Kidnapping His Bride Read online

  She’d turned them all away, never telling them why. How she wished she could tell them she was promised to someone else. Someone older and more mature, who would someday be ready to take her hand and make her his bride. In her mind, body and spirit, she was already taken.

  What a foolish, stupid girl she’d been.

  They’d seen each other a few times throughout her teenage years. She’d admired him from afar and spoken to him like a bumbling fool every time he came near. He was polite, somewhat attentive, a bit impulsive. As in, he’d sneak away from her every chance he got, but she blamed it on their four-year age difference. At sixteen, no way could she hold the interest of a twenty-year-old man.

  At least, that was what she told herself.

  But then she’d become older. Wiser. A little more jaded as to the ways of the world. Specifically, the destruction of her parents’ marriage opened her eyes. Life was not always full of romance and flowers and beautiful, perfect things.

  Like Rafe’s numerous indiscretions with an endless stream of beautiful, sophisticated women. His well-known reputation amongst the Italian and U.S. fashion industries as a charming flirt couldn’t be denied. The man hadn’t a faithful bone in his body.

  Exactly like her father.

  The very man who’d slowly, quietly destroyed their family over the years. Oh, her parents were still together—miserably. But her mother was a mere shell of a woman. Her father was never around. Her sister was bitter against men in general.

  Cat in turn had become bitter against one man in particular.

  “He believes he still does own me in a way,” she finally answered, earning a scathing glare from Annalisa. “What? It’s true.”

  “Papa sold you to the highest bidder,” Annalisa bit out, her lips tight, her golden eyes narrowed into slits.

  “Not quite. Our fathers were best friends. They believed Rafael and I would make a good match.” They’d gone over this story again and again. Once upon a time, she’d been perfectly fine with it. Now, she was desperate to back out of her arranged marriage.

  “I suppose I should be thankful Papa didn’t sell me to him. Or worse, the older, lecherous brother who married his nanny,” Annalisa said with a sneer. “All the Renaldi men are heartless pigs.” She looked down on everyone, specifically every man. They were horrible creatures in her eyes.

  “You don’t even know him,” Cat said softly, wishing her sister wasn’t so judgmental. “Matteo Renaldi is a respected businessman in the industry. You know his father and ours were great friends.”

  “Don’t try and enlighten me on how wonderful the Renaldi men are. We both know what they really are,” Annalisa muttered.

  “And what exactly are they?” Cat asked.

  “Well, Matteo is a sneaky bastard who bedded his nanny. Rafe charms his way into the pants of every woman he meets. And Vincenzo is married to some model he never, ever sees. What sort of relationship is that?” Annalisa ticked off every rumor like they were the absolute truth when most of it was gossip.

  And Annalisa had no qualms throwing Rafe’s reputation out there. Not caring that it might hurt her sister’s feelings.

  Which it did. It was one thing to worry about what Rafe was doing when she was alone with her thoughts. Another thing entirely when her sister blatantly called him out on his faults right in front of her. Cat wondered more than once if Annalisa secretly relished berating Rafe for her benefit.

  “Oh, Anna.” Grimacing, Cat looked away, casting her attention on anything but the man staring at her from across the room—or her embittered, never-happy sister. It seemed no one was pleased with whatever life delivered them.

  She noticed Matteo with his young American nanny, now wife. Paige Renaldi was lovely, probably the same age as Cat, and she looked so joyous as she stared into her husband’s eyes, Cat felt a sharp pang in her heart. The pang turned into a rather large crack when she noted the pure happiness radiating in Matteo’s gaze as he laughed at something his pretty wife said.

  Cat wanted that sort of marriage. One built out of love, adoration and respect. Not some ridiculous, prearranged agreement between two best friends who thought their families should be linked together forever.

  Yes, she wanted her freedom from Rafe Renaldi. Didn’t want to be tied down like her mother at such a young age to a man she didn’t love, let alone really know. She wanted a chance to be free, to experience life to its fullest. Not married and endlessly pregnant, taking care of the bratty children while her no good husband was off philandering. All while she grew whiny and fat and miserable.

  No, she couldn’t stand the idea of turning into her mother. It could so easily happen too…

  “Don’t ‘oh, Anna’ me.” Annalisa’s grating voice broke through Cat’s thoughts. “You know you don’t want this marriage, so quit defending our father and what he did to you, making you some sort of slave to Rafe Renaldi’s every whim. He’s a disgusting beast of a man anyway. So…large. And…broad. I’m sure he would manhandle you and scare you to death, let alone what he might do to you once you’re in his marital bed.”

  As if she couldn’t help herself, Cat let her gaze return to the man they were discussing. She didn’t mind his largeness. Or his broadness. The idea of him manhandling her in their marital bed didn’t set her heart trembling in fear.

  More like set her body quivering in pleasure.

  Stop it. You don’t want him. He’ll trap you into a life that will leave you miserable.

  She thought of the kiss they’d shared. How she’d melted in his arms as if she’d been made for him. The taste of his lips, his velvety tongue sliding against hers when he deepened their kiss. He’d devoured her, really. The way her body had lit up at first touch of his hands, the tingles that had washed over her when he whispered her name…

  “He’s a handsome devil, I’ll give him that,” Annalisa rattled on. “But a practiced charmer who will decimate you with a few chosen words if you don’t watch it. You’re weak, Catalina. You know this. He’ll have you wrapped so tight around his finger you won’t know any better. You’ll believe every lie he feeds you.”

  “I’m glad you think so highly of me,” Cat retorted, irritation ripping through her. God, did everyone believe her a gutless ninny? Most likely, what with the way she’d accepted her fate without protest the majority of her life.

  Well. Maybe for once, she needed to protest. Stand up and fight for what she believed in. At this very moment, the thing she believed in most was rather simple.

  Her freedom.

  Remorse filled her sister’s eyes and Annalisa reached out, grabbing hold of Cat’s arm and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I didn’t mean to insult you, Cat. You know this. It’s just your situation with that—man makes me so angry. On your behalf,” she added hurriedly.

  Cat had wondered more than once if her sister wasn’t jealous over the fact that she hadn’t been the chosen one for Rafael. Annalisa and Rafe were closer in age. It made sense that they would be matched up over her.

  But nothing about the entire situation made sense. She’d given up questioning the logic behind the decision long ago.

  “Of course, on my behalf.” Cat nodded, noticing movement out of the corner of her eye, and she turned, her lips parting when she saw what was happening. “What in the world…”

  Her sister gasped loudly as Rafael Renaldi himself made his way toward them, pushing through the small crowd that filled the reception area of their father’s business. Well, their business now, what with Annalisa having run the small, independent, leather goods company for over two years, Cat at her side, helping as much as she could. They weren’t as huge and well known as Renaldi, but they did well enough.

  They’d do better if their father returned his attention to the very business that kept him afloat. But he was nowhere to be found, reportedly on the beach in Cannes with his latest, young mistress while their mother sat at home, crying and miserable, as usual.

  The Campioni daughters were his repr
esentatives tonight and had been for a long time. Though neither of them had any idea the Renaldis would be in attendance.

  Well, Cat hadn’t known. Maybe Annalisa had invited them?

  “He’s coming for you,” Annalisa whispered harshly. “And he looks quite…determined.”

  Cat ignored her sister, her gaze locking on Rafe. He did appear determined—and starkly, unmistakably handsome. His dark hair slicked back from his forehead, his gaze narrowed, his strong jaw firmed. He always had a downright jovial way about him. Always smiling, dark brown eyes twinkling, a laugh seemingly ready to spill at any moment.

  There was no joviality in his expression at the moment, though. He looked grim.

  “If he so much as speaks to you, there’s no telling what I might do,” Annalisa muttered.

  “You won’t do anything,” Cat murmured in return, her gaze locked on Rafe as she spoke to her sister. “You’ll be on your best behavior. It wouldn’t do to make a scene in front of our father’s business associates.”

  “As if he cares. If this business mattered to him, he’d be here!”

  Cat repressed the scathing comment that threatened to burst from her. She was so tired of her sister’s rude and bitter behavior. It had gotten worse over the years, to the point of barely tolerable. “Shush. Let me talk to Rafael in peace. I don’t need you yammering in my ear.”

  She heard her sister’s irritated gasp just as he stopped before them, his eyebrows raised as if he knew they spoke of him and he nodded toward Annalisa, his gaze skittering to her for the barest second before those mysterious, dark eyes settled on Cat and never left. “Good evening, Annalisa. Catalina.”

  Annalisa snorted in reply while Cat smiled. “Happy to have you here this evening, Mr. Renaldi.” The polite greeting earned yet another snort from her sister.

  His thick brows rose higher if that was possible. “Such formality. Considering our…position with each other, don’t you think you could at least call me by my name, Catalina?”

  “Considering our still formal position to each other and the fact that I hardly know you, I believe Mr. Renaldi is rather fitting.” She kept her smile pasted on, though her mouth quivered at the corners. Inside, she trembled at having him so close. She could smell his tantalizing scent, feel the heat radiating off of his large body and she was tempted to step into him. Wrap her arms around him and see if he felt as wonderfully solid as she remembered.

  But she withheld the urge, knowing she would only make a fool of herself if she did something so rash. Her sister would probably yank her off of him anyway.

  “I know this is rather sudden, but I’d like to speak to you about that arrangement,” he said, his voice low, his gaze cutting to Annalisa for the briefest moment before settling on her again. “Now, if you don’t mind.”

  “She won’t—” Annalisa started, but Cat silenced her with a look before returning her gaze to Rafael.

  “Funny you should ask. I’ve been wishing to speak to you about our arrangement as well.” Cat lifted her chin, trying her best for cool, poised sophistication. She was young, untried and utterly lacking in comparison to the glamorous, beautiful women she’d seen on Rafe’s arm over the years, but she wanted him to realize he wasn’t trifling with a mere girl any longer.

  She was a woman of twenty-three. Sheltered and without much experience, but still. Her entire life, every decision had been made for her, and finally she’d grown weary.

  Tonight, for the first time, she was ready to make her own decisions. Whatever Rafe wanted to tell her, he probably wouldn’t like what she had to say in return.

  And for once, she didn’t give a damn.

  Chapter Two

  Cat followed Rafael out onto the small terrace off of the reception room of Campioni Leather Goods. Whereas Renaldi Accessories was a worldwide fashion empire, well known and respected, Carlo Campioni hadn’t been able to find as broad success with his business. In recent years the company had fallen on hard times.

  Hence her father’s need of money and having no shame in borrowing it from the Renaldis. It didn’t help matters that Carlo would rather focus on his numerous dalliances than his business. Cat hadn’t seen her father in months.

  She wondered if her supposed future husband would protest her working at Campioni. Or would he rather have her working for Renaldi?

  Worse, could he be so old-fashioned he’d rather not have her working at all?

  “What did you want to talk about?” she asked when he finally stopped and leaned against the metal railing that ran the perimeter of the terrace. He looked every inch the dashing male, clad in a navy suit, pale blue shirt and carefully knotted, buttery yellow tie. His suit probably cost more than her entire wardrobe.

  That the Campionis were no longer even close to the same financial league as the Renaldis was a massive understatement.

  She stood just in front of him, curling her arms around herself to ward off the chilly breeze that sprang up. Rubbing her hands along her bare arms, she watched him warily, noting the obvious way he drank her in. His blatant gaze drifted along her body from head to toe and she shivered, though not from the cold wind.

  The way he looked at her had felt like a physical caress. As if he’d actually touched her. Her nipples tightened beneath her bra, her skin broke out in goose bumps and she pressed her lips together, wishing she could control her body’s reaction to him.

  No man made her react like this. Ever. But that didn’t matter. She needed to end this. She wanted her freedom.

  Desperately.

  “We need to set a wedding date. I’ve waited long enough,” he said gruffly. No preemptive, no gentle cajoling or sweet persuading.

  With that flat-out demand, Rafe reminded her of her equally demanding father.

  “You’ve waited long enough?” She kept her voice even, her demeanor calm. But inside, she raged. She wanted to smack him. Yes, she’d asked him to wait, but how long had he kept her hanging with no word, no sign that he wanted to marry her? Years! And now he was eager to make her his wife? Why the sudden urgency?

  His jerky nod told her that he wasn’t in the mood for a patient, rational discussion. “I gave you time just as you requested. More than a year of you needing to complete whatever you wished to accomplish should be enough, don’t you think? I’m finished with the game playing. We’re getting married, and soon. No more protests, no more putting it off, Catalina. It’s time. I’m not getting any younger and neither are you.”

  Game playing? The nerve of the man. And how dare he bring up her age. She was still young and he was under thirty. “Why now? I don’t understand.” Panic made her heart rate kick up and she breathed deep, trying to calm herself. She could do this. Make him understand that this wasn’t the right step for them.

  “All this waiting around for you to grow up has made me impatient.” Standing straight, he reached for her, slipping his long fingers around her upper arm and pulling her closer to him. “It’s time for us to finally make this marriage happen, don’t you think?”

  “No.” She wrenched her arm out of his tightening grip, hating how he referred to their supposed marriage like it was some sort of business deal that needed to be completed. Which it essentially was, not that she wanted to face that awful fact. “I don’t think it’s time for this happen. I don’t want this to happen at all.”

  He glared at her, his dark eyes hard, and so incredibly difficult to read. “You don’t mean it.”

  “I do.” Cat lifted her chin, never letting her gaze waver. She refused to show him any weakness. This was it. Her life would change forever within the next few minutes. “I don’t want to marry you. Look at how you insult me, basically calling me a child who needs to grow up. And then you expect me to swoon at the first mention of marriage? Well, I don’t think so. I have no desire to marry you, Rafael Renaldi. Not now. Not ever.”

  Rafe didn’t say anything for long, tension-filled minutes. The air thickened around them; she could feel the angry heat of him, the te
nsion rolling off his body in obvious waves. “You don’t want to marry me,” he finally said, his voice low and incredibly deep.

  She slowly shook her head. “I don’t.” Her voice shook and she winced. Now was not the time to appear weak. She needed to remain strong, needed to stand up to him.

  “Why not?”

  “Do I really need to give you any more of a reason?” She laughed nervously, but his expression never changed, making her even more wary.

  “Yes, of course you do. I deserve a reason. You’re my fiancée. You have been for years. It’s the least you could do—give me a valid reason.”

  “Don’t you think it’s ridiculous how I’ve been your fiancée since I was a child?” She hissed out the last word, bitterness making her insides twist. “It’s an old-fashioned arrangement, and you know it. I don’t want to marry you. I doubt you want to marry me either.”

  “Not true.” He slowly shook his head. “I’ve always wanted to marry you, Catalina. You can’t break an agreement that was made years ago with a simple no and think you can walk away from me.”

  The cool way he said that made her nervous. “Whatever crazy formal agreement our fathers made when we were mere children can’t be held up in any court. You know this.” She sounded like her sister, but she needed to present a proper argument. Her personal reasoning wouldn’t matter to him.

  How could she have believed he’d willingly let her walk? She should’ve known better.

  But why did he want to marry her? He’d never showed much interest in her before, beyond the few stupid kisses they’d shared. It made no sense.

  “I’ll prove you wrong. I can hold you to this agreement, just watch me.” He studied her, his gaze locked on her face. “Don’t test me, Catalina. When there’s something I want, I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”