The look in his eyes filled me with wonder and love. I felt my bones begin to melt. “You don’t really believe I dove into the pool to catch your attention, do you?”
“It’ll be a nice story to tell our grandchildren, won’t it? Especially, how you followed me into the shower.”
“They won’t believe you,” I huffed.
Angelo leaned forward and caught my lips in a searing kiss.
Epilogue
Sienna
Six months Later
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09R8_2nJtjg
I couldn’t remember ever feeling so nervous. It was easy for Charlotte to say, “Relax, they’ll love you. What’s there not to love?” She was miles away, probably eating ice cream right now.
Me, I was waiting with the rest of my family in the vast foyer, flutes of champagne in hand, and light laughter in the air. I kept glancing at the front door. Today was the day that Angelo would be returning from Boston, as he had so many times in the past six months. The only thing was this time around, he wasn’t coming alone.
My hands tightened nervously around the stem of my full glass without realizing it until Gemma came up to me.
“You’re going to break the glass,” she said.
I turned to her and exhaled in relief as she handed me an identical glass, but filled with darker colored liquid. “Thank you, Gemma,” I said as we swiftly switched glasses.
All around me were the closest members of my family. My parents, a few aunts and uncles, and close cousins. We were a party of twelve awaiting the arrival of my soon to be in-laws from Boston. It would be my first meeting with Angelo’s family members and I was on the verge of pooping my pants.
I lifted the glass of apple juice to my lips and instantly drained it.
Gemma took a sip out of the champagne flute she had taken from me, her expression one of amusement. “Relax,” she coaxed. “They will love you.”
“Well, they have to now. It’s too late otherwise.”
We gazed at each other knowingly, the reminder of the pregnancy test she had found in my room two days earlier coming to mind. She pulled me into a hug and kissed me lightly on my cheek. “I’ll get you a refill.”
“Thank you.”
“They’re here, Boss,” one of the guards suddenly announced.
The other family members immediately rose to their feet from the adjoining foyer living room.
My mom glided over to me. Dressed in a baby pink Chanel suit, her slender neck lined with pearls, and her hair arranged into a low chignon at the back of her head. She looked absolutely exquisite. She held my hands, a smile on her face, and light in her eyes. “Don’t be nervous,” she said.
I nodded, as I allowed her to fix my outfit and dust away imaginary specks of dirt from my crisp, white blouse. I had teamed it with tight black pants. A pair of shoes I had designed and made myself graced my feet, and around my neck was the gorgeous emerald necklace Angelo had given me for my birthday.
I lifted my hand as the simple but beautiful champagne and cognac 11 carat diamond engagement ring sparkled on a split shank band. I loved everything about it.
The massive front doors were finally pulled open, and beyond was an entourage of shiny black town cars. A few men, all large, and all dressed in identical black suits, quickly got out of the first car, and in no time they were pulling the back doors open for the passengers in the cars that followed.
In the one in the middle was the one person I most wanted to see.
Angelo got out of the car and instantly found my gaze. He smiled at me, his grin almost blinding, then he went and added a wink.
It made my tummy flutter. All my apprehension and tension melted away.
“Don’t faint,” my mom said.
I even found myself laughing. “I think I’ll be fine,” I said out loud, but completed the rest of the statement in my mind. The moment that man gets over here and stands by my side. His presence was all the support I needed.
He opened the passenger door and a tall, older man, much older even than my father, stepped out. All the hair on his head was white, but there could be no doubt he was Angelo’s father.
They walked in through the door and I immediately stepped forward to greet him.
The moment his gaze settled on me, I felt a chill go down my spine. He had the coldest eyes I had ever seen on a man. But then Angelo placed his hand on the small of my back, and warmth immediately filled me once again.
I gave the old man my brightest smile.
Angelo introduced me to him, “Dad, this is Sienna.”
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Sir,” I said.
He regarded me without expression. “So you’re the one who finally sent my son back home.”