Salvatore. Salvatore watched Alexa as she greeted patrons entering the gala and wondered how he’d gotten so lucky. Dressed in a black evening gown that shimmered blue and silver in the light, Alexa was a vision of sophistication. She smiled and shook hands with Theodore Cain, a middle-aged man who owned Talaus, Inc., a company that produced medical devices. Salvatore had met Theodore Cain once before at a similar charity function, and the man was known for his generous donations. His mere presence meant this night might be a success for Alexa’s charity. The Seattle Pregnancy Test and Planning Center was growing by leaps and bounds, according to the details he’d gone over with Alexa while planning the gala this week. Her dedication to this cause was admirable, and he couldn’t deny she was making a huge impact in the area. Located next to the regional hospital, the center provided free testing, exams, and treatment for expecting mothers. Aside from the medical services, the teachin
The weekend after the gala, Salvatore was out of town for a business meeting in Chicago. Now that planning the gala was behind her, Alexa could focus on planning their wedding.Alexa texted Salvatore from the back seat of a black sedan as James drove her to pick up Lorie and Irene. They had an appointment with an exclusive wedding dress designer at ten in the morning and a meeting with the caterer at two in the afternoon.After the gala on Saturday, Alexa had attended Salvatore’s church with him, and she’d been pleased with her visit. The service was enlightening, the members were welcoming, and she’d felt a connection to the place immediately. It was a weight off her shoulders knowing their dilemma about which church to attend was settled. She loved her church, but she could see herself becoming an active member in Salvatore’s church as well.After the service, they’d driven back to Salvatore’s house for lunch where she’d had a wonderful idea.“Do you think we could have the wedding
SalvatoreSalvatore tapped his fingernail against his cuff link and continued to pace. It was his wedding day, a day he hadn’t been certain would come until recently.Aiden’s scowl grew deeper from the chair where he was sprawled in the room that had been designated for the groom’s side of the bridal party.Salvatore took a deep breath and placed his hands in his pockets to still his nervous tapping. He wasn’t sure why Aiden was here. Alexa’s brother had done nothing but cause her grief for the last two months, and Salvatore was having a difficult time reconciling with his future brother-in-law.He could guess that Aiden had only agreed to attend and be part of the wedding party to keep an eye on Alexa. Salvatore wasn’t naïve enough to turn his back on his potential enemy, and he’d wondered if he should adopt Aiden’s tactic of keeping your enemies close.Granted, he’d never made himself a threat to Aiden. Salvatore didn’t necessarily care to become buddies with Alexa’s brother after t
Alexa closed her eyes and felt the fresh morning breeze off the coast of Italy. Salvatore had chosen the perfect location for their week-long honeymoon. The private villa just south of Naples was the perfect hideaway. The coast was much different from the shores in Seattle or Bainbridge Island, but the changes fascinated her. The white-capped waves that crashed along the jagged cliffs had lulled her to sleep each night, and the terrace where she read her devotionals in the mornings provided the perfect view of the Mediterranean Sea. Alexa had awoken with the sun each morning on their vacation. Jetlag and the changes in her schedule were distracting enough to send her stirring at an earlier hour than Salvatore, so she used the time to study Scripture. She and Salvatore had taken a few journeys into the nearby towns, and although they had no neighbors to observe, she knew the villages were waking with the dawn. Pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders, she stared at the pass
Salvatore Salvatore pulled Alexa closer in the back seat of the car as Clayton drove. Their flight had landed only a few minutes ago at Bradford, Inc.’s private hanger at the airport. Alexa had slept for most of the flight, and Salvatore was exhausted as well. They’d filled their honeymoon with adventures he would remember for the rest of his life. His brother, Eric, had been the one to push Salvatore out of his comfort zone before he died. When his brother was gone, he’d lost the will to have fun. Now, it seemed, Salvatore had a new friend to make memories with… for the rest of his life. Alexa held his hand as she looked out at the dreary day. Soft rain pelted the window, and her expression was one of exhaustion. “It feels strange being back home. It was only a week in Italy, but—” “But we’re coming home to a new life—together,” Salvatore finished the thought. “Exactly.” The car pulled up at Alexa’s condo, and she waited for Clayton to open the door for her. “I’ll call you
Alexa held tight to the railing in the elevator as it climbed toward the Caliber main office. It was too soon to worry about what her father would do when he found out about the deal she’d made with Salvatore to hopefully secure her position at the company, but her body didn’t get the memo. She usually performed well under pressure, but today her hands were sweating, and she felt lightheaded. The truth was that now, she didn’t care if she was chosen as the CEO. Of course, she cared about the future of the company, and she loved her job. It just didn’t define her anymore. Since her father had pitted her against Aiden, what little relationship she’d had with her brother had all but died. She would never put a job before family, but it seemed Aiden didn’t feel the same. If only Aiden would realize she wasn’t his enemy. But every other aspect of her life was flourishing. Lorie and Irene had been the best bridesmaids she could have hoped for and had stepped up every time she’d needed
SalvatoreWhen Lorie called him, Salvatore explained everything and asked her to tell Sophia. If he couldn’t tell her himself, her best friend was a perfect alternative.He’d been in his car before he’d finished telling Lorie what really happened at the marina, and he knew if the talk she was having with her father wasn’t going well, she would need him beside her when it was over. Not an hour later.The trip into the city seemed to take hours, but he made it in record time. Clayton picked Salvatore up at the dock, and the confinement of sitting and waiting in the back seat was torture. His heel tapped on the floorboard and he checked his phone constantly.He’d asked Lorie to tell Alexato call him, but what if Alexadidn’t believe her friend? What if she was ignoring him or pushing him away because she was angry with him?If he could only see her and tell her how sorry he was that the life they’d returned to wasn’t as good as they’d hoped. He’d wanted to give her a life free of worry, e
Salvatore. The next day, Salvatore stood in the elevator with Alexa on their way to see her father. Salvatore had called early in the morning to schedule a private meeting with Martin, and Irene had set it up with Martin’s approval. That had to mean something. Martin was willing to meet with him. He could only hope it was because he wanted to believe what Alexa had said, and not because he wanted a chance to let Salvatore know he was angry with them. “I feel like I’m on my way to have that talk yesterday all over again,” Alexa said. Salvatore squeezed her hand. “I’m here this time. We’ll make sure he knows we’re sorry for deceiving him.” She smiled then, and a little bit of the weight that had been crushing him all day lifted. Alexa scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I love you. No matter what happens today or any other day. I love you, and I’m glad you’re my husband.” “I love you too.” Salvatore kissed her head just as the elevator doors opened. Irene