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“Is it?” I question softly. “She’s been different the last month. Not different in a bad way, but not her usual self. Something is going on and she won’t talk to me. I’m afraid whatever happened with Bianchi is still haunting her.”
“Go talk to her. Go snoop. Figure it out. She loves you, that’s much I’m sure,” Matias says.
Loves me.
It hits me that I haven’t said that to her yet. I’ve said it in different ways, but I have said those words.
“I need to go,” I tell my brother, hurrying back in the house. “And you’re in charge for the day.”
He gives me a mock salute and I speed-walk down the hallway, loosening my tie. The bedroom door is already opened, and Rosie is still asleep. I shrug out of my blazer and shut the door. I toss my jacket on the bench at the foot of the bed and kick off my shoes, then pull out the black box before climbing into bed with her.
She has an arm around her stomach and the other tucked under her head. She must feel the bed jostle because her sleepy eyes open and she smiles when she sees me.
Damn, I love it when her smile is aimed at me.
“Ari,” she lazily rasps, stretching her arms above her head. “I don’t know why I’m so tired.” A big yawn overtakes her next.
“You deserve the rest.”
Something mirroring guilt flashes across her eyes but in the next second it’s gone.
“I have something for you,” I say, holding the box out in front of her. “I think this is long overdue.”
She sits up, her hair a complete mess, and the pillowcase wrinkles are indented on her cheeks. Her eyes become big and glassy, and her hand covers her mouth in pure shock.
“Oh my god, Ari. Is this…”
“Open it and find out,” I say, brushing my knuckles down her cheek.
She clicks open the box, gasping when she finally sees the diamond. “Ari,” she shakes her head in disbelief, tears falling down her face. “I can’t take this. This is too much. How did you get it? How?”
I take it out of the box and take her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger.
Perfect fit.
“I bought it, and I asked Zander to make it into a one-of-a-kind ring. I wanted you to have it. It holds significance. For you and your brother, for me and you, and if felt like it needed to stay in the family.” I kiss her knuckles, staring at the giant black diamond that overtakes her entire finger. “Now we can plan your dream wedding. Anything you want, Tesoro. If you want a horse and carriage, it’s yours. If you want a thousand doves flying in the sky, if you want a ten-tier cake, it’s yours. I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“I only want you,” she says, straddling my lap. “But I would love to plan a wedding with you.”
My hands fall to her thighs, and I lean against the headboard, smiling up at her. “Oh yeah?”
She nods. “I’m in a gorgeous white gown that forms my body perfectly and you’re in a classic black tux. Your brother is your best man. And I want us to have the wedding at Bianchi’s old estate.”
My smile fades. “No. Absolutely not. Why would you want that? You were held hostage there.”
“And what better way to say, ‘fuck you’ than to get married to the man I love at the house where Bianchi tried to break me?”
I flip her over until she’s on her back, my grin so big my cheeks hurt. “You love me?”
“Ari—”
“—You love me?” I interrupt her, needing to hear her say it.
“I love you,” she says, placing her hand on my cheek. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” I bring our bodies together and kiss her, wanting to get lost in her but she shoves me away and rolls out of the bed, dashing to the bathroom.
She doesn’t have time to close the door and she throws up, missing the toilet.
