Emotions weren’t clear for her like numbers were. But either way she’d do it tomorrow. She needed to. She now understood that love was everything that mattered in life.
Chapter 18
Gio checked his phone and oversaw the staff as they prepared everything he’d asked for. If Kiwi came back, then she must love him. This time she’d not say no to his proposal. At least he hoped not. But it wasn’t in him to doubt and he’d ensure this time when he asked for her hand in marriage, that it was romantic and make sure she had no time to change her mind. The baker had just put the cake in the oven. The pasta was now shaped.
In the kitchen everything was prepared. He stepped onto the veranda and smelled the fresh morning air full of dew on the vines as he caught sight of the head housekeeper. “I need to order flowers and have them all over the veranda that leads to the vineyard.”
She gave him her usual curt, efficient nod and said, “Within the hour, signore.”
“Perfecto.” He scanned his phone. Bartolomeo and Lorenzo confirmed they’d be here. But then the screen changed and he saw his brother’s phone number. He stepped into the shadow of his house so as not to interfere with the staff doing their job. “Anthony, why are you calling me?”
“Jennifer is marrying Peter today,” Anthony said. “You picked the worst day.”
“It’s not my business,” Gio answered fast because there was zero way he’d change his date to accommodate a disaster. And Anthony had clearly lied to him yesterday when he hadn’t wanted to be found saying he was with Jennifer when he wasn’t.
His phone beeped again and it read Victoria, Caro, Serenity and most of the Americans were coming. They’d just RSVP’d for 22, including 4 children. He held his tongue as his brother said, “Immediately after, I’m flying to America, so I can’t stick around for the party.”
Logic might be his only weapon against Anthony’s emotional plan. But then his brother never listened much to him. Gio decided to try anyhow. “Don’t try to stop it. Jennifer isn’t for you.”
Anthony shocked him by saying, “I’m not. I’m going to find Belle, Peter’s first wife and I have a lead.”
From what little Gio understood, Peter’s first wife that he’d loved just walked away without a trace. Gio looked up at his bedroom window above where Kiwi still slept. He had no idea what he’d do if she left him again. His heart beat out of time. “Look, I have to go. But protect your heart, Anthony. The right girl is out there for you.”
His brother clicked his tongue. “I need to see this through, but I won’t let you down either. I’ll be there.”
Good. And maybe one of the others might talk sense into Anthony. It would be nice for all sides of his family to now meet. He hung up and saw the head housekeeper again as she led florists into the vineyard. He stopped her and asked, “Are all the flowers here?”
“This is just the first wave.” She motioned for the florists to continue forward as she then said, “We’re decorating as you ordered now.”
“Thank you.”
She walked toward the florists to direct them further in.
The sun was growing higher in the sky. Soon, Kiwi would rouse and he needed to be there. He pocketed his phone. “I’m going to wake Kiwi.”
The house was full of activity. His phone rang, and he checked the message as he made his way upstairs. Instead of his bedroom, he headed toward the nursery while he read. Finished, he poked his head in and saw Francesca holding his son in the custom-made suit he’d designed. “Is Tom ready?”
She held his son up for inspection. “Yes signore, and he looks adorable in this suit.”
He walked over and inspected. The three buttons for the look of a button-down shirt were perfectly aligned. Gio, overcome by emotion, kissed the boy’s forehead and hugged him.
Despite everything, at least Piper had done one thing right by giving him Tom. He handed the baby back to his nanny. “My son is perfect. Thank you for handling him this morning, Francesca.”
She stood in her new dress which was light blue and different than the maid’s uniform. “We will be where you told us to wait.”
“Excellent.”
Now all that was missing was Kiwi and her opinion. He walked toward his bedroom when one of the maids rushed up the stairs. He stopped and she walked over and said, “Sir, I have the dress your sister sent for Kiwi.”
He nodded at her and then said, “Everything is in place.”
“Except your bride, sir,” the maid reminded him cheekily. “Hair and makeup are ready.”
Gio didn’t need a reminder but he nodded—everyone was excited for the surprise. “I’ll wake her now. Ensure everything is ready, including breakfast. She’ll be hungry.”
Kiwi was taking care of herself during her pregnancy, but if she didn’t want to show in wedding photos, now was better than waiting. If she said no, that she didn’t love him, then he’d face the public humiliation. His heart told him he needed to take this shot as his maid stared at him and said, “Good luck.”
Finally, he closed the door and ignored the extra beat in his heart. The lights were still off. Everything could go off the rails and she had every right to leave him, again, for being presumptuous. But he had to put his heart on the line and prove himself one last time. He turned and saw her dark eyes that almost glistened as she stretched and said, “Gio, good morning. Where were you?”
Right. He slipped onto the bed that he’d left a few hours ago and pressed his shoulder against hers. “I was ordering our breakfast.”
She turned and curled her legs over his as she cupped his face. “Oh, well now that we’re up, we need to talk.”
Absolutely. He needed her to say yes today. She’d come home to him and it was time they made everything official. He nodded as she took her hand back. “Yes, we do.”
Outside the window he saw his workers setting up an arch of flowers. He jumped off the bed and pulled the curtain.
She scooted closer to him and asked, “You seem distracted? Is something happening out the window?”
If she came over, she’d see his plan before he had a chance to convince her. He sat on the bed so she’d stop getting up. “Nothing. Let’s talk.”
“Yes. Okay, so I’ll start.” She folded her hands nervously in front of her.
He glanced over at the window curtain partially open. He jumped up and said, “Wait.”
Then he raced and fully closed the curtain this time. When he turned back, her eyebrows were arched as she held out her hands for him and said, “You’re so jumpy. Don’t be nervous. Please take my hand.”
Right. He sat on the mattress. “You don’t understand.”
“Please just let me speak.” She gave him a gentle smile like she needed to calm him down.
He ignored the burst of excitement in his veins and reined it in. He patted her arm. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
She took a deep breath and he swore she was nervous. “I ran yesterday because I was so scared that you only wanted to marry me because of our baby. And I wasn’t listening to my heart, which I’m quite good at ignoring. Emotions were never clear to me.”
Right now he needed to find the right words for how he felt. “That’s not true.”
“Yeah, it is. I never had a father and I thought I had to be strong, not sweet.”
“You’re sweeter than gelato.” His phone beeped. His fingers itched to pick it up immediately. If he needed to fix something, he had to be fast.
Kiwi said, “I want to be sweet and always just believe you. I have to. Otherwise I’m not being true to my heart.” Her gaze narrowed on his arm that had reached behind him to get his phone. She took her hand back, pushed a wayward hair out of her face, and asked, “Gio, what’s going on?”
This time he needed to explain. “I’m sorry for the interruptions.” He quickly approved the seating arrangement without reading it for his fifty guests. “I’m setting up a surprise for you and want to make sure everything is ready.”
> “Surprise?” She crossed her arms.
“Yeah. Sorry.” He tucked the phone back in his pocket. “You were saying.”
Without moving a muscle, she asked, “You are paying attention this time?”
He reached for her elbow and massaged it and she dropped her hands to her sides as he leaned closer and said, “Absolutely. I have something important I need to say to you, Kiwi.”
She nodded and folded her hand in his again. “Let me finish.”
As soon as she finished, he’d ask her to marry him. He swallowed and ignored the racing beat of his heart. “You have my full attention.”
“Good.” She focused her gaze on him in a way that made his heart almost stop. “I need to believe you because I’m so in love with you that I don’t want to think about raising our baby on my own anymore and I don’t want to think about you raising Tom without me. I hope you can forgive me for being such a fool and hurting you like I did.”
For a moment he couldn’t think or breathe. He just stared at her. If she loved him, then she’s say yes to his proposal. He finally blinked and smiled in relief. “That’s good to hear.”
Her brow furrowed. “That’s all you have to say?”
Angry wasn’t good. He squeezed her hand and shook his head. “No, not at all. I’m waiting for my turn to talk.”
She let out a sigh and said, “Go. I’m waiting for you now.”
Gio stood and held her hand, tugging her to her feet. He held her palm to his heart as he said, “Kiwi Washington, the moment I met you I knew my life was over.”
“That’s not good.” Her lips pursed and she started to pull back.
He held her and used a little resistance hoping she’d stay. She stopped as he said, “Just listen as I did for you.”
“Okay.” She lowered her lashes to half-mast as she stared at him.
He leaned closer. “My mother said when you meet your soulmate, you instantly die.”
Her lip curled in confusion. “What? Wait, wasn’t your father someone you hate?”
Clearly he wasn’t making much sense. “Yes, but then Mom met Benedetto, who drove you here yesterday.”
She covered her mouth like she’d made a mistake and asked, “Benedetto?”
“In my store.” He remembered the last few years of his mother’s life, and how she lit up like she was still a teenager whenever Benedetto came over—and how she’d dumped his father when Gio was sixteen, banning him from ever seeing her again. He’d been so happy for his mother. “He tends it, with his daughter, Martina, who is like a sister to me.”
She lowered her hand so he could see her rosy mouth again but sucked in her lips for a moment. Finally she shook her head and said, “I had no idea. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even ask their names or introduce myself.”
“You wouldn’t know.” He kissed the tip of her fingers. “He and my mother never married but he made her happy and he’s here today.”
Her eyes widened, and she stared at him blankly. “He’s here? Why?” She turned her head. “We should go. I’d like to thank them again.”
Again he kept her still and waited for her to look at him and then he said, “Let me finish.”
She slipped her hands out of his but didn’t move away. Instead she swallowed and said, “Right. You die when you meet your soulmate?”
The memory of his mother’s words when she was super happy replayed in his mind. “Yes, you die as a single person but you’re reborn as a new, better version of yourself because you found your other half.”
Her entire expression softened, and she hugged him. “That’s really sweet, Gio.”
He stepped back but tipped his forehead toward her as he said, “And I died the day we met.”
Her breathing sounded wistful as she tugged on his belt loop, bringing him closer. “Wait. You did?”
He kissed her forehead and she tasted sweet and delicious as always. His mouth still hungered for her lips, but he pulled back and leveled his vision with hers. “Yes. I don’t want to imagine my life without you in it now.”
“Why?” She trembled.
His heart and body froze as everything depended on his answer—Serenity had clued him in on what Kiwi needed to hear. “Because I love you and want you to marry me.”
She laughed and threw her head back with her throaty chuckle. He couldn’t move. Finally she clutched her heart, shook her head and said, “You’re clearly the poet in this relationship.”
Poet? If she said no, he’d understand. He was rushing, but he wanted her to say yes. He swallowed and then said, “But I need an answer from you, Kiwi Washington. Will you marry me?”
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him as he spun her around. “Yes, of course. I love you.”
Once he put her back on the ground, he took both of her hands. “Good because the wedding is today.”
“What?” Her eyes widened.
The text earlier. He dug out his phone and showed her the message from Serenity. “Your mom will be here in a few hours and everything is being prepared now.”
She covered her mouth but he could see the smile underneath the tips of her fingers. “My mom?”
“She’s flying on the Morgan jet.” He handed her his phone so she could read Serenity’s message that her mother was on board.
Kiwi went onto her tiptoes and kissed him. “I love you so much. She loves your flowers.”
“Good to hear.” His arms wrapped around her and he hugged her close. He took out the huge diamond that sparkled from the morning sun with a classic band that she could easily wear every day in the box. “So you’ll wear this ring from now on?”
Kiwi laughed and said, “Absolutely, yes.”
Once his lips met hers, he forgot everything else. Kiwi had finally said yes. He had his princess, forever.
Chapter 19
Kiwi Washington’s face practically sparkled though she had no glitter on. From her years of working at a spa, she knew how to take great care of her skin, but today her flesh seemed to glow in the mirror, underneath whatever makeup the artists used.
She stepped back and then walked over to her dress.
Victoria, Serenity and Caro clearly all knew her style as the demure preference that reminisced of classic beauty like Grace Kelly when she’d married her prince in Monaco.
Marrying Gio today was her royal wedding.
As makeup was done, she took off her robe and stepped into the dress. A staff member began buttoning her when the door opened.
Kiwi’s gaze flittered to the door and she clutched the side of the dresser until the sunlight lessened. A second later she let go of the dresser and opened her arms for a hug. “Mom!”
Her mother adjusted her hat like she too joined a royal wedding, though she motioned for the staff member to leave and took over buttoning the dress as she said, “Kiwi Washington, this is breathtaking.”
The soft fabric hugged her waist without pinching in any way.
Befriending the designer had perks. She waited until her mother finished with the last button and instead of turning toward the mirror, she took her mother’s hands in hers and asked, “You approve then?”
“If Gio was twenty-five years older and had asked me to marry him, I’d have said yes too. So I’m happy my daughter found an exception to my rule on men.” Her mother laughed and then directed her to look in the full-length mirror set up for her and then hugged her from behind so they were both seen in the reflection. “And besides, what would you do if I said no now sweetheart?”
Kiwi giggled as she realized she looked even prettier than she’d ever imagined possible. Her mother took the veil and handed it to the hair dresser as Kiwi followed for the finishing touch. “Tell you that you’re crazy, because Gio’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Her mother patted Kiwi’s belly and said, “Good because my grandchild-”
“Granddaughter,” Kiwi interrupted. She’d intended to tell her mother in person when she came home but now was be
tter.
Her mother had tears in her eyes. “A girl!” She clucked her tongue to her teeth like she was scolding though Kiwi knew better as she said, “You’ll have your hands full with your own little diva soon enough.”
Kiwi shook her head until the stylist stuck her curls with a bobby pin. She stopped but met her mother’s teasing gaze in the mirror. “Mama, I’m not a diva.”
Her mother squeezed her shoulder as the stylist finished and said, “I forced you to take math seriously as money comes from being logical.”
“And we were never poor,” Kiwi said because she never once remembered them struggling for anything, though they were never rich like her husband-to-be.
Her mother folded the veil over Kiwi’s face and another tear washed down her cheek. Kiwi waited as her mother wiped her tears away. “Which was how you pursued a hobby that led to your career and now marriage, but will Giorgio Morgan make you a good husband?”
Ah, now there was her mom’s vulnerability. Kiwi hugged her as she said, “Mama, Gio’s amazing.”
“And he’s okay with you helping him raise his boy?” Kiwi adjusted the veil in front of her face and couldn’t help that her feet were light as she quickly jumped for joy.
She removed her veil and gripped her mother’s slender fingers as she made a solemn vow. “Tom is precious. I’ll protect him and raise him as if he was born from me.”
Her mother patted her cheek and then kissed it. “That’s good to hear. Now I’m going to take my seat.”
Kiwi called out to her mother’s back the moment she turned, “Don’t forget to say yes when it’s time to give me away.”
Her mother gave her a wink. “You’ll put me in a retirement home if I don’t.”
Kiwi’s lips parted as she quickly retorted, “I’ll make sure you get the worst nurses as punishment.”
If someone didn’t know they were joking with each other, they’d probably think they were enemies. Her mother stopped at the door and held the knob. “I’m going to go sit with my new grandson now.”
She slipped out and Serenity and Caro entered in similarly styled bridesmaid dresses. Serenity used both of her hands to draw a heart in the air as she walked over in clear approval. “So your mom seems happier now that she’s talked to you.”
Secret Match Page 15