AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The twinkling lights in the indoor trees caught the now dustless bottle just right, making it shine like a beacon.
Like a blessing.
“So, you may have heard that I’ve made the Top Ten Mixologists in Chicago list for two years running—”
“Show off,” said Lili.
He grinned. “I have a thriving wine bar, an unreliable pizza oven, and the privilege of a terrible review fromTasty Chicago—”
“Effen critics,” Shane piped up in solidarity.
“Thanks, man. And I’m a second-level sommelier, but for the life of me, I have never figured out how to open a bottle of wine with one hand.” Putting down the precious cargo napping peacefully in his arms was not an option. “Mia bella, do you mind?”
Jules was already at his side with a corkscrew. “You better put those hot hands to work later, babe,” she murmured so only he could hear.
That would not be a problem.
Within five seconds, his nimble-fingered protégé had that bottle uncorked and ready for pouring. Glasses magically appeared and he filled them with a toasting portion for everyone.
He raised a glass to his family.
“Salute e cent’anni.” Good health for a hundred years. He added a silent cheer to his parents and filled in the hoped-for benediction from above.
Happy graduation, son.
Leaning in, Jules kissed him tenderly above their beautiful boy’s blond head, and he greedily took advantage and deepened the connection. All the chatter fell away until it was just Jules’s green-gold gaze and soft lips holding him enthralled. Two years ago, this woman had walked into this restaurant and seized him by the throat, heart, and other parts of his anatomy that should be handled with care.
The twitch of her lips and light in her eyes asked the age-old question,You okay?
The same question they had asked each other a million times at a million family gatherings since she had found her home with the DeLucas.
Their people. His woman.
He could feel a smile conquering his face, one that put every other smile to shame. No one had ever been this happy. With a sleeping demon in one arm and the girl of his dreams on the other, okay didn’t cut it. More like perfect.
They were his at last, and he was never letting go.
* * *
