Page 25

The next day is sunny and unseasonably warm. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to get married. My mom slides the rear glass walls back which open up the entire rear half of the house, connecting it directly to the cobblestone patio. A trellis shadows the patio and it’s covered by flowers and vines. A fountain gurgles and there’s an archway made of evergreen boughs sprinkled with holly. Damon and I will stand beneath it for the ceremony and exchange our vows.

There’s a palpable excitement in the air and I am beyond ready and excited. The girls help me with my hair and makeup, and then I slip into a long, white dress made of the softest satin. Alessia touches up my lip gloss while Hannah adjusts the sprigs of holly scattered throughout my hair which is swept back off my face and in a pile of waves at the nape of my neck.

“You look stunning,” Gabriella says, and they all nod in agreement.

“That man isn’t going to know what hit him,” Blake adds, and we all laugh.

My hands are clutched together and I realize I’m wringing them nervously.

“Are you ready?” Alessia asks.

“So ready. But, I’m nervous,” I admit.

“Don’t be nervous,” Gabriella says. “You’re about to marry the man you love with your friends and family right here with you. We’re so happy for you.”

“So very happy,” Gia states. I’m so glad Alessia’s sister and Leo came to join us, too. Everyone I love most in this world is here and Gabriella is right—there’s no need to stress or worry because this is truly the happiest day of my life.

“Thank you all so much for being here. It means the world to me—and Damon. His parents have passed, so we’re his family now.”

“And we’re so happy to welcome him into the fold,” my mom says and hugs me.

I feel the prick of tears, but I can’t let myself cry or I’ll ruin my makeup.

“Don’t even think about crying,” Alessia warns me, and I crack a smile.

“I won’t. At least, not yet.”

“At least wait until after you say ‘I do’ and then I can touch you up.”

“Okay,” I say with a chuckle.

“Hey!” Angelo calls from out in the hallway. “Everybody decent in there?”

“Yes!” I call back and my brother strolls in, hands in his pockets, looking beyond handsome in his suit. He takes one look at me and whistles under his breath.

“Damn, sis, Archer is one lucky man.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, tears threatening again.

“Don’t you dare cry,” he says, and everyone laughs.

“I won’t!”

He gives me a hug then nods to the back patio. “Your man is waiting. Are you ready?”

I nod my head. “I’m ready.”

“Don’t forget your bouquet!” Hannah hands me the small arrangement of evergreen and holly, interspersed with white roses and mistletoe. It’s perfect and I take it from her with a grateful smile.

Then Angelo offers his arm and escorts me out into the hallway while the girls and my mom wish me another round of good luck and go take their seats.

My dad waits for me and Ang hands me over. “See you up there,” he says with a wink.

“You look lovely,” my dad says and I smile.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“C’mon,” he says, tucking my arm through his. “Let’s go get you hitched. I want to see my baby girl marry the man she loves. I also want some of that delicious-looking wedding cake.”

Laughing, I grin as the low strains of music fill the air. “Let’s do this.”

A soft breeze rustles the loose strands of hair around my face as we step onto the patio. My gaze goes straight to the arch where my own Archer waits looking beyond handsome in a black suit. Miceli stands beside him, serving as his best man, and Angelo waits for me. Instead of a bridesmaid, I asked Ang if he’d be my bridesman and he’d said he’d be honored.

My dad leads me down the aisle and the closer I get to Damon, the more fast and hard my heart pounds. This is it. The moment every little girl dreams of. I’m so happy to be able to celebrate this moment with the people I love most in the world. As we pass my family, I see Vincentius and Enzo, all my brothers wives, their kids, and this moment couldn’t be more perfect.

My gaze lands on Damon. That man is beyond perfection. When we reach him beneath the beautiful arch, he gives me an appreciative, sweeping look and a gorgeous smile. My dad hands me over saying, “Take care of my daughter.”

“I will, sir,” he promises.

With my hand in Damon’s, he takes another moment to admire me again then whispers, “You look so beautiful, Carlotta.”

“And you look very handsome,” I tell him.

The priest at my parent’s church waits to marry us and I can feel my cheeks start to hurt because I’m smiling so hard. Together, we turn to face him and it seems like I barely take a breath before we’re exchanging wedding vows.

As we face each other, my hands tremble slightly and Damon gives them a little shake. “Want me to go first?” he asks, and I nod gratefully.

I can feel everyone watching us and to help let go of my nerves, I focus on Damon’s dark, sparkling eyes and tune out everything but his beautiful words.

“From the second I saw you at the masquerade party, I was intrigued. You captured my full attention from that very first moment…and now you’ve captured my heart. I know everything between us has happened so fast, but nothing has ever felt so right.”

My heart fills and I can feel a wet sheen cover my eyes.

Oh, well. I guess crying was unavoidable when the man I love is professing his feelings to me in front of everyone.

“You have no idea how much I love you, sweetheart, and how grateful I am. You saved me from a very lonely future…one I thought was unavoidable. You’ve given me a family again….and a reason…a purpose. I can never thank you enough, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying. I love you, Lottie, my Queen of Hearts, my forever.”

Sniffling, I lose the battle against my tears when they begin to leak from my eyes. Damon reaches over and wipes them away. Pulling in a shaky breath, I know it’s now my turn.

“Damon, I-refuse-to-call-you-Archer—” I begin and chuckles fill the air, “you are the most amazing man I have ever met. You never hesitated to protect me and when I needed rescuing…twice…you came running. Thank you, my love.”

“I will always rescue you,” he whispers, and I squeeze his hands.

“The night of the masquerade party, I had a feeling that I might meet someone special. Little did I know it would lead to the adventure of a lifetime, but it also gave me the love of a lifetime. And I wouldn’t change a thing. I love you, Damon, and I’m so excited to share more adventures with you.”

Angelo taps me on the arm and hands me Damon’s wedding band while Miceli hands Damon my ring. After exchanging our vows and placing the rings on each other’s fingers, we are declared man and wife.

“You may now kiss your bride,” the priest says.

Damon wraps his arms around me, bends me backwards, and kisses me. Endless love and joy flood through me and I hold on tight as our mouths meld, sealing our promise to love each other forever. Cheers erupt and then Damon pulls me back up, lifts me right off the ground and kisses me again. Everyone laughs and whistles pierce the air.

When he finally puts me down, I feel positively giddy. Holding hands, we start down the little cobblestone pathway as everyone continues to cheer and toss rose petals. At the end of the little aisle, he picks me up again and spins me in a circle. I throw my head back and laugh, knowing that I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.

“C’mon!” Angelo shouts and slaps Damon on the back. “Let’s get this party started!”

We all head back into the house where the food has been set up—a big traditional Italian dinner, of course. Everyone sits at the large table and I couldn’t have asked for a better evening. The laughter, the conversation and the wine flows.

After dinner, Damon and I cut the wedding cake and it’s absolutely delicious. Nothing can beat my mom’s homemade almond vanilla cake. Vin is in charge of taking pictures and he’s been snapping away like crazy. Damon feeds me a forkful of white fluffy cake and then I return the favor while Vin captures the moment.

A mixture of Christmas songs sung by jazz greats pours through the speakers which are scattered throughout the first floor and, at some point, Damon and I share our first dance as husband and wife.

“Are you happy?” he asks, tightening his arms around my waist.

“Are we talking on a scale of one to ten?” I tease.

“Sure,” he says with a laugh.

“Then I’m currently hovering at a million,” I declare.

“Good. Me, too.”

Our lips meet in another kiss and the energy between us turns sizzling fast. When we finally break apart, I decide it’s time to go. “Are you ready to start our honeymoon, Mr. Archer?” I ask and playfully tug on his tie.

“God, I thought you’d never ask.”

As wonderful as our day has been and this entire time spent at my parents’ house, I’m ready to begin my life with Damon. We say our goodbyes amidst hugs and teasing then grab our bags and head to the SUV which will take us straight to the airport and the family jet waiting to fly us to the Ionian Islands.

“I have never been so happy in my entire life,” I tell Damon once we’re situated on the plane. “And it’s all because of you.”

“I love you, sweetheart, and I think the best is yet to come,” he whispers, leaning in to kiss me. It’s slow, seductive and so hot my toes curl.

And Damon is right. Our time on the Ionian Islands is full of bonding, exploring and endless sex that is so damn good, I know that I will never forget it. We decide to find a new place to live and not long after we return to New York, I discover I’m pregnant. One month exactly which means I most likely conceived our son while we were tucked away at the cabin.

Eight months later, we meet our baby boy, Alexander, and he looks exactly like his father. Already, he has more charm in his little pinky finger than imaginable and, when he gets older, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to be a little heartbreaker.

The Rossi family has grown even more and I’m so glad Xander will have all his cousins to play with and grow up with. I have a feeling he and Nico, Miceli and Alessia’s son, will be close and wreak all kinds of havoc. And, of course, have the girls chasing after them.

On the eve of the one year anniversary of when Damon and I met at the masquerade party, we’re sitting together on the couch, drinking champagne, and remembering everything that led us to where we are now. Xander sleeps soundly in the bassinet beside us, snuffling softly in his sleep.

We had talked about going tonight to the charity benefit, but then decided we’d rather not deal with finding costumes, a babysitter and the hassle of it all.

“Are you sure about not going?” Damon asks me.

“Positive,” I tell him. “Besides, I have everything I need right here.”

“Same,” he whispers, taking my glass and setting it on the coffee table with his. He reaches over and pulls me onto his lap. “Now come here and make out with your husband.”

I chuckle softly and cup his stubbled face. “It would be my pleasure.”

Our lips meet in a kiss that speaks of so much love and promises forever. Before it gets too hot, I pull back and look into my husband’s dark, sizzling eyes.

“Thank you, Damon, for giving me the ultimate happily-ever-after.”

He gives me a smile and my heart melts. “Always, Lottie.”

Then we kiss again and again and again.

And Damon was right. The best keeps coming. I’ve found my love, my purpose, and I couldn’t be happier.