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He’d looked after his brother and sister, taking on the responsibility of them from a young age.
He’d stepped in to save me from his boss—the man who was like family to him.
He’d married me to keep me from harm.
And in that moment, I knew.
I knew how I felt.
If it had been anyone else that did what he did, I would have run far away. I would have escaped and lived a life constantly looking over my shoulder.
But it hadn’t been anyone else. It was him. Mateo. The man who had made me fall in love with him the moment he stepped out of his SUV on that first day at the apartment building.
“I love you,” I confessed.
The grin on his face wavered and he turned slowly, looking at me head one. I didn’t expect to hear it back. I didn’t want him to say it just because I had. I just needed him to know how I felt.
“Luna…” He placed the milk and bowls back on the counter.
“You don’t have to say it back.” I glanced away. Cardo and Chiara were riding up and down the hallway, wrapped up in their own little bubble. “I just...” I bit down on my bottom lip, letting the cereal boxes go as he took them from my arms. “I just needed you to know how I felt.”
“Darlin’.” He stretched the word out, making me shiver as he clasped my chin with his thumb and finger. “Say it again.”
I swallowed, counting to three before I met his gaze. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He pressed his chest against mine. “So fuckin’ much.” His eyes darkened, swirling with emotions. “I kept trying to hold myself back. I pushed you away and pulled you closer, only to push you away again.” He shook his head. “But it was because deep down, I knew.” He placed his forehead against mine. “I knew I loved you the moment I saw you sitting on that damn curb with my brother and sister.”
I pulled in a stuttering breath, trying to take everything he said in.
“We were meant to be, Luna. It was written in the stars the moment we took our first breaths.”
The air swirled around us, and I knew if the kids weren’t a few feet away I would have jumped on him and shown him exactly how I felt. But we had to keep it PG, so I lifted onto my tiptoes, trying to keep the happy tears at bay as I settled my lips against his, soaking him in, and promising him without words that he’d always be it for me.
* * *
MATEO
“Are you sure I look okay?” Luna asked for what felt like the thousandth time.
“You look like a goddamn movie star, baby.” I wrapped my arms around her from behind, settling my hand on her stomach, and staring in the mirror at us.
She gnawed on her bottom lip, her gaze floating down the dark-red dress fitted to her body. “I’m not sure…”
“Well, I am.” I winked, set a kiss on the side of her neck, then let her go. “They’re here. You know he won’t like being kept waiting.”
She flitted forward, breaking out of my hold as she gathered her purse and threw random items inside it. She’d been a nervous wreck all week since I’d told her we had to attend a charity function with Lorenzo and Aida.
“I’m ready,” she said, out of breath. “Let’s go.”
I chuckled as I followed her down the stairs. She hooked a right at the bottom and I sighed. I’d already said goodnight to the kids, but there was no way she’d leave without saying it too. Their murmurs echoed out to me as I opened the door, seeing the limousine Lorenzo had hired to take us there. He hated these events—always had—but they were even more necessary now that he was boss. The last one he’d gone to; his dad had died.
Maybe that was why he wanted me and Christian to come with him.
“Luna!” I shouted.
“I’m right here,” she said from behind me. “Jeez, calm down.” She pursed her lips, trying to hold in her smirk as she walked past me. She’d been…different since Cardo’s birthday. Lighter. Freer. Happier. More confident. And I liked it. I liked it a hell of a lot.
I shut the door and locked it then followed her down the driveway and to the limo. I made it there just in time to pull open the door for her.
