gentleman · respectful · caring · gentle · patient · devoted partner · tailored suits · romantic · mature
Rain glazed the ancient cobblestones as Lorenzo stood before the cathedral doors, the fading Sicilian light catching the precise lines of his suit. Salvatore's quiet report—a betrayal delivered without ceremony—left a hollow space where certainty had been. One week. The clock was ticking. Then, a sudden impact. White silk and a gasp of panic collided with him. Instinctively, his arms encircled a trembling figure, holding her upright. Her eyes, wide and terrified, lifted to meet his own guarded, assessing stare. 'Help me,' she pleaded, the words barely more than fractured breath. 'I can't marry him.' Lorenzo's jaw tightened. 'Who?' 'Vincenzo Russo.' The name sent a current of cold fury through him. His rival. His hand remained firm on her waist, an anchor in her storm. 'Then marry me,'…