“Anything is worth having you in my life. That’s what family is. I forgot that somewhere along the way, or maybe my father tried to beat it out of me, but if you want to be with me, we can take care of each other until the end of time. It’s your choice.”
I can’t help the tears streaming down my face. He’s offering me a choice. The chance to decide my own fate, once and for all. But there’s only one choice to make.
It feels like a dream as I wrap my arms around him, drawing his face close to mine for a kiss. “I’ll marry you again. Hell, three times if it’ll do the trick.”
Laughing, he slides the ring onto my finger. “Why not make it four?”
He looks so handsome when he laughs, I’m determined to make sure he does it more often. At least once a day. For the rest of our lives.
21
Frankie
I wake up slowly,contentedness wrapped as tight around me as Dante’s arms are. Stretching, I catch a glimpse of something flashing in the morning light.
It’s the ring on my left hand, reminding me that I’m going to marry the right man this time. For real. We’d ended our little honeymoon last night with dinner on Dante’s balcony, followed by another round of lovemaking.
I keep waiting for it to become routine or less powerful, but every time we come together, it feels richer. Deeper. Like our connection just keeps getting stronger.
He’s slow to wake up as I rub his back. I debate starting something lovely with him again, but when I glance at the clock I realize it’s late—almost eight a.m. It’s time to begin my day.
“I’m going for a run,” I whisper, giving Dante one last kiss before I roll out of bed and head to the bathroom to change into workout clothes.
“Be safe,” he calls after me. “Don’t forget your phone.”
Outside, the sun is bright and brilliant as I jog down the road. I’d love to just bask in the afterglow of our little vacation, but unfortunately, the real world is waiting. I have things to take care of. Things to clear out of the way so Dante and I can get on with our lives.
Without breaking my stride, I pull out my cell and call Rico. A queasy feeling goes through me just seeing his name on my screen, but I need to get this over with. Because even though Dante promised to take care of the Rico situation, it’s my mistake. My responsibility.
Plus, I might be able to reason with him. Negotiate a deal that we can both live with. The Bellantis can pay some agreed-upon sum for Rico’s half of the Abbott Winery, and in exchange Rico can sign divorce papers and disappear.
That’s the best outcome I’ve been able to dream up, anyway.
The phone rings and rings and finally goes to voicemail. “Dammit,” I curse to myself.
I’m both frustrated and relieved as I tap out a text.
Hi, Rico. We need to speak—and soon.
It takes another mile and a half for me to clear my head and return to the house. I find Dante in the shower when I get upstairs, cleaning up after his own morning workout routine. I quickly strip out of my leggings and sports bra and join him under the steamy water.
He reaches for me, obviously pleased that I’ve chosen to join him.
“How was your run?”
I run my hands down his strong arms. “Not enough to wear me out.”
“Don’t tempt me.” He grins. “We’re already running late and we need to head down for breakfast. But I will take a raincheck.”
We content ourselves with light kisses, and then quickly towel off and get dressed. As we hold hands and make our way downstairs, I can’t help thinking that we have a whole lifetime of togetherness ahead of us. And that for once, I feel the certainty of a man’s love.
In the dining room, Armani and Marco don’t bat an eye when they see me slide into the chair beside Dante’s. Actually, Marco does bat an eye—in a saucy wink—but then he passes me the coffee pot, and I feel like I’ve been accepted into the family again.
It’s almost as if I never left.
“Good morning,” I say cheerily.
Armani glances up from his tablet screen as I pour myself a coffee. “Glad you’re here, Frankie. I’ve tracked down some more of your family’s horses.”
