Page 202 of Sins of the Orchid

I winced. “Ummm, after your pà’s funeral. You left to do something. One thing led to another… and here we are.”

He remained silent, and for the first time, his eyes were unreadable of the thoughts that swarmed his mind.

“I don’t want to lose you,” I said. “I should have told you, but it wasn’t that easy. How do you tell your best friend you are crushing on his big brother and that he rejected you?”

He shook his head. “Kind of like you just did.”

“I love you,” I told him, taking his right hand in mine. “I love how you stood by me in school, always listened and talked to me. How you took me for our ice cream runs. I just… well, I love Santi differently.”

I hoped he understood what I was trying to say.

“I have to tell you, thinking about you and him…” He shoved his free hand through his thick, dark hair. “Yeah, I try not to think about you two together. You seem so innocent and he… well, I heard a few ladies comment that he likes it rough.”

Heat singed my cheeks. There would be no elaboration on that comment. His dark eyes shone sardonically, and for a fraction of a second, I saw Santi in him. They were brothers after all.

“I love you, Amore.” He pulled me into his arms. “Besties Forever. Remember?”

A strangled laugh escaped me and I wrapped him in a tight hug. “Forever.”

Epilogue

AMORE - TEN MONTHS LATER

Sunlight shone through the windows of the villa, the sounds of the waves crashing against the shoreline and guests chattering traveled on the mild breeze.

I stood in the bedroom,ourbedroom, in Santi’s villa in Italy. The scent of the orchids was everywhere, and it reminded me of Mom. The flower no longer represented guilt, but love and healing.

She had done for me what any parent would do for their child. It was what had led me here, to this amazing family. To my husband.

The ceremony was a moot point, but I wanted to make Grandma and Dad happy. So we were getting married. Again. By a priest. The only things I insisted on were the location, flowers, and my dress. Everything else, I let Grandma have free rein.

Much to Dad’s dismay.

My eyes traveled over the vast, blue sea. This was where I felt most happy. Santi kept his promise, we came to visit any chance we had. We ended up moving to his Long Island home, and the master bedroom where I caught him touching himself in the shower became our bedroom. It became our home. I was closer to Dad and my brothers, and during the week Santi and I drove to work together.

Yes, I was back to work. I let my crazy, obsessive, loving husband take over the security of the Regalè Headquarters, and every other branch we owned.

Much to Grandmother’s dismay.

But hey, we couldn't get everything we wanted in life, I told Grandma. Nobody had it all. Though some days, it really felt like I was damn close to having it all. I told him once I wanted it all, this felt like it.

The door swung open, and Adriano walked in with his suave stride and a wide grin.

“Are you nervous?” he greeted, smiling. His eyes traveled over me. “Want to run away? You’ll be a runaway bride, and I’ll be a runaway maid of honor.”

I burst into laughter. That was another thing I insisted. For my best friend to be my man of honor. Not sure if it was a thing, but I made it a thing.

“I’m not nervous.” I smiled back. “I can’t wait for this circus to be over and everybody to be kicked out of here.”

This place was Santi’s and mine. And our family’s.

He placed both hands over his ears. “Please don’t tell me what you will be doing tonight.”

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Yes, please don’t talk about that.” Dad walked in, followed by my brothers and uncle. Honestly, I was surprised Grandma wasn’t swarming me. Instead, she ended up being the only one to give me space since we’d arrived.

Dad, on the other hand, was fretting over me like a mother hen. I didn’t mind it, but I wasn’t exactly crazy about it.