She collapsed against him, her body sweaty and tired. He didn’t mind though. He loved her, all of her.
“Dante,” she whispered as she moved to the side and he slipped out of her. “Do you really think it worked?”
He rolled toward her and pulled her close, then moved a hand down to her belly. “I don’t think so. I know so.”
Epilogue
One month later …
The newly renovated kitchen at Petit Louve looked just as it did back in December, like nothing had ever happened. Holly felt only excitement as she walked around and inspected everything.
“Do we have enough pate? It’s going fast,” she said to Pierre.
“Yes, Chef.”
“And the petit fours? Is Christina keeping up with the demand?”
“Yes, Chef.”
“And what about—”
“Aunt Holly!”
Holly stopped and turned around. Standing in the doorway of her kitchen was Hannah, all dressed up in her new party clothes that she picked out herself. Next to her, Dante held her hand and flashed her a smile, which made her knees go weak. Was it always going to be like this?
“Aunt Holly, stop! You can’t be hiding back here when you have lots of people out there waiting to meet you,” Hannah said in a matter-of-fact tone. “It’s not good business! People want to see the chef. Isn’t that right, Dante?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Yes, honey, you’re right.” He looked at Holly. “She’s very smart, you know. You should listen to her.”
Holly let out a loud laugh, which made a couple of her staff stop and turn, their jaws slacked. She sent them a warning look. They turned away, quickly going back to their jobs. Though her personal life had improved and changed a lot, she was still The Ice Queen in the kitchen.
She walked over to them, and Dante slipped an arm around her waist. “You’re working too hard,” he said.
“It’s not good for the baby!” Hannah added.
“I’m fine,” she said.
“Did you eat?” Hannah asked. “You’re probably hungry.”
“She’s always hungry,” Dante said, then grabbed a few canapes from a tray carried by a passing waiter.
“Fine,” she grumbled as he popped two of them in her mouth. This whole True Mate baby thing could be a bother sometimes, especially with her enhanced appetite, but it was all worth it.
That morning on New Year’s day, as soon as they had gotten up from bed, they couldn’t wait to find out if she was pregnant. Dante had rushed out to get some tests. Sure enough, all three tests came out positive, proving she was indeed Dante’s True Mate. Of course, someone forgot to mention that she was also invincible, so it was quite a shock when she accidentally cut herself in the kitchen one day and the wound sealed right up.
“Done?” Dante asked as she chewed, then swallowed. “Good. Now, it’s time to stop working and have fun.” He looked over his shoulder at Pierre. “Don’t forget, drinks at Muccino’s for everyone when you’re done.”
“Yes, Chef!”
Dante led Holly away from the kitchen with Hannah in tow. “Aunt Holly,” she said, “you missed all the fun. Mika was trying to balance a spoon on her nose, but Lucas kept trying to distract her and she got mad and chased him around. Then, Cross was teasing Dee, and so she …”
Holly tried to hide a grin as she listened patiently to Hannah’s story. It seemed that after three months of silence, her niece was making up for lost time and would not stop talking. Being part of the New York and New Jersey clan had not only changed her life, but Hannah’s as well. She was surrounded by people who loved her, and she was flourishing. Frankie was even able to get her into another elementary school nearby, one that she said Lucas and Adrianna would be attending the following year.
They entered the dining room, and the grand opening party was already in full swing. The room was filled with people, VIPs, some food critics and bloggers, as well as other restaurateurs in the area who helped them out during their renovations. And, of course, the New York and New Jersey clans came out in full force. Even Nonna Gianna had made the trip over from Jersey and Noah arrived earlier, riding on his new, shiny motorcycle.
As they walked through the room, people came up to Holly, congratulating her and telling her how much they loved her food. She thanked each and every one of them for coming and accepted their compliments as gracefully as she could. Dante stood beside her whispering encouragements the entire time. They also passed by Sharice, who was giving an interview to a restaurant blogger with Enzo by her side. She smiled at Enzo, who looked handsome in his formal wear, despite the sling and cast on his right arm. Apparently, during the scuffle on New Year’s Eve, one of the men had grabbed Sharice and Enzo protected her, but broke his arm in the process. Sharice had been in shock and blurted out that she loved him while he was writhing in pain. Though she later denied it, the two of them had been inseparable since the incident.
Holly looked across the room and saw Selena and Quinn. The redhead nodded at her, giving her the signal that her “surprise” for Hannah had arrived. Selena pointed to the door.
Standing by the entrance was a tall man, taller than even Daric, and much broader. Though the thick beard and scar down his face made him look fierce, the baby carrier slung on his massive chest softened him. He held the door open as a woman and a little boy entered.
Hannah was going on and on about the other kids’ antics when Holly nudged her and pointed to the woman and the boy who were walking toward them. When Hannah’s head turned to see what she was pointing at, her eyes went wide and her mouth shut .
“Hi, you must be Hannah,” Evie King said as she knelt down to Hannah’s eye level. “I was told you’ve been waiting to meet me for some time now.”
Hannah remained frozen. Finally, she looked up at Holly and Dante, then back at Evie, her mouth open, no sound coming out.
Holly laughed. After weeks of non-stop talking, Hannah was speechless again, this time for a good reason.
“She’s not usually like this,” Dante said.
“She’s excited to meet you, I assure you,” Holly said. “She’s just overwhelmed.”
“I can’t believe it’s you!” Hannah said excitedly, seemingly finding her voice. Evie opened her arms, and she jumped in, giving her a hug.
“Hannah, this is my son Cliff,” she said, pulling the boy forward. He waved at Hannah shyly. “And that’s my husband Connor and our daughter Charley.” She pointed to the man with the baby carrier. Evie stood up. “I’m Evie,” she said as she turned to Holly. “You must be Dante’s Holly. Thank you for inviting us.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, blushing at being called Dante’s. “And thanks for coming.”
“My pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you. Maybe we can talk more later?” She turned back to Hannah. “Let’s go say hi to the rest of the kids.” Hannah, still in awe of her idol, took Evie’s hand and led her to the back room where all the kids were playing.
Holly and Dante continued to mingle, greeting guests and chatting with friends. But as the night wore on, more people left and soon it was only family and the New York clan left.
“Thanks again for setting up that surprise for Hannah,” Holly said to Selena.
“No problem.” Selena chuckled. “But I don’t think the surprises are done yet.”
“Huh?” She turned in the direction of Selena’s nod. Dante was walking toward her, a nervous smile on his face. What did Selena mean? “Dante?” she asked when he took her hand and pulled her to the middle of the room. “What’s going on?”
“Excuse me, everyone. I’d like your attention please,” Dante announced. The din died down and all eyes turned to them. “Thank you. Now, Hannah, honey, can you come here, too, please?”
Evie urged Hannah forward, who then walked to where Dante and Holly was standing. Dante cleared his throat. “Now that it’s just us here, I’d like to say a few words. I know it’s not my grand opening, but I hope you’ll in
dulge me because the only reason Holly agreed not to hide in the kitchen the whole night is if she didn’t have to make any speeches.” There were a few laughs from the crowd. “Now, as some of you may know, things didn’t start out too well for me and Holly. She thought I was spying on the competition, and I thought she was kind of a cold, uptight hard ass.” More chuckles. “But, for some reason, Holly thought I was worthy of her and not only did she choose a nobody from Jersey like me, but she also gave me the best gifts in the world.” He looked down at Hannah with a warm smile and then glanced at Holly’s stomach. “So … I want to ask you a question.” He got down on one knee. “Actually, I have two questions. First,” he took a small box from his pocket, “Holly, will you marry me?”
“Dante …” Holly gasped, her eyes wide at the beautiful diamond ring inside the box. “Of course! I mean, yes! I will.”
Dante’s face lit up, and he slipped the ring on her finger, but didn’t get up. “Now, I said I have two questions … Hannah,” he began. He reached into his coat pocket and took out an envelope. “I know I can’t replace your daddy. And I don’t want to, ever. These are the papers that will start the adoption process, so that Aunt Holly and I can become your legal parents. We’ve been talking about it for some time now, but I wanted to ask you formally. You don’t have to decide now, and you don’t have to agree either. You, me, Aunt Holly, and the baby will still be family forever.”
Hannah’s mouth opened, and she was speechless for a second time that night. A small cry escaped her throat and tears poured down her face as her small arms wrapped around his neck and she let out a sob. “Y-y-yes …” she managed to say as she nodded against his chest.
Dante picked her up in his arms and turned to Holly. She was crying too, her cheeks wet with her own tears. In fact, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
“I love you,” she whispered, right before he leaned down and kissed her. Warmth spread through her, and she was more sure than ever of her love for this wonderful man. He not only accepted her but also Hannah.
“I love you, too,” he said when his lips left hers. “Now, the night’s not done yet. Let’s celebrate.”
Holly dried her and Hannah’s tears away. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Extended Epilogue
Twenty years later …
Hannah
I checked my reflection in the mirror, making sure my dress and hair were perfect. My blond hair was pinned up, a few tendrils framing my face. My makeup was minimal, and the pale pink dress I chose tonight went well with my coloring. The only jewelry I wore was the gold locket that I rarely took off and the sparkling diamond engagement ring that had been on my finger for three months. Taking the pendant between my fingers, I rubbed the well-worn locket. I didn’t have to open it to know what was inside, as I could always see it in my head. A picture of Mommy and Daddy on one side and Papa and Mama on the other. They gave it to me the day the adoption papers went through twenty years ago. Since that day, I started calling Aunt Holly and Dante, Mama and Papa.
After months of planning, it was finally here. The Hannah Taylor Muccino Bridal Boutique was having its grand opening, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. My staff had put up the various mannequins showcasing my spring collection for the following year. It was ironic that I would be the first one to walk down the aisle in my very own creation in just three weeks from now on Christmas Day.
“Hey gorgeous.”
I turned around and, as always, my stomach did a flip flop at the sight of the tall, handsome man behind me. Mama said this always happened to her when she looked at Papa, and I hoped that I would always feel this way.
“You should be studying for the bar,” I told my fiancé. His handsome face lit up into a smile, his teeth a dazzling white against the smooth, tawny skin of his face. Light hazel eyes twinkled at me as he came closer and wrapped an arm around my waist.
“I couldn’t miss this,” Anthony said as he nuzzled my neck. “Not your big opening. And I needed a break from studying Court of Appeals decisions anyway. Not the most stimulating stuff, you know.”
I laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. A warmth spread over me, and I still couldn’t believe that in a few weeks, this wonderful man was going to be my husband.
Lizzie had told me that the day Anthony saw me, he told her he was going to marry me someday. Fine words for a five-year-old, but, hey, look at us now. We all grew up together and were neighbors, but he’s two years younger than me, which is why I was apprehensive at what I had felt toward him once we were grown.
I also thought he would forget about me when I left for Paris three years ago to intern at a famous fashion house, but when I came back after a year, he confessed that he’d loved me from the beginning. I wasn’t sure what to tell our parents, but everyone, including Aunt Selena and Uncle Quinn were happy for us. “About time. I thought for sure Anthony was going to be moping around forever if you didn’t start giving him the time of day,” Uncle Quinn had said when we announced we were officially dating.
“C’mon, lovebirds,” a voice from the doorway said. “Knock it off.”
I turned to the sound of the familiar voice. “Papa! Mama!” I gently pushed Anthony away and took his hand. We walked toward my mama and papa, who were standing by the door. Papa had his hand around Mama’s waist, and she blushed like a bride on her wedding day when he whispered something in her ear.
“I was just telling your mama how beautiful you look. Just like the first day I saw her.”
“You mean when you pretended to be my vegetable supplier?” Mama said wryly.
Papa laughed. “And you looked at me like I was a delicious piece of steak. Oh, don’t deny it Holly, I can still remember your face.”
“Sir,” Anthony said, extending his hand to Papa. Anthony was soft-spoken and polite (which was a contrast to his mom, dad, and sister, who were all quite loud, opinionated, and boisterous) and always called Papa “sir” after we started dating, instead of Uncle Dante. I rolled my eyes at Mama as Papa gave him a stern look. Mama said he was still having a hard time accepting that I wasn’t a little girl anymore, but he would, in time.
“Anthony,” he acknowledged with a nod. “How’s the studying going?”
“It’s going well, sir,” he said.
“You think you’re going to pass?” Papa asked, narrowing his mismatched eyes.
“Papa,” I began. “You know Anthony graduated top of his class at Harvard Law. He’s going to crush the bar exam.” And I knew it. Anthony had always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. As soon as he got his license, he was going to work for a non-profit that helped protect women, children, and the underprivileged. I was so proud of him, and I knew he was one of those people who would be making a big difference in the world.
“Good luck to you, son,” he said. The last word caught Anthony off guard, but he regained his composure and thanked Papa.
“Now,” Mama began, “do you have everything ready? I think Andres came a while ago to set up the food.”
“Uh-huh.” I nodded. “Thank you, by the way.”
“Of course,” Papa said. “We want to make your opening a smashing success.”
Papa and Mama weren’t disappointed that I went into fashion design instead of cooking. It’s not that I didn’t like cooking, but it wasn’t my thing. Besides, I had two brothers who would be taking up the family businesses. Dominic and Gio both loved to cook, and it seemed Mama and Papa had one successor each. Our youngest, Maxine, on the other hand, looked like she would be taking after me. She loved fashion and clothes and begged me for a part-time job in the summer as an intern.
“C’mon now, let’s go out to the showroom. Everyone’s here!” Mama said excitedly. We walked out of my office and into the showroom. Aside from the bridal gowns, I also had the place fully decked-out in Christmas decorations, including a large Christmas tree with white bridal-themed decorations.
And when Mama said everyone, she meant everyone. The New Yor
k and New Jersey Lycan clans had come in full force to support me, as they always did. Growing up around them had made the biggest difference in the world. I was always surrounded by people who loved and supported me. Most of them showed up for my very first student show when I graduated from the New York Fashion School and every single event I had since then, even in Paris and London. Of course they’d all be here today as well.
Lucas and Adrianna Anderson, my two best friends, were the first to come up to greet us.
“Congrats, Hannah,” Lucas said as he drew me in for a hug.
“It’s amazing. It’s all amazing,” Adrianna exclaimed as she gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Mama and Papa are on the way. They just got stuck in traffic picking up Julianna at work.”
“Hannah! This is soooo cool!” Isabelle, Lucas and Adrianna’s youngest sister squealed. “Can I please be an intern here in the summer, too? Maxine said you were taking her in.”
I laughed. “Let’s see, okay? Maybe you guys can take turns.” Not that I didn’t like Isabelle, but her and Maxine in the same room together might make my head explode. Aunt Frankie had Isabelle around the same time as Mama had Maxine. The two cousins were like two peas in a pod, attached at the hip, and looked so alike with their dark hair and mismatched eyes that people thought they were twins. They both were also obsessed with fashion, clothing, shopping, and amassing followers on their various social media accounts.
More people poured in as the night wore on. Aunt Selena and Uncle Quinn, of course, plus Lizzie. Uncle Killian, Aunt Luna, and Olivia were there, too. Jacob and Arch had to work late at Lone Wolf Security, but they got here once the party was in full swing. Aunt Evie and Uncle Connor had arrived right after them. I was especially glad to see Aunt Evie, as I wanted to show her the gown I was working on for her for next year when she accepted her Special Achievement Award at the Tonys. Of course, Uncle Daric and Aunt Meredith came with two of their kids, Cross and Astrid, plus her best friend Desiree Desmond Creed, who we all called Deedee.
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