our hands and asked, “Will you marry me?”
“Whaaa—” Shocked, amazed, my mouth hung open.
“Today?” Rocco’s voice raised in surprise.
“ Sì, ” she replied. Her features became more animated.
A new and unexpected warmth surged through me. Happiness. “You drive me crazy. You know that, don’t you? No one compares to you, dolce . No one.”
Her skin, so golden brown, radiated joy. “Prince Massimo and the Manhattanites are all waiting for us at the Tittoni palace.”
“You planned this?” I could barely make sense of what was going on.
She nodded. “Two days ago, amore . Your parents are coming. Rocco’s, too. So…what’s your answer?”
Rocco squeezed her hand, reached for mine, and replied, “ Sì .”
“It would be our honor,” I agreed, taking a sharp breath before I helped her to her feet. Kissing her, Rocco did as well, and then my lips touched his. We all three embraced each other for a minute. The hug reminded me of when we were on top of the cliff, there at Isola di Girasoli, not long ago, talking about us , right before Jemma had said no.
“Why the change of heart?” I asked as we stepped down from the plane.
Slipping on my sunglasses, I didn’t want her to notice a tear forming in my right eye. Elated, I’d never thought the day would come. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and held her tightly in my arms. I could feel her heart beating against my chest. Rocco came up from behind, brushed her hair off her shoulder, and repeated my question.
She gazed up at me then Rocco. “When I realized you two had gone to such great lengths to make me fall in love with life, with us, and myself again…I knew I wanted to make a commitment to you both. Forever.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “Deep down inside, I always knew you two were the ones. That wasn’t why I’d said no initially.”
“Then why did you turn down our proposal?” Rocco asked.
“When I got sick, I felt the cancer had taken the best out of me. I didn’t think I had anything left to give you. But our night at Circus Bazaar changed everything. That and a talk I’d had with Vive helped me realize otherwise.”
“And what was it you realized?” I wondered.
“That our lives are just starting,” she beamed. “That we’re getting a second chance to live our lives however we want.”
Adrenaline raced through me. I’d sensed a change in her spirit over the past few days, and definitely for the better, but I’d never expected this. “What is it you want for your life now, Jemma?”
“To grow old with you both. To love you as best as I can.”
“Me, too,” Rocco agreed.
Together, we piled into the Tittoni limo and made our way to the palace.
Jemma
The next day
House of Tittoni
I didn’t know why in the holy banana Prince Massimo had delayed our wedding by an entire day. I was starting to get used to the sexual safari and was eager to get to Moscow. Taddy, Lex, Blake, and even Vive were all there. Along with Luigi’s and Rocco’s parents.
Nevertheless, Prince Massimo had pushed the ceremony back.
Can you believe it?
He’d said he had to get the marriage license in order, but I found that rather odd. The guy owned the damn country. He could’ve pulled it out of royal ass if he wanted to.
We’d planned to get married on the beach at sunset. I dressed in a gown from Lex’s bridal collection she’d flown in with.
A mermaid pattern, off one shoulder, ivory fringe, and beading. All chiffon. Pretty, elegant, simple. Nothing like I would’ve created but hey, when in Rome, right?
Lex zipped up the back of dress and asked, “You nervous?”
“Surprisingly, no.” I turned to face the mirror. We were in one of the villas near the seat which faced the island of Malta. Just her and me, like old times. “I never thought I’d wear white. Black, yes.”
“It’s cream,” she corrected.
In the light when I turned, I caught a shimmer of pink in the fabric. It was nice.
“Isn’t
“Whaaa—” Shocked, amazed, my mouth hung open.
“Today?” Rocco’s voice raised in surprise.
“ Sì, ” she replied. Her features became more animated.
A new and unexpected warmth surged through me. Happiness. “You drive me crazy. You know that, don’t you? No one compares to you, dolce . No one.”
Her skin, so golden brown, radiated joy. “Prince Massimo and the Manhattanites are all waiting for us at the Tittoni palace.”
“You planned this?” I could barely make sense of what was going on.
She nodded. “Two days ago, amore . Your parents are coming. Rocco’s, too. So…what’s your answer?”
Rocco squeezed her hand, reached for mine, and replied, “ Sì .”
“It would be our honor,” I agreed, taking a sharp breath before I helped her to her feet. Kissing her, Rocco did as well, and then my lips touched his. We all three embraced each other for a minute. The hug reminded me of when we were on top of the cliff, there at Isola di Girasoli, not long ago, talking about us , right before Jemma had said no.
“Why the change of heart?” I asked as we stepped down from the plane.
Slipping on my sunglasses, I didn’t want her to notice a tear forming in my right eye. Elated, I’d never thought the day would come. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs and held her tightly in my arms. I could feel her heart beating against my chest. Rocco came up from behind, brushed her hair off her shoulder, and repeated my question.
She gazed up at me then Rocco. “When I realized you two had gone to such great lengths to make me fall in love with life, with us, and myself again…I knew I wanted to make a commitment to you both. Forever.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “Deep down inside, I always knew you two were the ones. That wasn’t why I’d said no initially.”
“Then why did you turn down our proposal?” Rocco asked.
“When I got sick, I felt the cancer had taken the best out of me. I didn’t think I had anything left to give you. But our night at Circus Bazaar changed everything. That and a talk I’d had with Vive helped me realize otherwise.”
“And what was it you realized?” I wondered.
“That our lives are just starting,” she beamed. “That we’re getting a second chance to live our lives however we want.”
Adrenaline raced through me. I’d sensed a change in her spirit over the past few days, and definitely for the better, but I’d never expected this. “What is it you want for your life now, Jemma?”
“To grow old with you both. To love you as best as I can.”
“Me, too,” Rocco agreed.
Together, we piled into the Tittoni limo and made our way to the palace.
Jemma
The next day
House of Tittoni
I didn’t know why in the holy banana Prince Massimo had delayed our wedding by an entire day. I was starting to get used to the sexual safari and was eager to get to Moscow. Taddy, Lex, Blake, and even Vive were all there. Along with Luigi’s and Rocco’s parents.
Nevertheless, Prince Massimo had pushed the ceremony back.
Can you believe it?
He’d said he had to get the marriage license in order, but I found that rather odd. The guy owned the damn country. He could’ve pulled it out of royal ass if he wanted to.
We’d planned to get married on the beach at sunset. I dressed in a gown from Lex’s bridal collection she’d flown in with.
A mermaid pattern, off one shoulder, ivory fringe, and beading. All chiffon. Pretty, elegant, simple. Nothing like I would’ve created but hey, when in Rome, right?
Lex zipped up the back of dress and asked, “You nervous?”
“Surprisingly, no.” I turned to face the mirror. We were in one of the villas near the seat which faced the island of Malta. Just her and me, like old times. “I never thought I’d wear white. Black, yes.”
“It’s cream,” she corrected.
In the light when I turned, I caught a shimmer of pink in the fabric. It was nice.
“Isn’t
Similar Books
