Page 29 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire (Heart & Soul #2)

Rose exhaled slowly, watching the sun spill golden light across the sand, the tide’s edge catching it and turning to a shimmering ribbon.

The air was already warm but carried a salt-sweet breeze that curled through her hair, bringing with it the faint perfume of blooming jasmine from the villa gardens above.

Theo’s hand stayed wrapped around hers as they walked, their bare feet sinking into cool, damp sand. The rhythmic hush of waves against the shore filled the spaces between their breaths, a steady heartbeat to the beginning of the day.

Rose took a deep breath, savoring the island's beauty and tranquility. She had been surprised when he had woken her early, pulling her from their bed. She had groaned and teasingly whined that it was too early, but he had tickled, then kissed her until she was breathless with need.

The morning held a quiet—the kind that seeped into your bones and made the world feel far away. But when he slowed, his grip tightening, she looked up to see his eyes on hers—intense, unwavering.

Without a word, he released her hand and lowered to one knee.

The sight punched the air from her lungs. This man—strong, infuriating, steady when everything else tilted—kneeling for her under the first rays of sunlight was almost too much for her heart to hold.

“Rose Smythe,” he said, voice low and sure, though a thread of raw emotion ran through it, “I thought I knew what my life was. I thought I knew what I needed. Then you happened. You captivated me with one kiss. You promised me only one, but I knew even then that one would never be enough. Nothing has been the same since the night I saw you sitting there, alone at that table, sending every other man who came up scurrying for cover—thank God.” He paused and drew in a deep, steadying breath.

“You’ve scared me, made me laugh when I didn’t think I could, and I fell in love so deeply it feels like my chest might burst trying to hold it in.

I don’t want a life that doesn’t have you in it.

Rose, will you do me the honor of marrying me? ”

The velvet box opened in his palm, and the ring caught the sunlight—a sapphire the deep blue of the Aegean, wrapped in diamonds that caught the light like tiny stars.

Her throat tightened, and a choked laugh slipped through her tears like sunlight through rain. “You are ridiculously dramatic,” she whispered, dropping to her knees in front of him. “Yes. Oh, Theo, yes. I would love to marry you. I love you.”

When he slid the ring onto her finger, his hands lingered, warm and sure.

She was still crying when he leaned forward and drew her into his arms. His kiss filled her heart, chasing away every fear and doubt about whether they would make it. He was her Beast—and she loved him to the depths of her soul.

Laughing, she pulled away and wiped fruitlessly at her tears. The sound of clapping and catcalls from the terrace caused both of them to look up. She blushed, laughing as Alexandros, Dani, Theo’s parents, and her grandparents stood looking down at them with huge smiles on their faces.

Later that evening, dinner was anything but calm.

Sophia, Lucinda, and Theo’s mother had commandeered the far end of the table, their chairs pulled tight together, their voices a musical mix of Greek and Italian.

A color swatch book lay open between them, pale silks and deep velvets spilling like treasure onto the tablecloth.

Someone had commandeered the bread basket as a pincushion for test arrangements of fabric, lace, and ribbon.

Rose had barely sat when Dani leaned over, eyes bright. “You know what it should be.”

Rose groaned. “Dani…”

“A Beauty and the Beast theme,” Dani declared, grinning. “You’re Belle. And Theo?—”

Across the table, Theo gave a long-suffering sigh as he envisioned them designing a replica of the stage ballroom. “Don’t.”

The glimmer in Dani’s gaze said she already had the ballroom scene planned in her head.

Three days later, Theo wanted to groan and elope. He’d given his mother, Sophia, and Lucinda two weeks to plan the wedding. Rose had laughed and teased him about being impatient. He pointed out that it was mere minutes after the Beast turned human again that there was a wedding.

“How would you know that?” Alexandros asked with a confused expression. “I didn’t know you were into romantic fairy tales.”

“He came to the play at the theatre where I lived and worked,” Rose said, reaching out to grasp his hand. “It’s always been my favorite.”

“Ah, that explains a lot, I think,” Alexandros muttered.

“Sir, you have visitors,” a servant announced.

“Who—”

His voice died when Apollo and Dorothea Rossi entered. Dorothea looked pale, Apollo drawn—both carrying a mix of embarrassment and fury that clung to them like a second skin.

The Rossi siblings entered behind their parents, subdued and dressed more conservatively than Theo could remember.

Gina entered first, perfectly put-together despite the tension in her eyes.

Allegra followed, her cream suit a sharp contrast to the guilt softening her expression.

Vito trailed them, sporting a black eye and bruised chin, looking like he hadn’t slept in a week.

They hovered in the doorway until Apollo waved them forward, the air charged with awkward anticipation.

“Theo, my children have something to say to you, your fiancée, and your family,” Apollo said, his voice deep and commanding.

“I’m sorry,” Gina muttered.

“Speak up, girl,” Apollo snapped.

Gina pursed her lips. Theo was surprised when instead of resentment, he saw tears of remorse threatening to fall. Gina cleared her throat and spoke again, clearer this time.

“I’m sorry for being a brat to you and Alexandros. I—Daddy—” Gina started to whine, turning to her father.

“You can say your apologies to your mother and me later,” Apollo snapped.

Gina sniffed and wiped at her cheek. “I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did. It was un- unfitting, and- and I won’t do it again,” she choked out.

“It’s Rose you owe the apology to, not me,” Theo bit out, unmoved by Gina’s tears.

“Theo—” Rose chided. “I forgive you.”

“Thank you,” Gina replied in a hoarse voice.

“Vito,” Apollo ordered with a nod of his head.

Vito stepped forward, glanced at Alexandros, then Dani, and winced. He drew in a deep breath.

“I’m sorry I locked Dani in your stateroom, but please remember if I hadn’t, you never would have met.”

“Vito—an apology,” Dorothea demanded.

Vito grimaced and continued. “I’m sorry I talked Gina into climbing into your bathtub, Theo.”

“Oh, dear heavens,” Dorothea muttered, fanning herself.

If he hadn’t wanted to kill Vito, Theo decided he could almost enjoy this moment of torturing the spoiled playboy.

“I’m also sorry I mentioned your girlfriend to my—associates. If it helps, their friends aren’t too happy with me at the moment either,” Vito muttered, lifting a hand to his face.

“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you, Vito. If you ever come near Rose or Dani again, I will,” Theo replied in a voice low enough that only Vito could hear it.

Vito swallowed and paled. “I won’t. I… think it best if I focus on getting my life straightened out,” he said hoarsely, stepping back.

“Vito, you and Gina wait for us in the car,” Apollo ordered.

“Yes, Daddy,” Gina mumbled.

“Yes, Father,” Vito said, hurrying to exit.

“Allegra,” Apollo motioned to his oldest daughter.

Allegra looked at Theo before her eyes turned to Rose. There was almost a wistful expression in them before she lowered her lashes.

“I’m sorry—for everything. I was wrong. I know I was wrong and can never make it up.

I-I want you to know I understand why you don’t want to be friends with my sister, brother, and me.

I-I hope you won’t blame our parents. It’s not their fault.

We were the ones who made bad choices.” Her gaze moved to Rose, and she stepped closer to smile at her.

“It’s crazy, but I learned a lot about myself from this little stunt.

It was actually… fun, hanging out a window with you.

Maybe if I had made better choices, especially if I had a friend—if I had known someone like you earlier—I could have turned out to be a better person. ”

Rose reached out and cupped Allegra’s trembling hands in hers. “It was pretty cool hanging out—literally—with you.” Allegra chuckled and sniffed. “I’m getting married in a couple of weeks. I was wondering if you’d like to be one of my bridesmaids?”

Theo shook his head in disbelief—only Rose could turn a rival into a bridesmaid.

“I—you want me to be a bridesmaid—in your wedding?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s not like I have a long list of friends, but you were pretty cool,” Rose said, grinning.

Allegra’s mascara smudged as tears gathered, and she pulled her hands free to wipe at them with a self-conscious laugh. “Yes. I… yes. I’d love to be in your wedding.”

Theo caught Rose’s hand and pulled her back against him. He kissed her temple, his body shaking with laughter. Only his beautiful Rose could tame a Beast more cursed than him.

Wedding preparations took over the villa in the days that followed—yards of fabric draped over sofas, flowers spilled from buckets in the kitchen, and the air was scented with lavender, roses, and coffee.

Amidst the chaos, Rose finally found a moment with Sophia and Lorenzo out on the terrace. An outdoor fire burned low, casting a warm amber glow across polished tile and palms.

She carried a box of photos she’d left untouched since her grandfather’s death—too raw then to face, too full of ghosts.

Lorenzo set a worn photograph on the low table next to him. It was of a young woman with Rose’s hair and face. Her mother, smiling wide in black and white.

“This came to me a few months ago,” Lorenzo said, his voice quiet but steady. “I believe it was sent after your grandfather’s death. From him… or his attorney. We never knew about you, Rose. And we never knew she’d married your father.”

Sophia’s hand slid into hers, warm and sure. “Your mother was headstrong, but her heart… it was always in the right place. She wrote to us—so many letters—telling us all she was learning, how grateful she was for her life, but never about your father—or you.”

Lorenzo’s jaw worked. “I should have gone to her. Or brought her home. But life?—”

“—gets in the way,” Rose finished softly.

Sophia squeezed her hand. “Having you here… it gives me peace. Knowing she was truly loved… that’s all I could ask for.”

“You’re right. It was my grandfather who sent it.

I-I found this letter this morning.” Tears that she’d hoped she had finished shedding slid silently down her cheeks.

“My grandfather had this box he kept special pictures and letters in. Most are love letters he sent my grandmother and pictures of her and my father when he was young. I wasn’t ready to go through them after he died.

I wanted to see if there were any pictures I could display at the wedding—so they could be here with me… and that’s when I found this.”

She held out the letter she had read over and over since she had found it earlier this morning. Theo had found her sobbing uncontrollably, and he held her and made love to her with a gentle passion that had her falling in love with him all over again.

Lorenzo took the letter from her and began reading.

My dearest Rose,

They say that life is created in acts. The first act of my life was finding your grandmother and loving her. She might have been tiny, but she was powerful, and I loved her with every fiber of my being.

The second act of my life was when we had your father.

It wasn’t easy. I nearly lost your grandmother and Chris that cold November morning.

I swore that if God let them survive, I’d never complain again.

We had twenty beautiful years with him before—well, before.

It nearly broke your grandma, and when she asked me to keep you, I couldn’t tell her no, especially after we discovered your mother never told her parents about you.

The third act of my life was the most brilliant—because I had you.

It was selfish and wrong, but you were my Rose, and I couldn’t imagine life without you.

But, in my selfishness, I didn’t think about what would happen when I was gone—and you were all alone.

When I found the photo your mom was going to send to her parents, in an envelope written by her, hidden among your grandmother’s cards, I knew it was a sign.

A sign that you might find the place where you belonged.

I’m with your grandmother and your dad now, but my heart will always be with you.

We’re watching over you. I hope you can one day forgive an old woman and an old man for wanting to keep you locked in a tower.

Find the play that will enchant you, Princess.

Find the Beast to your Belle, and live a wonderful, magical life.

Because you are our beautiful little Rose.

Love, Pop

Her shoulders shook, and her sobs were not the only ones in the room. She felt a comforting hand on her shoulder and knew it was Theo. She rose from her seat and hugged Lorenzo and Sophia.

“Livia knew we would find you when the time was right. She knew—and made sure we did,” Sophia said in a trembling voice.

The night before the wedding, the villa was strung with lanterns swaying in the sea breeze, casting shifting patterns across the terrace tiles. The murmur of voices drifted from the dining room, but out here the world was hushed, the sea’s slow breathing the only sound.

Theo stood at the railing, his arm around her, the salt air tangling their hair.

“Do you realize,” Rose murmured, tracing the line of his shirt buttons with one finger, “that if we take a honeymoon in my van, we could disappear for weeks?”

Theo’s lips curved against her temple. “We could.”

“There're loads of places we didn’t get to see: Carlsbad Caverns, the Painted Desert… Maybe… when we get back…” her voice tilted into teasing, though her eyes gleamed, “…well, I was thinking it might be kinda cool if Dani and Alexandros’s son had a cousin around the same age to play with.”

He tilted her chin up so he could capture her lips in an intense kiss. Her knees felt weak by the time he released her, and his eyes held a promise that he was ready to start creating a baby right then and there.

“I suggest,” he murmured, “that we make sure there are lots of opportunities for you to get pregnant.”

“Oh, yes. We’ll need to do it a lot more than once,” she whispered, sliding her tongue along his lower lip.

“Kiss me, Rose,” he murmured, lifting her into his arms. “And never let me go.”

As his kiss deepened, Rose knew her prince had discovered a way to tame her thorns without damaging the wild rose that bloomed only for him.