“Margherita, come join us.” She almost flinched at the sound of the full name, but Michael’s mother made it sound like magic, so she let it go. Rule number one: never criticize the matriarch of the family you just married into.
“Grazie.”
Michael poured her a glass of red wine, then intermingled his fingers with hers and smiled. Her heart hitched, but she smiled back with warmth. His sisters all looked eager to hear all the gory details. Maggie made an executive decision. The faster she spilled the story, the faster they’d move on to Venezia’s wedding.
She sipped her wine. “Would you like to know how we met?”
Michael’s brow shot up with surprise. A clamor of female voices rose in agreement. Maggie hid a smile. This one would be easy.
“My close friend Alexa set us up on a blind date. You see, my best friend is happily married to my brother. When she met Michael at a business dinner, she thought we’d be a perfect match.” Maggie threw a cloying smile at him and caught a warning gleam in his eyes. “The moment we met, he told me I was The One. Usually, I never believe men on the first date, but he courted me and won me over.”
Carina sighed and rested her plump chin in her hands. “That’s so romantic. Almost like Fate.”
“Yes, just like Fate.” Maggie squeezed Michael’s fingers. “We were going to set a wedding date, but when we heard Venezia was also engaged, we decided to elope. I hope you’re not too upset we skipped a full-fledged wedding, but I despise being the center of attention, so we thought this would be best.”
Michael brought her palm up to his mouth and placed a kiss in the center. Her skin tingled. “Si, Maggie is a very private person.”
Michael’s mother’s sharp stare contradicted her frail body. Unease tickled her belly. Anyone who raised four children and led a family business had brilliant instincts, and Maggie made a note to be careful when they were alone together. Knowing there weren’t many things to count on in life, she’d made sure her word was ironclad and never broken. Therefore, the stakes were high for her, too.
“What do you do, Maggie?” Julietta asked. Her long fingers held her wineglass with a delicacy that also belied her serious stare. Maggie remembered she was the head of the business end of La Dolce Famiglia. Polished and refined, Julietta was definitely the rational, down-to-earth sister.
“I’m a photographer. I have a shoot tomorrow in Milan so I’ll be gone most of the day.”
“How wonderful. What do you photograph?” Julietta asked.
“Men. In their underwear.” A silence fell over the table and Maggie shrugged. “It’s designer underwear, of course. I’m shooting Roberto Cavalli tomorrow.”
Venezia burst out laughing. “I love it! Can you get me a discount? Dominick would love a new pair of Cavallis.”
Carina giggled. Mama Conte gave a long-suffering sigh. “Venezia, we do not need to know what Dominick wears under his clothes.” She glowered. “And you should not know, either, until you are married. Capisce?”
“Maggie is a very gifted photographer,” Michael said. “I’m certain she will be broadening her experience, especially with so much to see in Italy.”
Maggie frowned. His almost apologetic statement to his family stung, but she swallowed her outburst with a gulp of Chianti. Just because she didn’t photograph cute puppies and babies did not make her choices less valuable. It was as if he knew that in her gut, she ached for more. Annoyed at her thoughts, she refocused on the conversation.
Venezia chattered as her hands confirmed each statement with dramatic gestures. Maggie pegged her as the emotional drama queen of the family. Still, her chocolate eyes burned bright with fire and enthusiasm, and her lithe body clad in expensive jeans, floral halter top, and Jimmy Choos told her she adored fashion. Michael seemed to disapprove of Venezia’s choice not to work in the family bakery, but her career as an assistant to a well-known stylist seemed to satisfy her creative flair. Maggie couldn’t picture her frosting cupcakes, buying advertising, or doing the bookkeeping.
“We’d like to hold the wedding here on the grounds,” Venezia continued. Her face softened. “Of course, we’ll have it catered with cake from our bakery. September is such a beautiful month.”
Julietta gasped. “That’s three months away!”
Her sister tossed a glare. “I don’t want to wait another minute to start my life with Dominick. Now that Michael is married, we can move ahead with our plans. We’ve already decided on the fifteenth. That’s okay with your schedule, right, Maggie? And of course you’ll be one of my bridesmaids.”
Maggie gulped as the guilt of their lie suddenly hit. She swallowed past it with another sip of wine. “Of course, I’ll clear my schedule.”
Venezia squealed with delight and clasped her hands together. “Wonderful. Oh, and why don’t we shop for our dresses this week?”
Julietta rolled her eyes. “I detest dress shopping.”
“Well, get over it. You’re my maid of honor and if you ruin it by whining I’ll never talk to you again.”
“I could only wish.”
Maggie twisted her diamond ring around her finger as it suddenly burned. She fought the slight panic of the reality of her situation. “Um, I’ll be busy with work, and I know Michael wanted to show me some of the sights while we’re here.” She smiled, but sensed it came out more like a grimace. “Maybe you and your sisters can go this week. If you find something, I’ll give you my size and you can order it. I’m sure I’ll see the dresses when Michael and I come back to visit.”
“Absolutely not.” Venezia’s eyes gleamed with hard resolve. “You are also my sister now, and you must come. Besides, I refuse to put you in something that doesn’t look good. It would ruin my reputation as a stylist.”
Julietta snickered.
“Maggie and I are on our honeymoon, and we need some alone time. Traipsing around dress shopping is not my idea of romance.” He smiled gently at her, and Maggie fought the melty sensation in her tummy.
Carina shot a pleading glance at Maggie. “Oh, please join us,” she said. “We’re a family now, and we missed out on all the excitement of your wedding. It’s only one afternoon.”
The pulsating walls closed in. How could she put on a bridesmaid dress and pretend she’d be in the wedding? Michael opened his mouth and Maggie caught a glimpse of his mother’s face.