Chapter 84

They came to an abrupt halt outside the ballroom doors, and Luca managed to stop just before he ran into Mona. She turned and looked at them with lips pressed tight, but it only took a second before her face softened. She stepped toward Gus, fiddled with his bow tie, and brushed away invisible lint from his tuxedo.

“You know I’d do anything for you,” she said and walked around him to check him over from behind. “But I expect an explanation later.”

“Ja, mamma,” Gus said.

Luca smiled again. His fiancé tried to placate his mother by speaking Swedish to her. Clever. It always melted her heart.

Satisfied with Gus’s appearance, she turned to Luca. “The veil is lovely, dear,” she said with a smile.