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Her father lifts his hands in truce. “Don’t scold me,” Emilio says. “No one asked for my opinion”
We laugh.
I stand up.
I cup her face in my hands and press a passionate kiss against her lips, but keep it PG. As much as I want to devour her mouth, I’m conscious of the fact her father owns a machete and he knows how to use it. I’d hate to lose the family jewels three weeks before Christmas.
“I’m so happy, my feet aren’t touching the ground,” she says when I break the kiss.
“Get used to it. I intend on making you this happy every single day for the rest of our lives.”
She reaches up for my cheek and caresses it. “We’re going to have a good life together.”
“No, beautiful. We’re going to have a great life together! I grab her hand and turn, so we’re facing her family and her friend. “She said yes!”
Julia, Ciara, and Cassie run to Sofia come out wrapping in a communal hug. The women squeal and do a happy dance.
Emilio approaches me. “I couldn’t ask for a better man for my daughter,” he says, tapping my shoulder.
“I’m honored.”
“You didn’t have to ask for her hand in marriage, but I appreciate the gesture. Some might say it’s old-fashioned, but for me, it says you’re not only marrying my daughter, you’re accepting us as a family.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Brad is six feet under, but given my brother’s contribution to bringing back the thief to the US, Liam is no longer dead to me. We text each other from time to time, but our sibling relationship will forever more be damaged. He backstabbed me. Over the last few months, the Herreras have become family.
Emilio stares up at me. “We’re too close in age for me to call you, son, or give you life lessons, but I’ll repeat what I told you yesterday. Don’t break her heart.”
“Never!” I affirm the same words as when he heeded the warning the first time around. “I’ll be unquestionably loyal to Sofia until the grave. I’d give my life for this woman, and I intend on fiercely protecting her and our kids until my last breath.”
He nods. “My daughter has a soft heart.” His gaze shifts to Ciara before returning his attention to me. Is that worry I read in his eyes? “Her younger sister is like Teflon. Nothing sticks on her. She bounces back, regardless of what life throws at her.” The silence between us stretches and grows heavy. He sticks his hands into his pocket. “Let’s hope that never changes…”
I open my mouth to ask if Ciara is facing any kind of trouble, but Emilio changes the subject. “As per your vow of protectiveness to your children… I’m not ready yet to be a grandfather. I’m too young for that,” he chuckles, “so no rush.”
“We’ll keep that in mind.”
Sofia and I lock eyes.
My gaze lowers to her tummy.
I can’t wait to watch her belly grow with our child.
Epilogue
Sofia
Eight months later
“Forget about hooking up with multimillionaires. That’s so last century,” my sister says. “I’m setting my sight higher. I want a billionaire with royal connections. Or even better, a royal who’s a billionaire. That way, I could become Princess Ciara of Something-Something.”
Cassie points at my sister. “I’ll have what she ordered, please!”
We giggle.
I can’t blame alcohol for this euphoria. We’re high from this day.
Ciara, Cassie, and I are standing on the deck of a massive, luxury yacht, our sunglass-shaded eyes lost in the horizon. The beautiful blue sky is only eclipsed by the mesmerizing Mediterranean Sea.
