by Shayne Ford
“It has our names engraved on it,” he says, showing me that very spot where I notice the two words that mean everything to me.
Tiago and Eve.
I bite my lip, sensing a storm of emotions ready to burst out of me, and a stream of tears flooding my eyes.
“I also want to tell James and Rain. And my mother. If you agree... of course.”
I look at him.
“Do you like it?” he asks, his eyebrows going up as he tries to read my reaction.
“I love it.”
“Do you think it’s too early?” he asks, smiling as I struggle with my emotions.
“Nope. I mean... Maybe, it’s too early, and you might regret it later on.”
He laughs.
“I’m ready to take that risk. Are you?”
I nod.
“So it’s a yes?”
He waits for me to open my mouth and speak.
“I think it’s a yes,” he says softly as he takes my hand and slides the ring on my finger.
It fits perfectly.
It looks stunning.
I look down, my eyes soaked with tears.
“Eve?”
I run my fingers beneath my eyes.
“Why are you crying? Is that bad?” he asks, smiling yet I sense the emotion woven in his voice.
“I never thought that it would happen like this,” I finally say.
“So is it bad?” he says, amused.
“No, it’s not bad.”
“How did you image it?”
“To be honest... I didn’t. I didn’t think that it would happen to me. I didn’t think that this would be my life. That someone like you would be my life. That I’d live this crazy life, The one that I’ve been living since I met you...”
“So it’s good, you say...”
“Yes, it’s good,” I finally burst out, winding my arms around his neck and falling into his embrace.
“You got me worried for a moment,” he says, stroking my hair.
“I hope you won’t regret it.”
“I hope you’re not gonna change your mind.”
I breathe out a chuckle.
“You’re trying to be cute now, Mr. Rossi.”
I stop abruptly, hit by a revelation.
“What now?” he asks.
I lift my eyes to him.
“Eve Rossi...”
As I say the words, my heart pounds even harder.
“Our names are made for each other,” I murmur.
“Yes, they are,” he says before he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it.
A sound of voices wafts through the open window.
“They’re here,” he says, my pulse racing again. “I’ll tell them if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t.”
“Good.”
He inspects my attire one last time, brushes a few strands of my hair over my shoulder and walks me out of his bedroom.
We take the stairs down and enter the backyard.
Colorful lanterns adorn the space, floral linens, and centerpieces dressing the table.
“There they are,” Theresa says, spinning around and greeting us.
An hourglass dress with feather-like print, pastel blue and pink on white background, hugs her toned body.
Rain greets and hugs us as well.
She has a short layered chiffon dress on with empire waistline, round neckline, and bishop sheer sleeves. The colors are crazily vibrant–– turquoise, coral, white, red, and orange.
Seven months pregnant, she glows with happiness.
“Hey. How was Cascais?”
“Amazing,” I say as I follow her to the table.
James and Tiago greet each other before they pull each other into a short hug.
We all sit around the table a moment later.
It takes only mere moments before Rain notices my ring.
“Eve?” she tosses at me under her breath.
I look at her. She motions to me secretly, mouthing at the same time.
“What is that?”
Tiago catches sight of her making inquiries and before anyone else has the chance to say something he speaks.
“Before we start to eat, I’d like to make a quick announcement.”
James shifts his gaze from him to me and spots the ring as well.
Tiago looks at me, spurring a blush on my face.
“Since it’s only us at the table, and we are all family, I don’t think there’s much of a secret that I’m in love with this beautiful woman,” he says, his statement prompting my heart to dance in my chest.
He tosses the words out with the confidence of someone who’s experiencing true, deep, real love for the first time.
Someone who’s living it fully, without restrains, or fears. Without the ominous hovering of bad memories or self-doubts.
I thought I was in love with him before, but nothing equates with this. Something tells me that I’m in for a big surprise, and this man will fill my life in ways I’ve never imagined.
“And because I’m in love with her, and she gave me no reason to believe that she’s not in love with me, Eve Malone is now engaged to me.”
Rain eyes snap wide open, in surprise.
“No way,” she says, grinning.
I slowly nod.
“Oh, my God,” she bursts out, wrapping her arms around me.
“Congrats, man,” James says, rising to his feet, curling his hand around Tiago’s shoulder and giving him another hug.
They both smile, while Rain breaks away from me when we hear Tiago’s voice.
“Mom?”
Our eyes shift to Theresa.
She swings her gaze between us, her eyes glinting with tears.
“I couldn’t be prouder of you,” she finally says, her voice breaking. “It’s the best news I’ve heard the entire year,” she adds with a lighter tone, trying to conceal her emotion.
Her son buries her in his arms before she looks at him and me.
“I’m so happy for both of you.”
We clink our glasses a moment later, and soon begin to eat, lights flickering in the backyard, stars glinting across the sky, the summer night dancing around us.
Life starts to flow again as we share stories and laugh and celebrate this perfect moment in time.
As I look around the table, I still need to pinch myself to convince myself that this is real.
I can’t believe that it all started many years ago with a legend–– a story if you wish, one I believed even more than Rain.
And here we are today, the man who was at the center of that story, sitting next to her, breathing life into her, observing us as he always does, bringing wisdom to our lives, playing a hand in our destinies. A good hand I might add–– insert smile.
He helped the man who sits next to me find his way, and his mother to heal her wounds, and his wife to find her happiness as she now waits to bring their baby into this world and me to find that perfect man, the one who was meant to be mine.
As I look at James for a moment and then at Tiago, and I finally see all the layers of this story and the way everything was tightly woven together, although, at times, it seemed to unravel, it dawns on me how magical and mysterious life is in its imperfect chaos.
James catches sight of my nostalgic eyes and lifts his glass only for me.
“Smile, baby. This is your night.”
I lift my glass and quietly say.
“Thank you for everything.”
He only nods, his eyes glinting with emotion as well.
It’s the joy that makes his mother and his wife smile, and Tiago more enlivened than ever.
As I look at Tiago, I grasp how lucky I am to find a man who beams with life, and passion, warmth, and affection.
Someone who has a tone of love to give and is not afraid to do it. Someone who has the courage to admit that he needs someone like me and can’t wait to share his life with me.
And as I look at Rain, and fast forward everything to two m
onths from now, I realize that I can’t wait to meet and greet their new addition to their family and spend many more nights like this.
Now, I know why Tiago had his heart broken when he lost all this. And how rare it is to get back the things you once lost.
We all go to sleep way after midnight.
The windows are wide open and the night whispers in the backyard when Tiago and I get into bed.
His arms wrap around me as my head rests against his shoulder. It takes me a moment before I say.
“This was the best day of my life.”
He kisses me softly in response.
“Same here... I love you, Eve Rossi.”
“I love you too, baby,” I murmur, tears of joy, lining my voice.
The End
September 1, 2019
This is the end of Eve and Tiago’s story. Night of the Kings Saga will continue in the future.
Night of the Kings Series includes 18 Books. All available in the store. Currently, the timeline of this saga spans across four stories, all taking place in the same world in the order in which they were written.
Also by Shayne Ford
NIGHT OF THE DIAMONDS SERIES
A Billionaire Dark Romance
REMI (Night of the Diamonds #1)
DARK REMI (Night of the Kings #2)
LOVE IS WAR SERIES
A Billionaire Romantic Suspense
FALLEN (Love is War Series #1)
BROKEN (Love is War Series #2)
TAKEN (Love is War Series #3)
OWNED (Love is War Series #4)
NIGHT OF THE KINGS SERIES
A Billionaire Romance
JAMES (Night of the Kings Series #1)
DARK JAMES (Night of the Kings Series #2)
TAMING JAMES (Night of the Kings Series #3)
ALEXANDER (Night of the Kings Series #4)
HARD LEX (Night of the Kings Series #5)
LOVING LEX (Night of the Kings Series #6)
EDWARD (Night of the Kings #7)
WILD ED (Night of the Kings #8)
TAMING ED (Night of the Kings #9)
FIGHTING ED (Night of the Kings#10)
LOVING ED (Night of the Kings #11)
CRAVING JAMES (Night of the Kings #12)
LOVING JAMES (Night of the Kings #13)
TIAGO (Night of the Kings #14)
TIAGO’S SECRET ( Night of the Kings 15)
TIAGO’S LOVE (Night of the Kings 16)
TIAGO’S HEART (Night of the Kings 17)
LOVING TIAGO ( Night of the Kings 18)
DARK HEART SERIES
A Self-Made Billionaire Dark Romance
JADEN (Dark Heart Series #1)
WILD JADEN (Dark Heart Series #2)
JADEN’S HEART (Dark Heart Series #3)
SHADES OF LOVE
A Billionaire Dark Romance
DARK MCKENNA (Shades of Love #1)
REAL MCKENNA (Shades of Love #2)
MCKENNA (Shades of Love #3)
GOLDEN HEIR SERIES
A Billionaire Romance
SHADE (Golden Heir Series #1)
LOVING SHADE (Golden Heir Series #2)
FOREVER SHADE (Golden Heir Series #3)
WILD HEART SERIES, A Complicated (MMF) Romance
JAGGER (Wild Heart Series #1)
LOVING JAGGER (Wild Heart Series #2)
LOVING BRAXTON (Wild Heart Series #3)
WILD NIGHTS (Wild Heart Series #4)
FINDING HOME (Wild Heart Series #5)
STEEL SERIES (A Rock Star Romance)
A Rock Star Romance
Layla’s Story
River Steel (Steel Series #1)
Loving River (Steel Series #2)
River’s Story (Companion Books to Layla’s Books)
River (Steel Series #3)
River’s Heart (Steel Series #4)
About the Author
Thank you for reading my books.
I write steamy, epic love stories that feature hot-blooded men and adventurous, soulful women.
I like to write Series that are layered, character-driven, have a dash of mystery, and a lot of depth.
I write what I like to read, and people who share my taste, devour my books. My stories are not the typical romance, nor are they formulaic or fit a mold.
My lead men are hot, smart, and have a big heart.
Other than writing books, I love muscle cars, dogs, chocolate, flowers, and quiet, starry nights filled with love.
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.shayneford.com
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www.shayneford.com
[email protected]