Page 144 of Stolen Temptation

“Really?” Kiara’s voice rises with emotion.

“Really.” I grasp Kiara’s hand and peer into her shining eyes. “Ever since we met, it’s just been one surprise after the other with you. I think I started falling for you when I saw you scale down the side of the house like a fearless little spider monkey.”

Her laugh quickly devolves into a happy sob.

With lightness in my chest and my mom as witness, I have no problem saying the words. “I can’t think of anything I want more than to make you Kiara O’Connor.”

Kiara sits quietly for a few minutes. So long that I start to worry that she’s going to say no, or say she’d rather die than marry me, or?—

“Yes.” Kiara drops her hand and gives me the brightest, prettiest smile I’ve ever seen. “Yes, I will marry you.”

She lights me up inside like the Fourth of July.

Mom sighs a little. I glance at her as she wipes her eyes, her own glowing face smiling in a way I haven’t seen inyears. “I’m so proud of you.” She rocks forward in her seat and reaches for my other hand.

I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life.

It’s a stark reminder of how the power of art bought me one more good day with my mother. That same art also led to the downfall of a mafia empire.

Most importantly, though, art brought Kiara into my life. And soon, my little painter will officially be mine.

To be continued…