Family Ties (Morelli Family 4)

Nodding solemnly, I tell him, “Good thinking. You did buy us a house, and you probably didn’t want us to live in sin.”

Now he rolls his eyes. “I couldn’t care less, but inexplicably your brother—who is definitely going to Hell, and is one of the most godless men I’ve ever met—took issue with it.”

I can’t help laughing. “Did he really? Is that why he won’t let me move in?” I gasp. “Does Mateo know you’re proposing?”

Sal nods. “I got his permission first. I figured you didn’t have a dad to ask, and he just seems like the most logical next choice.”

“Aww.” I have to kiss him again. “I love that you wanted to ask permission for my hand. You’re so dreamy.”

He rolls his eyes, but with a huge grin splitting his face. “Is that the wine talking?”

I shake my head. “Nope. That’s all me. I hate to say it, but you blow my fantasy commoner right out of the water.”

“That guy had no edge,” he says, feigning cockiness. Nodding at the ring box, he adds, “You gonna put that thing on, or what?”

I took it out of the box, but I have yet to slide it on my finger. My hands have stopped shaking, but I can’t resist the urge and I hold it out to him. “You do it.”

My heart flutters as he takes the dainty, beautiful ring between his fingers. I hold my left hand out, fingers spread, and as he slides the band onto my finger, my grin grows inch-by-inch. I feel like the Cheshire Cat when he slides it past my knuckle and it finds its forever home.

“I’m never taking it off,” I inform him, staring at it.

“That’s the idea,” he teases.

Sighing, I rip my gaze from the ring and look at the face of this wonderful man. He’s given me so much, given so much for me, and now he’s giving me forever.

Chapter Forty

Francesca

I really didn’t have to go back to the bakery. Apparently Sal contacted Mia—through Vince—to see if she could close up the bakery today before he even showed up to surprise me with the picnic lunch.

After the picnic at the park, he takes me to our new house. We avoid the living room since it still needs to be renovated, but we make good use of the bedroom and then after an accidental nap, Sal follows me through the house while I make a mental list of the things we’ll need to buy. I confess to hating his couch, so he agrees we’ll buy a new one to go in the new living room.

Since I’m not closing up at work, and because we have to share our good news, I decide to go home for dinner. I wanted to stop by the bakery to show off my new ring since Mia was covering for me, but we ran out of time. I shoot her a text and ask if she and Vince can come to the house for dinner tonight. Vince isn’t into the idea, but Mia assures me they’ll be there.

I also learn that apparently I’m getting married really soon. I always imagined I’d pick my own wedding date if I ever got married, but Sal informs me Mateo has already decided we’re getting married in three months. I don’t even know how we’ll pull off a wedding in three months, and it seems like way too soon after both our fathers dying to have a big, celebratory event like that, but if Sal is okay with it, I won’t argue.

Since we’re crunched for time, though, there’s a lot to arrange. We discuss it while we’re out. Sal isn’t much for the details, but given the circumstances, we agree on a smaller wedding. The guest list will be a headache either way. We’ll keep the bridal party small. He said he’ll have his brother, Mark, and a friend I haven’t met stand with him, so I only have to come up with a maid of honor and two bridesmaids. It’s not like I actually have friends outside the family. He tells me—somehow with a straight face—that I should have Meg and Mia stand with me.

“Why don’t you have Mateo be your best man instead and I’ll have Mia be my maid of honor so I can make them walk down the aisle together?” I fire back.

Rolling his eyes, he shoots me down.

I was half-joking, but I decide I really will ask Mia to by my maid of honor. Apparently you can buy cards for that, so I haul Sal to a card shop I find through quickly searching on my phone.

By the time we show up at the mansion for pre-dinner drinks, I’m on cloud nine.

Mia and Meg are in the study with the guys when we show up. So is Elise, but she’s serving drinks. I don’t know why she’s still doing maid duty—she’s in a dress for dinner tonight, but I’ve seen her back in her uniform twice since I got back home. I would think maybe she and Adrian didn’t work out, but that’s clearly not the case. As if to prove that point, once she gets Sal a drink, she goes over and sits on the arm of Adrian’s chair, reaching over and grabbing his free hand, twining their fingers together. He looks over at her as adoring as ever, then he puts his drink down on the side table and grabs her by the nape of the neck, tugging her close for a kiss. Elise slides right off the arm and into his lap, wrapping her arm around his neck and molding her body to his.