Looking playfully affronted, Alessandro covered his wounded heart with one hand. “Theirs would not be any baby. With my brother gone, Gio is like a son to me. His children would be my grandchildren as much as mine are.”
Julia felt Gio tense beside her and she quickly intervened. “I noticed there is quite a large group here already. Are they all staying in the main house?”
Alessandro looked puzzled by her question, then answered, “Oh, yes, there are plenty of rooms. Or were you asking about the mansion? We didn’t open it for this event. It’s empty anyway. I don’t know if the generator would work after all this time. I’d have to ask Dominic if anyone has maintained it since he’s owned it. Honestly, I don’t have the heart to go see it. Perhaps after Stephan renovates it I will feel differently. It will be nice to have it back in the family.”
Gio’s hand tightened painfully on Julia’s arm. Julia glanced up and cringed at the burning fury she saw in his eyes. Alessandro saw it, too, and a line of concern formed on his forehead.
Elise’s light tone revealed that she had missed the building tension. “I looked for both of you when your brothers arrived, but they said you went for a walk. I can understand wanting to after such a long flight. We’re so happy to have you here. Come, let me introduce you to some of your cousins who were not able to make it to New York this summer.”
Julia whispered as they walked. “You’re hurting my arm, Gio.”
He looked down and instantly released her. “Sorry. I wasn’t aware . . .”
She took his hand in hers and gave it a supportive squeeze. “I know.” His features were set in harsh lines.
As she and Gio followed Alessandro, Julia felt like she’d stepped into a movie. The men were handsomely attired in tuxedos that screamed of money and power. The women were dressed in floor-length gowns and dripping with diamonds. Julia fingered the prototype necklace she’d worn. The metal was copper instead of gold. The stones were faux.
Did I really think I could network here? Which one of these women would spare a second look at my costume jewelry when they’re wearing enough diamonds to buy and sell a small country?
Julia recognized Nicole from across the room. She was exquisitely dressed in a flowing powder-blue Prada gown and looked perfectly at home amidst the somewhat gaudy display of wealth. After Rena’s informative crash course in the wedding guests, Julia understood why. Nicole had been raised in this world, and her brother was one of the top ten wealthiest men in the world.
Nicole caught Julia watching her and said something to the tall blond man beside her. The man, who had to be Stephan Andrade, looked up and nodded to his fiancée, and they both started walking across the large foyer toward them.
Alessandro hugged Nicole to his side and turned to introduce her to Julia. “Nicole, have you met Gio’s girlfriend?”
If possible, Nicole’s smile grew wider at the label. She leaned in and kissed Julia’s cheeks in greeting. “Yes, I have. Welcome, Julia. I’m so pleased you could make it.”
Stephan shook Gio’s hand. “Thank you for coming.”
“You can thank Madison. She was . . . persuasive,” Gio said with some irony.
Stephan laughed. “That’s being kind. Maddy is too used to getting her way. She means well, though. And it’s impossible for any of us to stay upset with her, so I suppose it’s our fault she has boundary issues.” More seriously, he added, “Whatever brought you, it means a lot to me that you came. Nothing is more important than family.”
Alessandro smacked Gio on the shoulder. “It’s good to have all of us together again.”
Gio made a sound deep in his chest, and Julia tugged on his hand. He looked down at her, and she did her best to send him a telepathic message. Behave. They love you. Julia turned her attention to Nicole and said, “You must be out-of-your-mind excited. What a beautiful location for a wedding. I saw tents going up on the far lawn. Is that where the ceremony will be?”
Nicole said, “That’s where the reception will be. For the ceremony, we’re doing something outside.” She smiled dreamily up at her fiancé. “There is a hill about halfway between this house and the old Andrade mansion. At the very top of it, you can see both clearly. There isn’t room for chairs at the top, but the symbolism of two families coming together through our union is worth having everyone stand for the short time we’ll be there.” She looked across at Julia shyly. “That probably sounds corny.”
Julia shook her head. “Not at all. It’s a beautiful idea.”
Innocently, Nicole said, “You and Gio should take a walk over tomorrow and see the old house. It’s lovely.”
“It really is,” Julia agreed spontaneously, then blushed. I did not mean to say that.
Stephan looked at Gio curiously. “You went over to see the old place? I didn’t realize you had any interest in it.”
Face tight, Gio said, “It was part of my childhood as much as yours.”
Stephan nodded slowly, then glanced at his uncle with a curious expression. Alessandro shook his head tersely in a move that clearly meant, Drop the subject.
Nicole gave the room a quick scan. “I have to tell Maddy you’re here, Julia. I wonder where she went.”
“She knows,” Julia said, then covered her traitorous mouth with one hand. Thank God I’m not a spy. I’d fail miserably at it.
Nicole’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? She didn’t say anything. That little stinker. Usually she tells me everything.”
Hopefully not everything. Julia bit her lip beneath her hand.
“There’s Abby,” Nicole exclaimed with excitement and waved her over.
A beautiful brunette walked over with a tall dark-haired man. The crowd parted for them in a way they hadn’t even for the bride-and groom-to-be. Abby and Dominic Corisi: the new American royal family. Even Julia found them easy to recognize. Their whirlwind romance and wedding had been highly publicized, and their new daughter was on the cover of every gossip magazine at the grocery store. The billionaire, and the middle-school teacher who had won his heart. What was not to love about their story?
Starstruck, Julia watched the beautiful couple and sighed audibly.
Dominic greeted Gio with a handshake. “Good to see you again.”
Abby shook Gio’s hand warmly, then looked from Julia to Nicole.
A mischievous smile spread across Nicole’s face as she pointed at Julia. “This is Julia. She came with Gio.”
Abby’s face brightened with unexpected recognition. “The Julia?”
Gio tensed beside Julia. “Excuse me?”
Dominic hugged his wife to his side and said with some humor, “You don’t want to know.”
Suddenly not looking very happy, Gio looked down at Julia suspiciously.
Abby noticed and blushed. “Wow, I have been hanging out with my sister too much.”
Stephan looked back and forth between the two. “Is this about the bet?”
Nicole glared up at him and said, “No.” He looked about to say something else, but Nicole quickly said, “Don’t ruin it.”