Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
My gaze darts in that direction.
Stretched out on his stomach, wearing his suit pants, white button-down shirt, and shoes is a man. It’s not just any man. It’s Daniel.
“No,” I say in a panicked tone. “No.”
“Gina Calvetti!” Dominick’s voice is even louder than it was a minute ago. “Open the door now!”
In my rush to get out of bed, I stumble, striking my left hand against the nightstand. “Dammit.”
That quickly turns into an “oh, fuck, no,” when I gaze down at my hand and see a plain silver band wrapped around that finger.
“It was a dream,” I say, darting to my feet. “It was a dream, Gina. You’re still asleep.”
“I’m calling you again!” Dominick yells from the corridor outside the door to my suite. “If you don’t answer, I’m going to break this door down. You better be all right, Gina. Please be all right!”
I race toward an armchair near the bed to grab a fluffy white robe that I tossed there after I showered yesterday. I’m still wearing the red dress I had on last night, and since I’m limping, it’s obvious that I have only one shoe on. I spot the other near the entrance to the bedroom.
Quickly wrapping the robe around me, I call out to my brother over the sound of my ringing phone. “I’m coming, Dominick!”
I kick off my shoe and rush out of the bedroom, closing the double doors behind me. I lean against them briefly, look up to the ceiling, and say a short prayer, “Please don’t wake up. Please stay asleep.”
As I approach the door to the suite, I spot Daniel’s suit jacket lying in a heap on the floor. I pick it up and toss it behind the couch before shoving my left hand into the robe pocket. Unlocking the door, I swing it open to find my brother on the other side.
“Gina,” he whispers my name as he embraces me. “Thank fuck you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I lie because I’m pretty sure I’m married to Daniel Lawton.
“We’re leaving,” he says in a low tone. “It’s Arietta’s grandfather. He collapsed this morning.”
“Oh no.” My right hand leaps to my mouth. “Is Vernon okay?”
I only met Vernon Greenwalt once at a Calvetti family luncheon a few weeks after Dominick and Arietta announced their engagement. I know how important he is to my future sister-in-law and how much he cherishes her. He told a couple of adorable stories about Arietta during lunch.
“He’s at the hospital,” he explains. “He was in Manhattan on business and stayed for the weekend to see a couple of off-Broadway plays.”
I nod, even though I’m a little surprised that Vernon would be interested in theater. He strikes me more as the type who likes to count his money as a hobby.
“Bella and Barrett will travel with us,” he goes on, “I didn’t know what your plans were for today…whether you have commitments you need to fulfill to your sponsors.”
“I want to come with you,” I say in an effort to escape whatever the hell happened between Lawton and me last night.
I vaguely remember us exchanging vows, but everything after that is fuzzy.
We’re both still clothed. We didn’t consummate anything. We couldn’t have.
Dominick kisses my forehead. “I’ll book you a seat on our flight. Be ready to go in an hour, Gina. I need you in the lobby in an hour.”
“I’ll be there.” I grab his forearm to keep him in place. “Please tell Arietta I love her, and I’m here for her.”
“I will.” He embraces me again, cradling the back of my head in his hand. “She loves you too, Gina. We both do.”
As I step back from the hug, he glances down the corridor. “You weren’t the only one missing in action this morning.”
I know where this is headed, but still, I play dumb. “What?”
His gaze drops to the phone in his hand. “I can’t find Daniel, but that’s not surprising. He probably hooked up with someone. I left him a message telling him we’re heading home. He’ll understand.”
I nod. “I’m sure he will.”
He taps the face of his watch. “Get ready. I don’t want to be late for the flight. We need to get back to New York now.”
I’m all for that. I need to feel familiar ground under my feet so I can figure out what the hell I’ve done and what I need to do to end my marriage as soon as possible.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Daniel
I got married less than twelve hours ago, and my wife already left me.
I can’t say that I’m surprised.
She’s a Calvetti, and when one of them needs anything, they all step up to help.
Seeing as how Arietta Voss is already considered a cherished member of the family, I’m not surprised that every Calvetti in Vegas is headed back to Manhattan.
I finally rolled over in bed when I heard my phone signaling about a hundred missed messages. It was still in the pocket of my suit jacket, which was folded neatly over the back of a chair next to Gina’s bed. I swear I dropped it on the floor as soon as we made it into her suite last night.