“Forever,” she whispered fervently.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to hear those words?” His voice rang with raw emotion. “Here’s my answer.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her as he’d always kissed her for the camera, as if he really meant it. But it was a stage kiss, pure and simple. Unfortunately his acting ability was so incredible, Reese almost forgot the scene was being taped.
“I love you, Fabio, but we’re holding up your uncle’s wedding.”
“I don’t care. When he finds out we’re getting married, too, he’ll understand.”
“Fabio? Please-we mustn’t make Miranda any more nervous than she already is. By now she probably knows Melissa tried to kill me. We can’t do this to her!”
“Do what?” He captured her mouth again.
“We have to think of everyone in the church waiting for the wedding to begin,” she cried when he eventually let her catch her breath. “It wouldn’t be fair to hold it up any longer.”
“You’re right.” He slowly relinquished his hold. His eyes played over her in adoration. “After the ceremony, we’ve got the rest of our lives to be together. Come on, bellissima. I can’t wait to say our vows in front of everyone.”
With her whole body throbbing from the hungry kiss he’d given her, Reese slipped her arm through his. Alex clamped it tightly against him. They began their walk past the vestibule doors and down the aisle. The guests seated in the pews stood up.
Reese knew her cheeks were on fire from the heat of her emotions. Since that last kiss they were spinning out of control.
She studied the smiling faces of all the cast members who were dressed up for the occasion looking splendid. Every face was dear to her.
As memories of two wonderful years flashed through her mind, she smiled back through the tears. Her aunt would have loved this scene. She would have been sitting on the front row beaming at the two of them.
Alex gave her hand a little squeeze before she took her place at the left of the altar. No doubt the hidden gesture was meant to congratulate her for improvising a line at the last second.
He took his place next to Carlo, and the wedding march began.
They turned to watch Titian-haired Miranda, who approached the altar with paced steps. She was dressed in a white silk suit. Every woman should look so beautiful at forty-five. She carried a sheaf of fresh white flowers and had eyes only for Carlo.
Many times during an emotional scene, the cast members forgot they were acting. This was one of those moments. Reese could believe Miranda and Carlo were getting married for real.
When Miranda reached Carlo’s side, the pastor entered the front of the chapel through a side door. Reese didn’t recognize him. Evidently Phil was sick today and someone from the acting pool had been called in.
The pastor looked out over the crowd. “Please be seated,” he said with solemnity.
When the congregation did his bidding, his gaze fell on the people standing directly before him.
“Dearly Beloved, we’ve assembled in this place to witness the marriage of two of God’s children. There is no holier union on earth as Carlo and Miranda have already discovered. It’s the reason they’re renewing the vows they spoke to each other five years ago.
“The bond between them has grown stronger through adversity. Today they wish to celebrate their great happiness with their friends.
“Miranda? If you’ll let Carly hold your flowers?”
Carly reached for the bouquet.
“That’s fine. Now, Miranda? I want you and Carlo to take each other by both hands and look at each other while you repeat your vows.”
For the next few minutes Reese listened to the words. The ceremony was as stirring as some of the real weddings she’d attended at church.
“Pastor Wood?” Fabio broke the silence.
A cry of surprise echoed through the congregation.
“Forgive me for interrupting, but when you hear what I have to say, I know Carlo and Miranda will understand.”
He cleared his throat, as if he was having trouble keeping a rein on his emotions. “A few minutes ago, Carly did me the great honor of asking me to marry her, and I said yes. She has made me the happiest man in the world.”
Cries of delight came from the congregation. Everyone looked at Carly, but the only eyes she saw were those of Fabio, staring at her with burning intensity.
Alex was a magnificent actor all right.
His gaze finally swerved to the pastor. “Carly and I have been listening to the ceremony as if it were our own. With your blessing, Pastor, we would like to say our final vows with Carlo and Miranda. I have the marriage license in my pocket for you to witness and sign afterwards.”
Reese’s pulse started to run away with her. Even though this was all scripted, more than anything in the world, part of her wished it were really happening.
The pastor smiled. “I can’t think of anything that would please me more, Fabio. There had to be a reason you left the monastery to enter the world again. Your union with Carly will be holy, too. The children born to you will bless that union even more.
“Carly, my child? I’ve felt your love for Fabio. I’ve seen it in a dozen subtle ways over the past year. I know what has been in your heart. Therefore I couldn’t be happier to marry you to the man you’ve loved in secret. Now that love can be let out into the open where everyone can rejoice with you.
“If you’ll give the flowers and the basket to Christine, I’ll ask you to join Fabio over here.”
Christine, played by one of Reese’s favorite actresses on the set, was seated on the first row. She relieved her of her props.
With each step Reese took toward Alex, her heart thudded harder.
“Carly? Take Fabio by both hands.”
At the moment of contact, she felt light-headed. To lift her eyes and look at him without giving herself away was the hardest acting she’d ever had to do. The pastor took them through the vows.
“Repeat after me. I, Carly Shaw, take thee, Fabio Andretti, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to love and adore from this day forth.”
Long ago the line between Fabio and Alex had blurred for her. Looking into his jet-black eyes, she said, “I, C-Carly Shaw, take thee, Fabio Andretti, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to love and adore from this day forth.”
“Fabio? Repeat after me, I, Fabio Andretti, take thee, Carly Shaw, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to love and adore from this day forth.”
He gripped her hands tighter. “I, Fabio Andretti, take thee, Carly Shaw, the most beautiful love of my life, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to watch over you, to care for you in sickness and in health, to love and adore you from this day forth, and forever.”
Alex’s elongated speech was his second deviation from the script. It sounded heartfelt. Every fan out there would melt on the spot.
The pastor smiled at all four of them. “Now, by the power invested in me by the church, I pronounce both Miranda and Carlo, and Carly and Fabio, man and wife.
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may exchange rings, then kiss your brides.”
Alex swept Reese in his arms first, as the script directed. The force of his embrace dislodged her hat, which fell to the floor. He’d warned her.
After he’d kissed her long and hard, he slid the band on her finger. She in turn removed his ring from her pinky and, with a trembling hand, pushed it onto his ring finger.
“You’re mine now,” Fabio said, before kissing her hands.
After Carlo and Miranda had exchanged rings, the pastor raised his hands in benediction.
“Members of the congregation? May I present the two Mr and Mrs Andrettis. You may give them your best wishes in the vestibule of the church.”
Wedding music accompanied their joyous walk down the aisle behind Carlo and Miranda. Alex kissed her neck several times, playing the part of the besotted bridegroom to the hilt.