Tears sparkled on her lashes and in response, he frowned.
“I know I hurt you.” It was a gruff admission. “I came here today with one agenda only. To apologise to you. I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart, for the way I have behaved, the things I said, and most of all, for letting you think, for even one moment, that I wanted a life without you in it.” He dropped his head so their foreheads brushed and his eyes swept closed as he inhaled deeply.
Then, he dropped his hands to his side and stepped backwards, his expression uncertain. And it was that gesture alone that began to piece her heart back together. Just a little bit, but enough to give her true hope – hope that together they could heal the hurts of the past, that side by side they really were stronger.
“When I lost Andreo, I had no choice, no say. I was blind-sided by that pain. It was a grief unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and instinctively, I’ve sought to insulate myself from that. Pushing you away kept me safe. Being angry at you kept me safe. Because if I didn’t love you, I would never have to lose you. But you – Jack – you are my life, Elodie.”
She made a soft sound of disbelief.
“I’m done with hiding from that. I’m done with being afraid. I walked away from you once, then I watched you walk away, and each time it has felt as though my body is being turned inside out. I don’t want to do that again.”
Her eyes were saucer-like in her face as she stared at him.
“I love you. Ti amo.” So simple. “And I always will.” His expression was wistful. “Whatever you say, whatever you decide, my heart is yours, and will always be yours. Take it, or leave it.”
Silence stretched between them, and she marvelled at this moment – at the way he looked as though he was holding his breath hostage waiting for her response.
“Please say something,” he muttered. “Tell me to go away, if that’s your wish, just say something.”
She nodded, lifting her fingertips to her lips, her brows furrowed. “I want…”
“Yes?” He was still frozen rock solid.
“You said you’d never forgive. Never forget.”
“I lied.” He was back in front of her, his finger lifting her face upwards, and this time, he dropped his head to press his forehead against hers but he kept his eyes open, linked to Elodie’s. “You gave me a son, Elodie, and he is beautiful and perfect and I love him. There is nothing to forgive. Niente.”
She sobbed.
“The forgiveness has to come from you. Forgive me for being such a bastard. Forgive me for being so utterly obtuse. Forgive me for ruining the best thing that has ever happened to me.” His hands cupped her cheeks, his fingers catching in her hair. “Forgive me for hurting you, in time, knowing that I will never do so again.”
She shook her head in a state of blissful disbelief, but he must have misunderstood, because he lifted his mouth and pressed an anguished kiss to her hair. “Don’t say ‘no’, just think about it. I love you.”
“I don’t need to think about it, Fiero.”
Wariness held his face still.
“I didn’t stop loving you when I left Italy.” Now, she lifted her hands, pressing them to his hips, a shiver running through her at the relief that came from touching him freely, openly. “I’ll never stop loving you.”
His lips brushed hers as though he couldn’t help himself, but sanity was pulling at Elodie, demanding her attention.
“I love you, but it’s not that simple.”
“Oh?” His lips stayed pressed to hers.
“It’s not just about us. There’s Jack to consider. He needs stability and us dating could be really bad for him. What if it doesn’t work out?”
“I don’t want to date you, Elodie, I want to marry you.”
She stared at him with obvious surprise.
“As soon as we can arrange it. I want to live with you, husband and wife, and I want to make Jack a brother, a sister, then another brother and sister,” his hands curved over her stomach. “I want to wake up beside you every morning for the rest of my life, kissing you here,” he pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth, “and here,” the tip of her nose, “And here,” the top of her head. “Do you truly think there is any way on this earth we will not work out?”
“I…”
“I love you,” he said again, and now his smile was wonderfully arrogant, so that his confidence was completely contagious.
She smiled back, her heart bursting inside of her.
“Well, Elodie? What do you think?”
Her smile showed how certain she was, how utterly confident in this. “I think you’re a very, very slow learner,” she said thoughtfully, “but that once you catch on, you really catch on.”
He grinned. “Is this a yes?”
She tilted her head, pretending to think about it but her smile told him everything he needed to know.
He groaned as the silence stretched around them. “I warn you, Elodie, I will resort to less than honourable methods soon.”
Heat bloomed in her cheeks. “Is that a promise?”
He sobered, his expression serious. “It is a promise to love you and care for you and make you happy in every single way for the rest of your life.”
Her heart exploded. “Then what are you waiting for?”
He arched a brow.
“Take me to bed, Fiero Montebello.”
“And then make you my wife?” He demanded, his determination so familiar to her that her smile spread from ear to ear.
“Yep.” She lifted up and kissed him now, her pulse throbbing at the perfection of that contact. “Forever and ever.”
“As long as we both shall live.”
Later, much later, when the morning sun was high in the sky and their bodies were finally sated, she pushed up on one elbow, a frown on her face.
“What is it, cara?” He stroked her side distractedly and she wriggled closer, craving closeness even then.
“Did you say a brother and a sister and a brother and a sister?”
He nodded, smiling.
“Five children?”
“At least.”
She burst out laughing.
“What? Too much?”
“Erm, it might be ever so slightly excessive.”
He kissed the tip of her nose.
“But also, kind of perfect,” she said on a sigh. “Let’s start with one more and go from there?”
“Deal.” He pushed forward, rolling her onto his back, bringing his body over hers.
Her eyes flared wide. “Now?”
His eyes shone with love and with the promise of the future they were both welcoming with open arms, and he nodded slowly. “There’s no time like the present, right?”
Elodie Gardiner had known extreme loneliness, and she never hoped she would find herself in the middle of a family again, but with Fiero and Jack, she was complete. The promise of any other children was almost too much to hope for. Nonetheless, she did hope, because she had ample proof that dreams do come true.
“Thank Christ,” Nico laughed down the phone line. Then, there was a muffle as he covered the receiver. Fiero heard the words and his own smile spread like wildfire. They’re getting married.
Cheers met the pronouncement. Over his shoulder, Fiero studied Elodie, her beautiful body sound asleep, and for a moment, a rush of fear spread through him – a tremble of panic. Because he’d come so close to losing her, to ruining this, and he’d never forgive himself for that. But he would learn from it. He would make sure he spent every day showing her how much he loved her. He would resist the fear of pain in preference of the gift of happiness, because his love for Elodie demanded that of him.
He moved into her living room, closing her bedroom door gently. “Listen, Nico, anything I’ve said about Elodie…”
“Consider it forgotten,” Nico promised.
Fiero shook his head. “I was angry—,”
“You were hurt. I know what losing Andreo did to you. I was there. I’ve been wa
iting for you to come back to life ever since and finally you have.”
Fiero’s chest swelled. “I love her.”
“Lo so. And we will love her too. Any woman who can make you smile again has earned a debt of gratitude from us. When will you be home?”
Home. Fiero’s stomach felt as though it were filled with birds. He grinned. Home. With his fiancé and his son. His family. “As soon as we can be. If that suits Elodie.”
Nico’s laugh crackled down the phone line. “You’re a changed man, Fiero.” Then, more seriously, “Just don’t take too long. Yaya is already planning the wedding.”
Fiero laughed. “Maybe you should follow suit, Nico? Give her another reason to smile?”
Nico’s response was predictable and immediate. “Nah. You might be crazy enough to try the whole marriage thing but it’s as much an anathema to me now as ever.”
Fiero’s smile was confident, because while Nico had sworn off love and commitment many years ago, Fiero was pretty confident it would just take meeting the right woman to shake him of that certainty. “I’ll let you know when we make our plans.”
“Do. And Fiero? I’m happy for you, my friend.”
Nine months to the day later, they welcomed Gianfelice and Nico Jr. to their fold, twin brothers for Jack, who was besotted with them from the moment of their birth. One sunny afternoon, Elodie found herself sitting in a chair beneath the shade of a poplar tree on the lawn at Gianfelice’s Villa Fortuna, her three children just across the lawn under the watchful eye of their father and uncles and beloved Yaya, and she smiled without realising it. It was so much better than a fairy tale because this happiness was real, and it was hers and she knew, without a single shred of doubt, that it would be everlasting…
Other Books in THE MONTEBELLOS
All books are stand-alone, full-length romance novels.
REGRET ME NOT
JUST THIS ONE SUMMER
LOVING THE ENEMY
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
IT STARTED WITH A LIE
BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN - Pre-order Now
BOOK 7 - (SAMIR’S STORY) - Coming soon
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Billionaires: They're powerful, hot, charming and richer than sin... Page 17
