RubyAfter days of ignoring Archer and giving him the cold shoulder, I’ve noticed a change. He no longer waits for me in the morning or checks up on me at lunch. Archer has simply stopped, and even though I haven’t been receptive, it still hurts.As I lie on my bed this evening after a hectic day at work, my mind drifts back to a recent conversation I had with Ethel on the phone.“What?” She exclaims after I recount the entire story. “I’m going to kill him.”I laugh, knowing how fierce Ethel can be.“I’m so sorry you’re stuck in this, Ruby. Can’t you get out of this wedding? Surely Papa will see reason,” she sympathizes with me.“When you consider that moving in with him months before the wedding all but compromises me, and the importance of the shipping lines he’s bringing with him, we need him, Ethel,” I say softly, rubbing my temple as a headache looms.“Shit, I’m so sorry, Rubes,” she says.“Sometimes, I wish I never agreed to this wedding, Ethel,” I admit, my heart breaking all o
ArcherToday is my wedding day. My hand shakes as I try to knot my bowtie.The last few weeks have been dreadful. Giving Ruby space when all I want to do is shake her until she tells me why she changed. Why did she want Diavolo instead of me? What went wrong?But the fear of losing her and chasing her away has kept me calm since. Once we get married, she can’t run away. She will be mine. Then we will thrash out any differences between us, and I’ll make her forget all about Diavolo.“Bro.” Jordan knocks, then steps in. He looks good in his tuxedo, as my best man, he had to.“Mom just called; they are at the venue already,” he says, walking up to me to help me knot my tie.I inhale deeply and exhale. Jordan’s parents and younger siblings arrived last night for my wedding. Other than them, I won’t have any family members on my side.After my mom ran away with the gardener when I was three, my father cut away every connection between us and her family, the few that were left.I don’t know
RubySitting in the limo in my custom-made wedding dress, perfect hair and makeup, I try not to throw up. My hands are sweaty, and my heart is beating fast—so fast that I’m surprised no one can hear it.When Ethel arrived yesterday, I went to the airport to wait for her. Her husband, Anthony, is such a darling because he let us go alone, probably figuring out that we needed some girl time.“So, what’s the plan?” Ethel asks as she stirs her iced tea with her straw.“Unfortunately, there isn’t one,” I reply.“Damn.” She curses, then drinks her tea.“You’re a duchess now; you’re not alone to swear,” I inform her.Ethel laughs, “Before I became a duchess, I was my own person.”“Indeed,” I raise my iced tea and take a sip.“I thought maybe I should confront Archer about his relationship with Sophia and tell him to call off the wedding. But I know he wouldn’t. Besides, he needs me as much as I need his shipping lines. There will be no calling off the wedding.”I think we should call off the
Ruby's POV“I can’t do this, Dad.” “I can’t marry a man I don’t know.” I try to protest while my father, Aolo Ferretti speaks, his voice reflecting the finality of his decision. “It’s for the best, Piccolo,” he responds. “You know I love you and wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. This will benefit you and the family.” “Benefit me?” I exclaim in outrage. “How can marrying a man I don’t know possibly be good for me, Dad?” “Ruby, I know the Petraki family. They are good people. Urso has been my best friend since we were kids,” he says, pacing. “This marriage is in your best interest.” “He’s going to move to Milan. He’ll join you in the family business, and we’ll merge our businesses together. You won’t have to leave home,” my dad explains. I can never believe that my dad is doing this solely for my well-being. I gently shake him off and walk over to the window in his study, gazing out at our estate. “What about Diavolo?” I ask, my gaze outside. Diavolo, my boyfriend for over a y
Archer's POVComing to Milan to find a wife is already a crazy idea, but meeting a stunning stranger who looks like a fallen angel is entirely unexpected.When that angelic beauty kisses like a goddess, all my well-laid plans go out the window. The woman in my arms is oblivious to how she looks.When she walks into the bar this evening, every man in the room turns to watch her, captivated by her long, smooth legs, creamy white skin begging to be touched, a slender figure with enchanting golden-brown eyes. But the most astonishing thing about her is her striking red hair, so vibrant it can only be described as Ruby red.As she approaches the bar, fidgeting as if she’s a housewife about to meet a secret lover, I can’t resist striking up a conversation with her. To my surprise, she not only responds but checks me out enough for me to know she’s interested.I deepen the kiss, and when I raise my hand to cup her firm breast, she shudders, making me groan. This is completely unexpected; I h
Ruby's POVOne minute, we’re talking, and the next, I can’t get enough of him. I run my hand through his hair and sigh into his kiss. Archer kisses like a god. He tastes like sunshine and sin. His body pressed against mine is sculpted, and I can’t feel an ounce of fat.Kissing him is a revelation; it feels as good as I remember. It isn’t the drink; it’s us.He moves me until my back is against the dining table. Neither of us wants to stop the kiss. I hop on the table, kicking off my heels, and he walks in between them, pressing his center to mine.“Archer,” I moan loudly as I run my hand down his back. I arch my back and rub against his erection, then wrap my legs around his back.He kisses my jawline down to my collarbone, then my neck, where he suckles on the spot where my pulse runs.He grinds his erection into me, and I gasp. He’s so hard and hot. I drag his lips back to mine and continue our kiss.His hand goes to my thighs and moves up steadily. Just as he presses on the spot wh
Archer's POVI’m having breakfast at precisely the moment the flowers I sent to Ruby are being delivered. I’m enjoying a simple breakfast and wondering how long it will take before Ruby calls me. A smile creeps onto my face as I recalls what I wrote on the note I sent to her.“To the mysterious lady who swept me off my feet before I even knew she was mine. I fall asleep and wake up with thoughts of you. I eagerly await the day you will be mine. Yours, Archer.” I’m not sure if revealing the depth of my feelings is a wise move, but I don’t want Ruby to feel alone in this connection between us. My last experiences with women have led me to believe I’m incapable of developing attachments to them. With Ruby, though, it’s entirely different. The intense emotions I feel for her prove I’m capable of deep feelings. As my phone rings, I hurry to answer it. “Hello.”“Archie, how have you been?”“Jordan?” I ask as I take a seat on the bed.“Yup. Do you have any other sexy friends? How’s Milan
RubyAs I watch Archer playing with the kids, my heart aches, endearing him to me even more. I find myself smiling as he kneels down to pick up little Isabella, who couldn’t keep up with the other kids, and puts her on his shoulders. Isabella throws her hands up and laughs gleefully, and I can’t help but imagine him with our kids.I shake my head to clear these thoughts. It feels too soon to be falling for him so quickly, doesn’t it?Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I jump out of my reverie. “He is good with the kids,” Julia says as she stands close to me with her hands folded on her chest. “Yes, he is.”When I first met Julia, I thought she was too hard and solemn to care for these children. However, through the years of working with her, I’ve come to realize that her tough exterior hides a heart as soft as a mushroom. She’s a kind-hearted woman who lost her husband to war. At 48 years old, with her lean body, bronze skin, and dark eyes, she’s a beauty.In one rare moment,