I was half asleep when Robert hustled me into his car the next morning, the pre-dawn sky dark. What seemed like minutes later my eyelids burned and I opened my eyes to look at Robert, seeing a flash of mythical dragon. Of course he’d be a dragon as his broad shoulders, muscled arms and brooding strength were the stuff of fantasty.

I glared at the Italian morning sun pummeling me through the car window. My grogginess still had me in a fog. I turned my head to avoid the blaring light and watched Robert drive on the highway. We must have been traveling for a while now. I blinked and yawned. "Are we almost back?"

He pointed ahead of us. I rubbed my eyes and glanced in the direction. The river near our hotel in Florence was in front of us. We only had to cross the bridge. "Yes. Your boss promised to help you find a wedding dress."

Aura would see my wedding as a distraction at best. She was always single-minded on business. I frowned. "I don't need her help. I can find one on my own."

Robert’s hand covered mine, and sparks ignited. He squeezed. "Don't worry. I paid her for her time as she knows more where to go than you do."

“Why would you do that?”

“It’s time the tables are turned around for you.”

“Oh goodness.” I pressed my lips together. I had to tell him. I admitted in a low voice, "She scares me sometimes."

His eyebrows quirked over the rims of his designer sunglasses. "Why?"

'Socializing is for other people' was the first thing Aura had ever said to me. I lowered my gaze, unable to voice all that at once. "She is very intense about her work."

He shrugged. "She is nothing compared to you. You must see that she makes money when you are around."

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would I bring her luck?”

“You bring me luck.”

"She is an excellent business woman. She’s had luck at making money all on her own."

Robert drove his car to the front of the hotel. "She's only that successful near you or your great aunt, I would think."

He stepped out of the car. I had to wait until the bellman opened my door, helped me out, and Robert met me on the sidewalk. "Why would that matter?"

He kissed my forehead and then took my hands. "Prosperity is one of your gifts you bestow when you are around other people."

A horn beeped, the driver wanting to pass Robert's car on the narrow street. He stayed with me. "That doesn't make any sense. I’ve never had money."

"Your family never lacked it, though yours did not indulge as mine did." His tender, strong lips met mine and my body became misty and loose.

“How do you know anything about my family?” Grandma’s rocking chair on the sagging front porch needed tender loving care, and money would have been nice.

“Once I knew your name the day we met, I had my staff run a background check on you.”

I held my breathe, unsure of what to say or how I felt. “Why?”

“To make sure you are who you say you are.”

He was rich and this was part of marrying him. I loved him so it didn’t matter. “My grandmother spent of her days in the rocking chair while we discussed topics she enjoyed. We never watched television or listened to the radio much.”

“Your grandmother it seems didn’t approve of frivolous expenses.”

"I'm not sure of any of that." I sighed as he took his mouth away. "The only thing I'm sure of is how much I want to marry you."

"Good. I've arranged for the ceremony to be at four in the afternoon."

I nodded and spotted Aura in the hotel lobby. It was no longer just Robert and I, the two of us. The real world and the man on the horn broke my bubble. Robert released my hand but I couldn't let him go, not yet. "Robert, until I met you, I had no life."

"Yes, you did. You just don't remember." He winked at me as he walked toward his car and opened the driver’s door. "I will pick you up from your hotel soon. Get a dress."

My tongue seemed slack in my mouth and I knew I wouldn’t form the right words eloquently, but I stuttered out what I needed to say. "Robert, I... I will be ready."

Those dimples of his would warm me for the rest of my life. I hugged my stomach and turned to go into the hotel. As the door rotated and I was inside the glass, I felt my entire body shrink. Aura stood, waiting. I joined her and she said, "I can’t believe you said yes."

My skin crawled under the weight of her words. I averted my gaze and brushed my hair behind my ear to hide that streak, for now. Robert was the best thing that ever happened in my life. My lips parted to tell her to mind her own business, but I couldn’t. "Why?"

Aura motioned for the doorman to open the outer door for us. She took my arm and we walked out into the street. "You have the money to start again. I didn't think you would marry for it."

My pulse raced. I'd never been anything to anyone except my grandmother. I never caused trouble. My breaths hitched. I had to argue. I had to say something. I wasn't a bad person because I’d said yes. I stared at the ground. "I'm not marrying him for money. We are in love."

"Love?" Aura's voice had an incredulous peak to it. I couldn't look at her. I hugged my stomach as she continued, "Oh wow. Daphne, if you run, you'll still get your last check deposited at the bank."

I shook my head furiously and gazed into Aura's big blue eyes. "I won't run. Robert and I are getting married."

Aura crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "He loved Serena. Everyone did and she died three months ago. It’s way too soon for love."

I realized that we’d stopped outside Domo Adami. Had this been Aura’s plan? I might not be able to afford one of the fancy designers with my meager savings, but I'd figure out how to get my own simple white dress without Aura’s help. "Well, he's marrying me now."

Aura held her hands up, her face pale. "Okay. Let's get the dress. Robert is paying me back for it anyhow, but I hope for your sake Serena was secretly evil."

Secretly evil sounded ominous. I rubbed the goosebumps that grew on my arms as we entered the shop. "How did Serena die?"

Aura snapped her fingers and a salesperson appeared. She immediately began to measure me as Aura motioned for her to get started. The clerk checked my waist, bust and hips as Aura talked. "Nobody knows. Her murder is unsolved.”

“Murder?”

“No arrests and there are rumors her body isn't in the grave she's buried in."

My heart thudded. No, it wasn't right to gossip or hope somehow the past was damaged. I had to look forward not backwards. Robert and I were getting married. I averted my gaze. "Robert must have been devastated."

The woman led me to a dressing room and placed three dresses on the door. I stripped as I thought about what Aura had said. No. I shouldn't wish that the past be forgotten, in any way. I'd have to live with the fact that Robert had loved someone else first.

Without looking I slipped on a dress. I came out and the clerk fixed it for me. As I stepped into the aisle, I stared at myself in the mirrors. The dress was too dramatic with edges everywhere. I grimaced.

Aura winked at me. "What do you think?"

I needed to find the right words. Horrendous rolled in my mind, but I didn’t want to hurt the saleswoman’s feelings. So I managed, "It's lovely."

She laughed and shook her head. "But not your type. You can tell me the truth. I saw your face. Go and try on another."

At least she wasn't pressuring me. I let out a breath and tried to smile. "Okay."

The saleswoman undid the back and I slipped out of the dress. I draped it over the door and the saleswoman tugged the dress out. I picked up another one and tried to step into it.

If there was anything I learned from Aura these past few weeks it was to be bold, go after what I want, and not to wait shyly for an acquisition to come into my lap.

Part of this meant going after what I wanted, and marriage to Robert played in my mind. Aura called through the door as I wiggled myself into the next dress. "I'm not trying to be the tempest on your wedding day, Daphne. I want you to understand it's up to you to make yourself happy. No one else. The De Marcos have quite a few murders in their family. It probably fuels his horror writing."

Something light bubbled inside, but I couldn't quite describe it. I called out, "Aura, you don't have to mother me, but I do appreciate your good intentions. I'm coming out."

The moment the door opened, Aura's eyes widened. "You look amazing."

The saleswoman finished with the buttons on my back. Once she was done, I twirled and stared at myself in the mirrors all around me. The dress had a high waist that accentuated my figure before it dropped into a princess cut. My heart thundered and for a second I saw golden dragon’s eyes burn into me from the mirror. I locked my legs to keep myself still. "This is so beautiful."

Aura handed her credit card to the saleswoman who then dinged a bell. "There is no going back once you say yes."

My stomach flipped and I bit my lip. Then I swallowed and looked down. "Don't try to scare me anymore. I know what I want."

"I've said my piece, Daphne. I'll throw rose petals at your wedding or I'll drive the getaway car." Aura looked back over her shoulder. She was being great, a friend rather than my boss. “Whatever you choose, it will be for the best."

Aura turned as the saleswoman boxed my dress. I lowered my head. "Thank you for everything."

"I am sorry if I ever treated you unkind. I've been so rushed here and my focus has always been to get back home to Connecticut.”

I smiled.

“So let's get your hair and make-up done. You're about to be a bride."

Nerves chilled me as I waited in the small hallway. Robert was around the corner, with the official. In a few seconds I was getting married. My heart began to pump and pump fast. Soon I wasn't cold anymore. I stared at myself in the mirror.

I looked like someone else. Today I was beautiful, not that I was ugly or anything. I was normally just normal, but the person in the mirror today had perfect skin, perfect teeth, flawless makeup and a gorgeous dress.

Aura brought me a bouquet of white lilies and then ushered me forward. She scooted past me and took a seat. I closed my eyes as I stepped into the room.

This was it.

My vision settled on the face of a prince. Robert De Marco's blue eyes widened as he stared at me with pride. My heart fluttered. Once I joined him, he took my hands and slipped a golden ring on my finger. The ring warmed and attached itself to my essence. Molten gold rushed in my veins.

I used Robert’s strength to steady myself and repeated the official’s words. I felt an energy inside me that wanted to burst free as the man finally said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

We were married.

Then Robert's lips met mine and I forgot everything else.