, Marilyn,
Sophia and Lucia. "I'll get you," Arie called out as she ran down the
steps of the little church but she was laughing as she went, glad that she had
the support of her good friends and her two newly acquired sisters.  She and
Rome piled into the Bugatti Veyron convertible and then they were off, through
the streets of Rome, her veil floating on the breeze.  They would be meeting 
everyone at the banquet hall in an hour and this time Arie would not be the one
doing the catering.

Rome leaned over and kissed his wife full on the mouth. 
"Now you're all mine, Mrs. Milano," he said, smiling, "for now
and for always."

And the way he said it made a lump rise in her throat. 
Overcome with emotion, all she could do was tilt her face up and kiss him
back.  If there was a heaven on earth, this was it.   She had her Maya and now
she had her Rome...for always.

Thank you for reading
‘Rome for Always’ (sequel to 'Rome for the Holidays').  I sincerely appreciate
your support and hope you enjoyed the read.  If you liked this story I would
appreciate your leaving a brief review on my book page.  That’s the best
support any author could ask for.  Thank you in advance!

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ROME
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BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES

Judy Angelo

Volume 1 -
Tamed by the Billionaire

Volume 2 -
Maid in the USA

Volume 3 -
Billionaire's Island Bride

Volume 4 -
Dangerous Deception

Volume 5 -
To Tame a Tycoon

Volume 6 -
Sweet Seduction

Volume 7 -
Daddy by December

Volume 8 -
To Catch a Man (in 30 Days or Less)

Volume 9 –
Bedding Her Billionaire Boss

Volume 10 -
Her Indecent Proposal

Volume 11 -
So Much Trouble When She Walked In

Volume 12 –
Married by Midnight

Volume 13 -
The Billionaire Next Door

Volume 14 -
Rome
for Always

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. I - Vols. 1 - 4

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. II - Vols. 5 - 8

BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. III - Vols. 9 - 12

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TAMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE - Vol. 1

Roman Steele
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MAID IN THE U.S.A. -Vol. 2

Pierce D'Amato
- The software billionaire who thinks he's in control but instead
finds himself at the mercy of an angelic four year old and a dark-eyed French
beauty who steals his heart.

BILLIONAIRE'S ISLAND BRIDE - Vol. 3

Dare DeSouza
- The owner of a line of Caribbean resorts who tries to teach our beloved
heroine a lesson she'll never forget...but then ends up learning the greatest
lesson of his life.

DANGEROUS DECEPTION - Vol. 4

Storm Hunter
- He loves motorcycles, fast cars and now he's got to add one more item to his
list of loves: Danielle Swift.  Dani has a charm he tries to resist but this committed
bachelor is no match for this bold and independent woman who's like none he's met
before.

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TO TAME A TYCOON - Vol. 5

Enrico Megalos
- A shipping tycoon with a big problem but one which 'lion tamer',
Asia Miller, is determined to fix.