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She glanced down. She was a little embarrassed to admit she was wearing the yellow dress underneath—the one he’d caught her dancing in. But she tilted her chin toward him as she undid the buttons on her bright green raincoat and handed it to him. Matteo left her coat over one of the leather chairs then held out his hand toward her again. There was a flicker in his eyes and the corners of his mouth turned upward as his eyes took in her yellow dress.
He led her down the corridor to the atrium with the curved staircase, pulling his phone from his pocket and pressing some buttons.
There was a gleam in his eyes. “I added a little extra to the house in the last few days.”
She frowned and looked around. She couldn’t see anything different. “What?”
Gentle music filled the air around them. The music from Phoebe’s favorite musical. She couldn’t help but smile.
“May I have this dance?” Matteo asked.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” she asked.
He raised his eyebrows. “Around you? Apparently not. But I’m willing to spend a lifetime finding out.”
She was holding her breath as she slid her hand into his. “I believe you need to start on the stairs,” he said as he led her up the curved staircase, then stood a little underneath her.
It was silly. It was ridiculous. But it was exactly what she’d dreamed of. Matteo was just underneath her. He wasn’t in a suit—just a simple pair of dress trousers and white shirt.
This time when he looked up at her there were no shadows in his eyes—only sincerity. His gaze was fixed entirely on her.
Her heart was playing a pitter-patter kind of tune in her chest. It had taken three years to kiss someone again. It had taken three years for her to find the courage to step onto a plane again—and whether he believed it or not, Matteo had given her the boost to do that. But was she really ready to give her heart away again?
The music was infectious. Her body started to sway in time to the tune, her feet soon following. Matteo was watching her the whole time. She moved up and down the staircase but as she reached the last few steps Matteo held out his arms to lift her down onto the main floor. One hand fitted snugly at her waist, the other held her hand tightly as he started to move around the room. Matteo could dance. He held her tightly to him as he swept her around the atrium. “How do you feel about doing this, every day, for the rest of your life?”
Her footsteps slowed. “How can I trust you, Matteo? What do you have to give me?”
He didn’t hesitate. “My heart. It’s yours. Forever. I hadn’t realized that I needed to learn to trust. To open the shutters. To put myself out there. So, I’m here now. My heart. From this point on, we’re family. You and me. For always.”
Phoebe snaked her hands around his neck. “I might have some conditions.”
He picked her up and swirled her around. “Name them.”
She was smiling as her feet touched the ground again. “I might want you to dance me around every room in the house.”
“Done.”
“I might want the same amount of flowers in every room. I love them. The orange gerberas were particularly ingenious.” She raised her eyebrows. “You might have a good eye.”
“Done. Anything else?”
She stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “We might need to reach a more formal agreement.”
For a second, his brow furrowed. “How?”
This time it was her turn for there to be a twinkle in her eye. “It might involve a certain book, in my favorite room in the house.”
Matteo gave her a wide smile as he slipped her hand into his and led her down the corridor. “I’m not quite sure what you mean,” he said as he winked at her. “I think you’ll have to show me...”
Epilogue
New Year’s Eve
THERE WERE A million little butterflies currently beating their wings in her stomach. Phoebe’s mother smoothed down her veil. “You look beautiful, darling. I’ve never felt so proud.” Phoebe’s heart swelled in her chest as she bent forward and kissed her mother on the cheek.
“Neither have I. Love you, Mom. I’m so glad we’re doing this together.”
There was a sweep of royal blue satin as Brianna appeared at the entrance of the door with three champagne glasses on a tray. “A toast,” she declared. “To my new sister-in-law, and my son’s honorary nanna.” Phoebe’s hands were shaking as she took a tiny sip.
“I’m too nervous. I can’t drink.”
Brianna and her mother laughed as her mother handed over her bouquet of yellow roses and green leaves. “Then, let’s not keep the groom waiting.”
