VITTORIO'S RUNAWAY BRIDE (The Vittorio Series) by Kimberley Reeves

caressed the side of her face.   “I will see to everything, moglie .”
    Shelby choked back the tears that were threatening to spill.   Moglie .   Wife.   Logan had called her his wife .
                                                                                           ***
    She didn’t bother to ask how Logan managed to wheedle an appointment so late in the day at a doctor’s office where she wasn’t even an established patient.   He could be very persuasive when he wanted to be, and getting her in to see a doctor on such short notice proved to be no exception.   And even though there had been no fractured bones, Shelby was glad he’d taken her in because the throbbing pain in her ankle had gotten considerably worse by the time they got there.  
    The doctor carefully examined her foot, exchanging an amused glance with Shelby when Logan demanded that he double check for broken bones.   After diagnosing a badly sprained ankle and bandaging it up, he gave Logan instructions on how to tend her injury then wrote out a prescription for painkillers and sent them on their way.   She waited in the car while he ran in to fill the prescription, obediently taking one of the pills as soon as he returned and had nearly nodded off by the time they got back to the cottage.
    Shelby burrowed her face in Logan’s neck as he carried her inside, offering a groggy smile when he lowered her onto the bed and started to undress her.   His face was a mask of granite as he peeled off her jeans and t-shirt.   He even managed get her bra off with only a minor twitch in his jaws, but when he reached to remove her panties, his hands faltered.   Shelby, who was starting to feel a little loopy from the painkillers, let out a little giggle.
    Logan withdrew his hands with a grunt and hastily pulled the covers up to her neck.   Apparently, she found it highly amusing that he stopped at taking off her panties because she was sporting a broad grin and doing nothing to hide the laughter in her eyes.   The desire he’d felt only moments ago was shoved aside by a far greater emotion as his heart swelled with love for his beautiful bride.   For the first time in months, the dull ache in his chest was absent and Logan was able to draw in a breath that didn’t hitch in his throat.
    He arched a brow.   “Would you like to explain what is so funny, cara ?”
    “You are,” she quipped.   “I don’t recall you ever having a problem undressing me before.”
    “Do not tempt me Shelby.  You are in no condition to endure the things I want to do to you right now.”   He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.   “Be a good girl and go to sleep.”
    Shelby reached up and touched his cheek.   “I’m sorry for being so much trouble.   Will…will you come back tomorrow?”
    “Come back?”   He straightened up, a slight frown forming on his face.   “I am not leaving you alone.   I will stay in the spare bedroom and keep the door open in case you need me.”
    Shelby giggled again.   “That could be a problem since I don’t have a spare bedroom.”
    “What about the room next to yours?”
    “I turned it into an art studio.”
    “Then I will spend the night on the sofa.”
    “Oh, Logan,” she laughed, “your feet will hang over the edge and you won’t get a minute of sleep!”
    “I am not leaving,” he said obstinately.   “If I have to sleep on the floor, then I will do so.”
    “Don’t be silly.   If you insist on staying here, you can sleep with me.”
    “ Madre di Dio ,” he muttered, “I am not made of stone.   Do you think I could lie in the same bed and not touch you?”
    Shelby’s hazy mind pondered that for a moment.   “Would it help if I wore a nightgown?”
    Logan groaned.   “ Cara , I want to hold you.   With or without a nightgown, it would still be torture I if could not sleep with you in my arms.”
    “Okay,” she