To Catch a Princess (20 page)

Chapter 26

Five days later - Positano, Italy

The late afternoon sun warmed Shea’s skin as he lay on a chaise lounge sipping a glass of red wine. Fly and Hammer had left him enough pain killers to numb a horse, and combined with the wine, he was feeling no pain. Not that he was running anywhere anytime soon.

Although his wounds were healing, he was still incredibly weak, and moving around brought a wealth of discomfort. He was grateful that his team members took turns bringing him food and the daily papers. He had been reading them keenly and watching the TV news on the different channels to see what was being said about the bombing incident, and Prince Sergei. If the police were making a connection to the Thief of Hearts and his team, they had yet to say so publicly. The photos they flashed of Shea and Hammer leaving the hospital were so grainy and indistinct even he’d have had trouble identifying himself. The same for the screen captures from the hotel’s video feeds they’d showed on the newscasts.

Of course, that could just be a ploy to draw him out. But he had no intention of going anywhere just yet. For starters, he was in no condition physically. Then there was the issue of Prince Sergei. Pictures of him had been plastered all over the papers and television as a wanted suspect. But there were people who’d assist the prince in hiding his identity for the right amount of money. Shea had already put out feelers to his many contacts, trying to determine who might be helping him and where he might have gone.

The police reports had also mentioned that the prince had been injured during his escape, which meant he might seek medical care.

Shea had likewise reached out to the medics he knew of willing to treat a wanted man, but if anyone knew, they weren’t saying. Not yet, anyway.

In time, Shea would find Sergei and deal with him.

He picked up that morning’s paper. Over the past couple of days the brouhaha about the theft and the bomb scare had been replaced with news of the impending nuptials of Prince Pyotr and Princess Tatiana.

He smiled at their official engagement photo gracing the front page of the paper. According to the story, they’d be married later today in one of the hotel’s ballrooms, attended by only a small gathering of family and friends.

Shea wished them well, and raised his glass of wine in a toast.

To love
.

…

Peter stood at the front of the ballroom where a makeshift altar had been built by the hotel craftsmen, the local Russian Orthodox priest, and church members. Not that it looked hastily put together. The wood altar was polished to gleaming life, draped with luscious fabrics, and laden with precious icons moved from the church for the occasion. Lush bundles of fresh flowers in heady bloom completed the decorations at the altar and also complimented the end of each of the aisles filled with family, friends, hotel staff, and the church members who had been so gracious to help with the preparations.

Beside him, Tatiana’s brother and his best man, Prince Alexander, teasingly said, “I’m glad you decided to make an honest woman of my sister so quickly.”

“Believe me, Sasha, I’ve been waiting for far longer than you’d think for this moment.” He had been attracted to, and possibly even in love with Tatiana from the moment he had first laid eyes on her.

Alexander chuckled and clapped him on the back. “I know, Peter. Believe me, I know.”

Peter smiled. The soft chamber music that had been playing stopped and he knew it was time. He looked down the aisle, his gaze fixed on the doors through which Tatiana would enter, excited to see her. She had insisted on leaving him alone last night while she prepared for the ceremony. Even that short separation had been far too long.

A heartbeat later, the orchestra began to play again. Vivaldi’s
Rites of Spring
. Appropriate, since he and Tatiana were starting a new life together.

The first people who came down the aisle were the Ivanov parents, broad smiles on their faces as they walked to the first row and stepped in to wait.

Peter’s father came next, with Kathleen at his side holding one arm while she held her newborn baby in another. His father’s gait was slower, far less certain than he remembered, a testament to his father’s declining health. Peter was glad things had worked out as his father had wished, and that he’d see his one and only son married. And more importantly, happy.

His father was followed by at least a dozen children from the local church who eagerly tossed gaily colored flower petals along the deep merlot-colored rug leading to where Peter stood. When the children reached the front, they scattered to the sides where their parents waited in their seats.

Vanessa came next, lovely in a pale pink gown Tatiana had helped her select from one of the hotel shops. In her hands she held a bouquet of pink, yellow, white, and pale blue blossoms which seemed like a riot of spring in her hands.

The music swelled and Tatiana stepped into the entrance.

Peter’s heart skittered for a moment at the sheer beauty of her as she stood there and met his gaze. She wore her mother’s wedding gown, and the antique satin and lace had the creamy color of age, which only served to highlight Tatiana’s flawless skin and the deep ebony of her hair. Like Vanessa, she held a bouquet bursting with color. A crown of small flowers in similar colors held her veil in place.

Around her neck and wrist, and dripping from her ears, was his mother’s exquisite ruby and diamond jewelry, both something old and something borrowed.

His eyes watered at the beauty of his bride, and the thought that his mother was here in spirit. He took a deep breath to steady himself as Tatiana began an impossibly long walk to his side.

Soon she’d be his. Forever.

…

Tatiana kept her gaze on Peter, holding herself back, taking one stately step after another. What she really wanted to do was race to his side and fling her arms around him. But she contained herself, amazed that this day had finally arrived. That the very gorgeous and smart and honorable and loyal and funny and caring man waiting for her next to the priest was soon going to be her husband.

The thought made her heart pound in anticipation and her hands shake with nerves on her bouquet until at last she stood beside him.

He held out his arm and she slipped hers through it.

Together they finished the short walk to where the priest stood, ready to bind them in holy matrimony. The priest’s words rang out in the ballroom, welcoming one and all to witness the love they had already professed to one another.

As Peter slipped the platinum and diamond band on her ring finger, there was no uncertainty in his voice as he proclaimed his love and his intent.

She took the ring that Alexander held out to her with no hesitation, eased it onto Peter’s finger, repeating the precious words of fidelity. She raised his hand and kissed the spot where it rested, leaving no doubt of the love in her heart for the man standing before her.

As the priest intoned the final vows, the crowd cheered and clapped so loudly, she couldn’t hear the priest’s final words.

At her puzzlement, Peter leaned forward and said with a smile, “I believe he said I may now kiss the bride.”

And he did, kissing her until she was clinging to him, her heart filled with love and joy.

Together they’d weather anything that came their way. The first strains of the exit march began to play, and she and Peter turned to face their future.

“Together,” he said, as if reading her mind.

With a smile and another kiss, they walked down the aisle hand in hand to start their new life as husband and wife.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to Irene Peterson and Nicole Ceccato for the information they provided on the sights and sounds of Monaco. Nicole, many thanks also for sharing your photos with me. I hope I get to visit Monaco one day!

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romatic suspense author Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project
—
to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad's first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of more than thirty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer or fashionista. For more information, please visit
www.caridad.com
or
www.rebornvampirenovels.com
.

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