Lola stared at him, too overcome with emotion to speak.
His expression fell. Then his jaw set as his eyes narrowed with determination. “I’ll do whatever it takes to win you back, Lola. Anything. Even if it takes everything I possess. Even if it takes the rest of my life—”
“Stop.” Trembling, she reached her finger to his lips. They felt soft and sensual, warm to the touch. A shiver of desire went through her.
“Five...”
Opening her hand, she held out the golden wedding band on her palm. “This is my answer.”
Emotion was raw on his face as he took the ring. Then he saw the inscription: I love you now and always.
Rodrigo looked up with an intake of breath.
“One! Happy New Year!”
A growl came from the back of his throat, and he pulled her into his powerful arms, w
rapping her tight. And lowering his head, he kissed Lola as she’d never been kissed before: with pure, heartfelt love, holding nothing back. She returned his kiss, with the same promise and need.
They were fated. Bound. Married.
Soul mates.
A cheer rose up behind them, yanking Lola out of her spell. Pressing her cheek against his chest, she saw the Morettis and Zaccos and all the rest of the party pressed against the restaurant’s double-height windows, grinning and applauding. Hallie and Tess were giving her beaming smiles and holding up champagne glasses, as if they’d always known love would win.
And it was true, Lola thought with tears in her eyes. Love won. No matter how difficult and awful life could be, no matter how much grief and pain a person endured, love could always win.
“Let’s live in New York,” he murmured suddenly.
She looked up at him joyfully. “Are you serious?”
“Why not?” He gave her a sudden wicked grin. “I hear it’s ‘a hotbed of media companies that will dominate the future of the entertainment business.’”
She giggled. “Not to mention it’s near all our family and friends.”
“Yes. Not to mention that.” Rodrigo’s face grew serious. “I’ve realized whatever makes you happy, makes me happy, too.” Sliding the golden band on his left ring finger, he cupped her face in his hands. “I’ve spent my whole life looking for you, querida,” he said huskily, looking down at her with tears shining in his black eyes. “And now I’ve found you, I’m never going to let you go.”
“I love you,” Lola whispered, smiling through her own tears.
“I love you. Now and forever.” And as Rodrigo lowered his lips to hers, they started the new year, their new lives, with a kiss she’d never forget.
* * *
Summer had come to New York at last. The trees were green, the sun was shining and the tourists were in full bloom, returning to the city with the faithful constancy of the swallows of San Juan Capistrano.
Three friends were giggling together in the spacious, flower-filled backyard of a West Village mansion, watching as their three billionaire husbands argued loudly about the best method of barbecuing steaks.
“They’ll get it eventually,” Hallie said, smiling as she gave her fifteen-month-old baby, Jack, his favorite toy shovel before he toddled off to dig in the sunny garden.
“Oh, yes,” agreed Tess, playing patty-cake with sixteen-month-old Esme, before the baby toddled unsteadily after Jack.
Looking at her friends in disbelief, Lola cuddled the youngest baby, eleven-month-old Jett, who was sleeping in her arms. “We might have to order pizza.”
The three women giggled, then hid their smiles as the men looked over with a suspicious glare.
Taking a sip of sparkling water, Hallie sobered as she tilted her head back to look over her magnificent private garden, rare for Manhattan, and the four-story brick townhouse, at her toddler digging up flowers and her husband practically getting into a fistfight with his best friends over the best use of marinade.
“Can you believe how much has changed since we all first met at the single moms’ group?” she said. Tilting her head, she said softly, “This time last year, I was desperate and alone.”