Dante's Contract Marriage Read online

  The Stranger Waiting At The Altar

  Turned To Look At Her.

  There was power in him, and a delicious sensuality that called to Ariana. By the time she joined him, she was feeling a sizzle of awareness that she fought to conceal.

  Time seemed to catch its breath, and the ceremony passed in a haze. Finally, the moment came to recite their vows and exchange rings, and Lazzaro took her hand.

  And that was when it happened.

  When skin touched skin, the shock hit with such force that if Lazzaro hadn’t been holding on to her, she’d have fallen. She glanced up to see his look of stunned disbelief. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who’d felt it.

  “What the hell was that?” he muttered, his mouth close to hers.

  “Not quite the first words I’d hoped to hear my husband speak,” she whispered back, “but an excellent question. What just happened…?”

  Dear Reader,

  I never thought I could love anyone as much—or more—than my family…until I met my husband. And then I was certain I couldn’t love another as deeply or with such commitment, until I had my son.

  I’ve always found parenthood to be an almost indescribable experience. The feelings are so intense. One minute you couldn’t be happier, the next you’re overcome with exhaustion. You’re stuffed full of determination to do the right thing for this precious, vulnerable creature. To strive to make their life the best possible. It’s like being on an emotional roller coaster with an underlying joy providing the tracks beneath the careening wheels. I have to laugh when I think of how children pull every possible emotion out of you…for better or worse.

  I was thinking about this one day, about how being a parent forces you to examine everything about yourself and your life in order to decide…is this how I want to raise my child? Should I do this for my son…or that? That question was the springboard for this story, a story about a parent so determined to protect his son that he drafted a marital contract to ensure his son found love.

  I thoroughly enjoyed writing this particular book. This story also marks the last in THE DANTE LEGACY series. I can’t tell you how sad it makes me to walk away from this very special family. Of course…there are four Dante cousins. If you’d be interested in my writing their stories at some point in the future, don’t hesitate to let me know at [email protected].

  Enjoy!

  Day Leclaire

  DAY LECLAIRE

  DANTE’S CONTRACT MARRIAGE

  Books by Day Leclaire

  Silhouette Desire

  *The Forbidden Princess #1780

  *The Prince’s Mistress #1786

  *The Royal Wedding Night #1792

  The Billionaire’s Baby Negotiation #1821

  †Dante’s Blackmailed Bride #1852

  †Dante’s Stolen Wife #1870

  †Dante’s Wedding Deception #1880

  †Dante’s Contract Marriage #1899

  DAY LECLAIRE

  USA TODAY bestselling author Day Leclaire lives and works in the perfect setting—on an island off the North Carolina coast. Living in an environment where she can connect with primal elements that meld the moodiness of an ever-changing ocean, unfettered wetlands teeming with every creature imaginable, and the ferocity of both hurricanes and nor’ easters that batter the fragile island, she’s discovered the perfect setting for writing passionate books that offer a unique combination of humor, emotion and unforgettable characters.

  Described by Harlequin as “one of our most popular writers ever!”, Day’s tremendous worldwide popularity has made her a member of Harlequin’s prestigious “Five Star Club,” with sales totaling more than five million books. She is a three-time winner of both The Colorado Award of Excellence and The Golden Quill Award. She’s won Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine’s Career Achievement Award and Love and Laughter Award, a Holt Medallion, a Booksellers’ Best Award, and has received an impressive ten nominations for the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA® Award.

  Day’s romances touch the heart and make you care about her characters as much as she does. In Day’s own words, “I adore writing romances, and can’t think of a better way to spend each day.” For more information, visit Day on her Web site at www.dayleclaire.com.

  To Nancy Cecelia Totton.

  You’ve been missed for far too long.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Prologue

  “Cut it out, Ariana.” Lazzaro Dante glared at the pesky five-year-old. “I don’t like it when you do that.”

  “But I can zap you,” she protested. “And I don’t even have to rub my socks on the carpet first. See?”

  She proved it by poking him again. A faint sizzle rippled along his arm, one that caused all the hairs to stand up on end. He jerked back from her and rubbed the spot. “I said cut it out.”

  Hurt blossomed in chocolate-brown eyes that seemed to fill half her face. “I’m just playing. Don’t you want to play with me?”

  Was she nuts? Of course he didn’t want to play with her. He was twelve, nearly a teenager. She was little more than a baby. “Go ask Marco. He likes those kinds of games.”

  She pouted. “It’s not the same. I can’t shock him. I tried already. I can only shock you.”

  “Well, I don’t like it.”

  Her dark brows drew together in a worried frown. “Does it hurt?”

  “No.” And it didn’t. He just felt uncomfortable, like ants were racing beneath his skin and making him itchy and jumpy and confused, all at the same time. But maybe if he claimed it hurt, she’d stop touching him. “A little, okay? So don’t do it anymore.”

  Contrition swept across her face. Heck, she even looked as if she might cry, which filled him with a pang of guilt. Having grown up with brothers and male cousins—with the exception of Gianna, who acted as though she were one of the guys—he wasn’t used to dealing with girls. If you weren’t happy with something a brother or cousin did, you just slugged them until they stopped. But he didn’t dare treat Ariana that way.

  He regarded her uneasily. For one thing, she was tiny and looked as if she might break if he stepped wrong. And some idiot had dressed her in a pink dress covered in bows with layers of petticoats. She even wore little lace socks with her shiny black shoes. How did you play in that sort of getup? In fact, now that he thought about it, she looked more like a doll than a girl. Somebody ought to stick her on a shelf someplace where she wouldn’t get hurt.

  “Ariana, come here, please.”

  Lazz sighed in relief at the sound of Vittorio Romano’s voice. Good. Her dad would take care of her now, put her away so she wouldn’t get dirty or broken. He waited until she’d been lifted into her father’s arms before making good his escape. Tossing aside his book of logic puzzles, he joined his brothers. Maybe if he hung around his twin, Marco, she’d get them mixed up and bug his brother instead of him.

  Ariana wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and buried her face against his shoulder. “He doesn’t like me,” she said. “Fix it, Papa.”

  Vittorio chuckled, shooting a swift grin toward Dominic Dante, surprised when his friend didn’t share his amusement. “You want me to make Lazz like you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry, bambolina, it doesn’t work that way.” He signaled for his daughter’s nanny. “Go with Rosa now. She’ll play with you. Or you can ask Grandmother Penelope to read you your favorite Mrs. Pennywinkle book. She’s in the garden pai
nting or writing.”

  Ariana didn’t protest. She struggled to master her tears before giving her father a dutiful kiss on the cheek. With a final forlorn glance in Lazz’s direction, she took Rosa’s hand and trotted off.

  Vittorio turned to Dominic, stiffening at his friend’s expression. “What’s wrong? You look quite ill. Can I get you something?”

  Dominic shook his head. “No, no. There’s nothing you can get me. Damn it to hell. It’s The Inferno,” he murmured. “My God. It may not be how it’s experienced as adults, but I’ll bet every last fire diamond the Dantes possess that we just witnessed the beginnings of The Inferno.”

  “You mean that silly zapping game? Don’t be ridiculous, Dom. Ariana is still a baby and Lazz a boy.” Vittorio hesitated, striving for delicacy. “I know you said something about The Inferno in passing when we were in college, but—”

  A reminiscent smile flickered across Dominic’s face before fading to grimness. “I believe we were blind drunk at the time or I’d never have mentioned it. We don’t speak of it, except with other Dantes. I’m surprised you remember.”

  “The concept of The Inferno is a bit hard to forget,” Vittorio said drily. He tilted his head to one side. “But surely you don’t believe it? You claimed it was nothing more than a Dante family myth.”

  “It’s no myth, despite what I told you. I felt it myself not many years later.”

  Vittorio smiled. “I believe that’s called love, though some call it lust. Or infatuation. A lightning bolt from heaven…or as it eventually turns out, from hell.” He slapped Dominic on the back. “Your family has simply chosen a more clever name for it. But everyone has those romantic stirrings toward their wife.”

  “It wasn’t with Laura,” Dominic instantly denied. “I decided to ignore what I felt toward the woman The Inferno chose for me and married for business reasons. As it turns out, my life and marriage have been nothing short of a disaster.”

  Vittorio stared, shocked. “Surely not.”

  “My father warned me. He said I’d regret it if I didn’t marry where The Inferno struck. I didn’t listen.”

  “It was Primo who put those ideas in your head in the first place,” Vittorio argued. “Of course he’d warn you.”

  “You still don’t understand.” Dominic spun to confront his friend, his eyes black with a combination of pain and fierce determination. “I didn’t listen to The Inferno, and I’ve been cursed ever since. I can’t allow that to happen to my children. I’ll do whatever it takes to make certain they don’t suffer my fate.”

  “I don’t like the sound of this.”

  “I’m not proposing anything that hasn’t been done for centuries.” Dominic spoke fast and low, with a worrisome underlying urgency. “I want to betroth our children. Draw up a contract to that effect.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Vittorio allowed a hint of sharpness to color his words. “Even if I were to consider it, we couldn’t force our children to honor such an outrage, not if they were unwilling.”

  “If I’m right, we won’t need to force them. The first time they touch as adults they’ll be bonded. They’ll be only too happy to marry. And even if there’s an initial reluctance, they’ll change their minds after a few months of wedded bliss. All we have to do is get them in front of a priest.”

  Vittorio shook his head. He couldn’t believe he was listening to this insane scheme. “And how do you propose we get them to the altar?”

  “Like I said. We offer an incentive to sweeten the deal.” He hesitated and lowered his voice to a mere whisper. “Have you heard of Brimstone?”

  Vittorio stiffened at the mention of the infamous fire diamond. “I’ve always wondered if it were real or another Dante legend.”

  A small smile played around Dominic’s mouth. “It’s real enough.”

  “I’ve heard the diamond carries a curse.”

  “Or a blessing. It depends on your perspective.”

  “And your perspective is?”

  “That it’s up to the individual person and how he or she chooses to use the diamond.”

  “And how do you intend to use it?”

  Dominic’s smile grew. “Now that my father has given me control of our family business, I also have control of Brimstone. I propose that we make the diamond part of the contract. We’ll put the stone in a bank deposit box for safekeeping. If Lazzaro and Ariana marry by the time your daughter turns twenty-five, the diamond will be split between the two families.”

  “Literally?” Vittorio asked, intrigued.

  Dominic shook his head. “No, that would be very bad luck. Dantes will pay you half the worth of the diamond.”

  “And if the two refuse to marry?”

  A fevered expression glittered in Dominic’s eyes. “Then Brimstone will be sacrificed, thrown into the deepest part of the ocean.”

  “You’ve lost your mind.”

  Dominic laughed. “My soul, perhaps, but not my mind.”

  Vittorio hesitated, weighing the pros and cons despite himself. “The truly frightening part of this is that I’m actually considering your offer.” The distinctive squeak of a wheelchair came from nearby and Vittorio glanced over his shoulder to make certain his mother-in-law wasn’t close enough to overhear. There would be hell to pay if she caught wind of this.

  “I’m hoping you’ll do more than consider it,” Dominic replied. “I’m hoping you’ll agree.”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree to your proposal.”

  A hint of contentment settled on Dominic’s face. For the first time since the Dantes had arrived in Italy, Vittorio realized just how stressed his friend had become over the past few years. It saddened him to see Dom change from the charming, carefree schoolboy he’d once known to this hardened businessman. It also filled him with a vague unease. Maybe there was something to his story. Maybe the Dantes were cursed. Perhaps the fates had chosen to balance the Dantes’ astonishing good fortune in the business world with a cursed personal life.

  Vittorio crossed himself surreptitiously. “I want to make it clear, Dom. I refuse to force Ariana to the altar if she chooses not to marry.”

  “She’ll marry Lazz. They both will agree to it, if only to keep a priceless diamond from being destroyed.” He shot Vittorio a confident look. “If I’m right and that spark between children grows to an Inferno between adults, you’ll benefit financially while I’ll have the greatest gift of all.”

  “And what’s that?”

  Dominic stared at where his sons were heaped in a pile with Vittorio’s son, Constantine. They formed a squirming mass of arms and legs, heads and tails. Their laughter rang out, the sound more precious than anything else in his life. “I’ll have gained peace of mind.”

  One

  From: [email protected]

  Date: 2008, August 04 08:02 PDST

  To: [email protected]

  Subject: Marriage Contract, Premarital Conditions Ariana, as discussed in our recent phone conversation, I’m sending my first marital condition.

  Condition #1: Absolutely, positively, unequivocally no secrets.

  August 7, 2008

  “I hate secrets.”

  Lazzaro Dante made the statement so emphatically that it caused Ariana Romano to fall silent. Honesty compelled him to admit to himself that he hated secrets almost as much as he hated The Inferno—a myth his family considered a reality. The Inferno, or rather what his brothers and their wives perceived as some nebulous and fiery connection between soul mates that struck at first touch, had recently formed an exclusive club to which all his family members belonged, except him. As far as he was concerned, the family “curse” didn’t exist, and nothing anyone could say or do would change his mind. Ever.

  He could hear his fiancée’s breath catch through the phone line and sensed her searching for an appropriate reply to his pronouncement. “I realize we’ve never met, but you are aware you’re marrying a woman, yes?” she asked. “Secrets and wo
men go together like handbags and heels.”

  Her comment caught him off guard. Perhaps it was the way she said it, with a hint of gentle humor sweeping through her odd accent. Her English, which she’d acquired from her British grandmother, carried the upper-crust echo of tea and crumpets and combined with the sunny warmth of her native tongue, an Italian lilt that orchestrated her every word.

  “And you do realize I’m not Marco, right?” he reminded her.

  “Your brother has explained as much,” she replied with far too much equanimity. “He’s visited us many times on Dantes business and says that despite being twins, the two of you are as different as night and day.”

  “True.”

  “For instance…he’s charming and you are not.”

  Lazz straightened in his chair. “I’m logical.”

  “He is amusing. You…not so much. I believe that is the way Marco puts it.”

  “When I see my brother, I’ll be sure to explain precisely where he can put it.”

  If she heard the muttered comment, she didn’t respond to it. “Marco is also handsome and intelligent and kind. Not to mention an excellent kisser.” A pregnant pause followed the pronouncement. “Should I expect my future husband to be none of those things?”

  He locked on to the most vital portion of her comment. An irrational anger exploded in him, an emotion far out of proportion to the situation. Not again, an insidious voice whispered. No way would he share another woman with his brother, especially not someone he planned to marry.

  He’d been through that with Caitlyn, a woman he’d been on the verge of proposing to, when Marco had tricked her into marriage by posing as Lazz. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—marry Ariana if she expected him to be a stand-in for Marco. Logic be damned, he flat-out refused to be a substitute for any man.