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“They’re beautiful, Daniel.”
My gaze wanders past both women to seek out my wife because hearing her voice is music to my ears.
Bella steps aside to allow me entry. “Go give them to her.”
I don’t need the encouragement. I need privacy because my bride is wearing an all too familiar denim dress, and her long brown hair is in a high ponytail.
A woman has yet to be born who can compare to her. Maybe if we have a daughter one day, and she’s blessed with her mom’s beauty, she’ll rank a solid second.
I cross the room and offer the flowers to Gina.
She stares at them while she bites the corner of her bottom lip. “White carnations.”
“They’re Gina’s favorites,” Bella says from behind me.
Lia laughs. “Something tells me he already knew that.”
Gina gathers the flowers in her arms. “I love them, Daniel.”
I stare into her face and the depths of her brown eyes. “Good.”
“I’ll put them in water.” She sighs. “I was just about to take a walk with Bella and Lia.”
“We don’t want you to tagalong anymore.” Bella giggles. “We need to gossip, so stay here.”
I glance over my shoulder at the two of them huddled together. Bella’s hand is wrapped around her cousin’s forearm.
“The flowers really are beautiful.” Bella smiles at me. “We went to Calvetti’s for dessert and saw Gina there. Marti gave us a honey ricotta cheesecake to share. What’s left is on the box on the counter. You two should enjoy it.”
“We will,” I say. “Be safe out there.”
“Be safe in here.” Bella winks at me. “I love you, Gina.”
“Love you,” Gina calls back. “You too, Lia.”
“I love everyone in this room.” Lia laughs. “We’re leaving now.”
They do, and as the door shuts behind them, my wife closes the distance between us before giving me a kiss that leaves me wanting more.
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
Gina
“Dance with me.”Daniel holds out a hand as I walk back into the living room carrying the vase I placed the carnations in.
Soft music is filling the air. I suspect it’s streaming from his phone as it sits atop the coffee table in the middle of the room.
Before I can answer, Daniel takes the vase from me. He walks across the room to place it on a table next to one of the windows.
As much as I love fresh flowers, I rarely stop to pick up any. Carnations may not cost a fortune, but it’s an extravagance I’ve never indulged in.
“You want to dance?” I question him. “I’ve seen you dance. Maybe I should grab my phone in case I need to call 911.”
His head falls back in laughter. “You’re funny, Calvetti.”
I reach into the pocket of my dress to grab my wedding ring. Before I think it through, I slide it on my finger. “It’s Lawton, for now.”
I added ‘for now’because I have no idea what Daniel is feeling. Yesterday, we talked about putting the annulment aside, but that felt like more of a spur-of-the-moment ‘for now’agreement than a forever commitment.
