Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“You’ve changed me too, beautiful.”
“Don’t change too much.” She kisses me, sliding her hands over my back. “I like you the way you are.”
Our kiss grows more passionate and intense, with more heat coming from our bodies than from the blazing Maldivian sun above.
EPILOGUE
SIENA
Seven Months Later
Irush across the ballroom, heading for the kitchen. Sweat slides down my body and sticks my glittery gold dress to me, but hey, sweating in fancy outfits is part of the gig.
In the kitchen, despite how busy we are, I can’t help but pause in the doorway as I watch Mom work. She’s always been a strong, sturdy woman, thick at the shoulders, as if making up for the fact I never had much of a dad. She’s got her dark hair tied back and, as she cuts an onion, hyper-focus in her honey-colored eyes.
“Mom, if you’ve got any more of those lobster medallions, they’re going down quick.”
She looks up, smiles. “We’re out already?”
“Yep, they’re killers.”
“On it, boss.”
I laugh. “I’m not your boss. Stop calling me that.”
“You got it… boss. Say hello to the birthday boy for me.”
I leave the kitchen, a smile on my face. Ever since the vow renewal in the Maldives, standing on that ridge with my man, my smiles have been different. I don’t feel like I have to push them down anymore.
Marcela approaches me when I rejoin the party. “This is absolutely delightful, sweetness. The perfect party.”
“Thank you, Marcela. Have you seen the birthday boy?”
“He’s… talking to the DJ.”
“Okay,” I say, playfully nudging her. “Why do you say that like it’s some big conspiracy?”
“Did I?” She laughs. “Too much wine, I’m sure.”
I smile at Veronica as I walk across the room. After Dario’s cash injection into mine and Mom’s business, I went to Veronica and said that if she was game, we could combine our businesses. Catering and event planning cut out the middleman.
It’s been over half a year, and we haven’t looked back. It’s been a smash hit.
Dario strides across the ballroom, handsome and dashing in his tuxedo, the chandelier lights making the silver streaks in his hair gleam just like the sun in paradise did. He smoothes his arm around me.
“Great party, beautiful.” He kisses me. “Thank you… and I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say, leaning up for another kiss. “And you’re welcome. Why were you bothering the DJ?”
He chuckles. “Bothering? That’s not how I’d phrase it.”
My mind drifts, like it’s been doing all day… to the gift I’ve wrapped for Dario. The gift he hasn’t opened yet.
“Are you okay, angel?”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like you drifted off there for a sec.”
“It’s nothing.”
That’s wrong. It’s everything. We’re everything.
Emotion suddenly grips me. I grab the lapel of his jacket and pull myself close to him again, thinking of these past seven months.
Rocco is in a super-max prison after the Family used their connections to get him put away for life, and Dario and I are living together in New York. My work takes me all over, so it made sense, and I love living with him. I love him, full stop.
“Something’s been on your mind all day,” he whispers, stroking his hand through my hair.
“Has it?”
“Don’t act innocent with me. I know you, Siena.”
I look up into his broody eyes, so familiar to me now. Sometimes I look at him and I’m in awe that I ever thought we wouldn’t fall in love.
“I just really want you to open your gift…”
“That’s easy enough. Let’s go.”
He takes my hand and we walk across the party together. As he finds the small package I’ve left for him, I move anxiously from foot to foot.
“Remember that concert?” I murmur when he opens it. “The limo on the way home…”
He sucks in a breath, tearing the package open with more ferocity. “When we didn’t have a condom.”
“Yep.”
He lifts the pregnancy test, his eyes glistening. “You’re pregnant.”
“Yes.”
A smile spreads across his face. “We’re going to have a baby.”
I take his hand. “Is that okay? I know we didn’t plan it, but—”
“It’s perfect.”
As the music changes, the lights suddenly dim. The song has gone from upbeat party music to something slower, more emotional. It takes me a moment to realize.
“This is the song that was playing the first time we slow danced.”
“In the Maldives,” he agrees. “Dance with me.”
He leads me to the middle of the dance floor. I’m so giddy with his reaction to the pregnancy, I don’t even notice that we’re the only ones on the dance floor until I glance up.
“What’s going on?” I whisper.
“I’m savoring this moment,” he tells me. “The here and now with the love of my life. With the mother of my child.”
“I’m so happy you’re happy.”
He kisses the top of my head, inhaling my scent.
Mom, Veronica, and Marcela stand together, Mom in her chef’s uniform, all of them with emotion etching their features. My heart races. I think I know where this is going, but I can’t dare to dream it.