Page 55 of Claimed Gem

“Okay. I love you, Ries.”

“And I love you, Stephanie.S’agapó.”

25

Several weeks later…

Ries and Stephaniehad settled into a happy existence in Thessaloniki, finding their own villa where they weren’t constantly surrounded by the Moustakas family. Alexi and Leo had extended to them a long-term place to stay, but Ries had politely declined, wanting to recapture the early days when he’d had Stephanie to himself.

Stephanie still spent plenty of time with Gemma, Kassi, and Aimee, but never without her security detail in attendance. Ries had explained that he needed to know she was safe in order to concentrate on his own tasks, and she’d capitulated with a smile. A vast difference from before when he’d tried to control her movements to keep her safe. This way was much better for both of them. He knew where she was at all times and that she was being protected, but he discussed all of his concerns with her, and she was free to come and go without fear that he might object.

They had hired a housekeeper and as each day passed, Ries became more certain that Stephanie belonged in his life. Forever.

He was slowly learning all about her likes and dislikes, her dreams, her successes and her failures, and eventually he was able to piece together all of the romantic dreams she’d let go because she’d been too afraid of never realizing them.

His Stephanie was a romantic at heart and Ries found he wasn’t averse to providing her all of the romance she could handle.

This day, he had a monumental task ahead of him and he rose early in the morning and had a video chat with his brothers.

“Ries,” Nicolai greeted him, obviously just having returned from working out as he was covered in a sheen of sweat.

“Nicolai. Good morning. Damon, you look as if you’ve been up for hours.”

“I have been. To what do we owe the pleasure of this call so early?” Damon inquired.

Ries took a breath and then lifted up the jeweler’s box so that they could see inside it. “I’m going to ask Stephanie to marry me.”

Nicolai grinned and cheered him on. “Way to go, brother. I like her and think the two of you make a wonderful couple. What do you say, Damon?”

“You’re sure about this?” Damon asked, his face not giving away anything he might be feeling.

Ries sighed, “I was hoping for your support but I see that even in this…”

“Now, wait a minute!” Damon exclaimed. “Look, I’m trying here. If Stephanie makes you happy and you really and truly love her, then I am all in support of you marrying her. I just don’t want to see you make a mistake.”

“He’s still in ‘big brother, I need to protect Ries’ mode,” Nicolai offered.

Ries nodded, “I realize that. But Damon, I’m old enough to fight my own battles now and while I appreciate your concern - they are my choices. And I choose Stephanie. She makes me a better man. She makes me want to conquer the world.”

Damon finally smiled, the most genuine smile Ries had seen in many years. “I know,” he said. “Even I’ve seen the change in you. If that is due in part to her presence in your life, I will personally perform your wedding ceremony.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Ries grinned. “However, I would like for you both to be there.”

“Have you asked her yet?” Damon asked, relaxing now and for the first time in years, acting like an older brother instead of Ries’ keeper.

“This afternoon. On the beach.”

“Think she’ll say yes?” Nicolai teased him.

“I think she will. Can you both come to the mainland this weekend?”

“Are you planning on having an engagement party?” Damon asked.

“No. I’m planning on having a wedding,” Ries replied.

“A wedding? Ries that’s only three days away,” Damon told him with an astonished shake of his head.

“If she says yes and we both know we want to get married, I see no reason to wait. She doesn’t have any family or friends that would need to come here from the States, so why not get married right away?”