by Madison, Mia
She gives us a broad smile. “It is if you’re the stars of the current top-grossing movie in the world.”
“Ooh, fancy. Wherever you can squeeze us in, then. There’ll be eight of us.”
Two weeks have passed, and we’re finally officially celebrating Nico and Juliet’s engagement. From the cheers that went up when they arrived, half the guests tonight must be family.
Nia takes us to a big circular booth on the opposite side of the room from the Hollywood one. Large as it is, Adamo-sized men fill it quickly, especially with Juliet and I sitting in the middle. Enzo and Stefano wind up sitting on straight chairs facing the rest of us.
“What did your parents say?” I ask her.
“They’re so happy for us. They wanted to be here tonight, but Mom couldn’t swing it.” Juliet’s mother is Senator North, and she’ll be in D.C. until the August recess.
“But they came home the weekend after we got engaged,” she continues, “and we had them over for dinner and they met Nico’s parents, so we got to have that time with them.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Across the room, a bunch of beautiful, glitzy people are crowding into the movie stars’ booth, and other diners are staring while pretending not to. “Glad we’re not over there.”
“Did you ever get recognized, when you were modeling?”
“Not very often. I wasn’t at the supermodel level, fortunately. But occasionally it happened, if I ran into someone who moved in that world.”
Armando comes over. “Cuginos. I understand we have something to celebrate?”
Juliet holds up her left hand, her diamond ring sparkling in the light, and more cheers sound from around the room. Armando grins like it’s Christmas and his birthday all in one. “Congratulations. A bottle of champagne, on the house. Would you like a complimentary appetizer as well?”
“Oh, thank you,” she says. “I’m afraid I haven’t even looked at the menu yet.”
“Take your time. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
No sooner has he left than a huge group of Adamos descends on us. I look at the crowd, and back at Gabriel, who’s sitting on my other side. He smiles and shrugs, as if to say, Family. What can you do?
Armando comes back with the champagne. “Is everyone ready to order? Ladies first.”
Juliet, who’s been kept busy by all her well-wishers, skims her menu, listening as Nico points out a few items she might like. “I’ll have the bruschetta appetizer,” she says after a few moments. “And the sirloin steak, medium rare, with grilled shrimp, steamed vegetables, and loaded baked potato.”
“Excellent.” Armando turns to me. “And for you?”
I take Gabriel’s hand. Though I’m fast learning to love food, and enjoy it without guilt, I still get a little anxious in public settings like this. “Order for me.”
“She’ll have the black bean egg rolls,” he says immediately. “Chicken tortilla soup, house salad with dressing on the side, and the crab and shrimp enchiladas. And I’ll have the lasagna.”
“You ordered more food for me than you did for yourself,” I say as Armando goes on to take everyone else’s orders.
“I wanted you to have a variety to choose from, in case you didn’t like something. Besides, you’re eating for two.”
Warmth spreads through my chest. “Smart man.”
“You better believe it.” His dark eyes are full of promise. “Smart enough to know a good thing when I see it.”
We’re pretty sure the pregnancy test is right, even though it’s early still. I’m starting to feel queasy in the mornings, and I have to pee all the time, on top of all my other symptoms. No surprise, since Gabriel and I never did get around to using condoms.
He tries to act chill about it, but he’s as proud as if he single-handedly prevented World War III. And I am … quietly but extremely happy. At peace. Everything about my life feels right.
My food arrives, and all of it is delicious. I polish it off slowly, savoring every bite, enjoying the banter and warmth around me.
Albert Kukor was charged with kidnapping after Gabriel and his brothers — and my brother — rescued me. There was grumbling from the police about vigilante justice, but Rafael smoothed it all over somehow.
Rob and I talk all the time now. We’ve agreed not to waste our energies on regret. Instead, we’ll make the most of the years that lie ahead.
* * *
The party’s still going on when Gabriel and I take our leave. We’re strolling across the parking lot under a full moon, hand in hand, when footsteps sound behind us.
“Leaving already?” Gabriel asks his brother.
Enzo shrugs. “Yeah. Not in a party mood tonight, I guess.”
Behind him, a voice says, “Excuse me.”
When Enzo turns, I see a young woman standing there. She’s wearing a simple dress that hugs her curves with a button-down cardigan. She looks uncertain and vulnerable.
Enzo takes a step toward her. “Can we help you?”
“Yes. That is, I called your offices and got your answering service, and they said you were here, but then inside they said you’d just left. Er … that is, if you’re the Adamos.”
“Some of them,” Enzo says.
“Oh.”
He takes another step forward. “What did you need?”
“It’s … kind of complicated.”
“I’ve got my car right here.” He gestures toward his SUV. “I can take you back to our offices and get your case file started.”
“All right.” She moves toward him, then stops. “You help ordinary people too, right? Not just celebrities.”
“Yes,” Enzo says. “Yes, we do.”
“I’m not sure there’s really anything you can do for me. It’s an unusual situation.”
“We’ll talk about it,” he says gently, and escorts her to his car.
* * *
After they’ve driven away, I smile at Gabriel. “You definitely help people.”
“There’s nothing ordinary about you, babe.”
“Sweet talker.”
“And I wanted to do a lot more than help you. Once I got over the shock of seeing you all grown up, which took about a second and a half, I had all sorts of things I wanted to do for you. And with you, and to you.”
“And you’ve been doing them all on a regular basis,” I tease.
He looks justifiably smug. “I haven’t heard any complaints.”
“Not a one.” I lean into him and he wraps his arms around me.
“I love you, Rachel.”
“Oh, Gabriel.” My breath catches; my eyes fill. “I love you too.”
He fishes in his pocket. “I’ve been carrying this around, waiting for the right moment. Not sure this is it, but then, you and I seem to work pretty well when we just go with our instincts and ignore the rules.”
He holds out a little velvet box, open to reveal a stunning diamond ring. “Rachel Wilson, you’re the perfect woman for me, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and protecting you and making a family with you. Say you’ll marry me.”
My throat is thick with unshed tears, so I pull him to me and kiss him. You’d think that would be answer enough, but Gabriel wants words. “Is that a yes?” he says when we come up for air.
I smile, kiss him again, and give him what he needs. “You’re the only man I’ve ever loved, Gabriel Adamo, or ever will love. I would be so happy, and so proud, to be your wife.”
He slides the ring on my finger and lifts my hand to his mouth. As he lowers his head for another kiss, my stomach rumbles loudly. “Pizza,” I say.
“I’ll get us one to go.”
My perfect man.
Also by Mia Madison
Nico (Adamo Bodyguards Book 1) is available now. There’ll be more hot-as-sin alpha Adamo bodyguards coming soon, so stay tuned! You can also sign up for my mailing list to be notified of new releases.
If you missed the previous Adamo series, see where it all began with Tempting
Tonio, or find all the books in the series here.
Check out The Forbidden Series (Forbidden Intern, Forbidden Heat, Forbidden Hunger), or you can find all my other books on my Amazon author page.
About the Author
In the mood for something decadent, delicious, and provocative? Meet Mia Madison, purveyor of Forbidden Fantasies Romance. Come in, sit back, and relax. The candles are lit, and the dancing shadows on the wall promise sexy, seductive tales of spine-tingling love, leading to a pleasure-drenched happy-ever-after.
You'll discover young women eager for experience, who have scorching encounters with older men who know exactly what they're doing between the sheets. In Mia Madison's world, anything can — and does — happen. So leave your inhibitions at the door and come along for the ride.
You can also sign up for my mailing list to be notified of new releases.
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