“She’s great.” Kiwi patted her hand and loved the pink on Serenity and the purple Caro wore. They’d paid attention to her every detail which was probably Serenity’s ten or more years of knowledge as her best friend, and Caro’s caring nature.
Serenity then stepped back and offered her diamond stud earrings that Kiwi once joked she’d borrow for her own wedding. Kiwi quickly put them on. Now she looked complete as Serenity said, “All the Morgans are here now. And we’re going to be sisters.”
True—nothing might ever break their bond now. Kiwi patted her belly and said, “Our children will grow up together, just as we said years ago.”
Serenity already looked like she’d never had babies though her twins must be outside with her husband. Caro came over and touched Kiwi’s wrist. “Kiwi, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you for this dress.” Kiwi was genuinely appreciative because no one else could have spun together exactly what she wanted and so fast.
Serenity picked up the flower bouquets and handed them out first to Caro as she said, “Now that Victoria and Gio signed the merger you’ll both be in Miami and Italy, so we’ll still see each other all the time.”
Kiwi took her lily and orchid bouquet but also Serenity’s hand as she said, “Um, you and Damien need to come visit me here too.”
Serenity squeezed and released her fingers. “Yes, we’ll bring our children again.”
Victoria popped her head in and then walked in with two men that looked like Gio as she said, “Did I miss anything? Are we ready?”
Caro handed her the last bouquet as Kiwi said, “No. Who are these men with you?”
Victoria brought the two men forward. The slightly taller one was first as she said, “This is Bartolomeo and Lorenzo.” Both men looked like Gio, but Lorenzo’s sharper cheek bones made him more rugged. Kiwi instantly appreciated the classic handsomeness of Gio and wished he was here as Victoria said, “These are Gio’s brothers and my new half-brothers. They wanted to meet you.”
Bartolomeo bowed and kissed her hand. “Gio said you were the prettiest woman in the world and we wanted to see for ourselves. Our brother always had exceptional taste.”
She took her hand back with a chuckle. Obviously all of the Italian Morgans learned to flirt at a young age. “He said that?”
“Yes and now I understand.” Lorenzo came forward and kissed her cheeks.
The friendliness was new. She fixed her diamond necklace so it didn’t tug at the veil. “You do?”
Lorenzo half-bowed. “He said you were his other half. Gio’s always been the artistic one in the family. He’d insist on marrying someone perfect.”
Instantly she froze and looked up both of them. “I’m not that.”
“Good luck convincing my brother of that.” Bartolomeo tapped his brother on the shoulder and winked. “It seems our new sister is modest.”
Lorenzo motioned toward the door as he said, “Either way, it seems our brother made a good choice for himself.”
“Thank you,” she said as the two men communicated with gestures.
Bartolomeo said, “We’ll see ourselves out and wait for everyone near the aisle.”
Kiwi couldn’t move. She was about to join a family so unlike her small one and she’d never had brothers. The moment the door closed, Caro laughed and said, “Victoria, your new brothers could be cover models for your men’s fashion lines.”
Kiwi could imagine every one of Gio’s brothers as models—but would they? She’d have to get to know them. She relaxed her shoulders and twirled one more time in the mirror.
Victoria chuckled. “I already asked. They aren’t interested in helping their American sister.”
The ladies, sisters, and friends, all laughed. Caro then asked, “Is it true their Italian sister also died?”
Kiwi’s entire body froze as she stared at Caro.
Victoria shook her head quickly and pressed her lips together before she said, “That’s not something we should talk about today of all days.”
Caro’s hand went to her heart as she said, “Oh Kiwi, I’m sorry, but Victoria, Catherine and kind of Elizabeth all came back out of nowhere. Isabelle returned from the dead. I was just wondering if Anthony’s twin Aurelia might be alive too. Mitch did a number on all his children.”
Serenity took Kiwi’s hand. Kiwi accepted the calm and appreciated her best friend was here. “Yes he did, but let’s just focus on being happy.”
“The music started,” Kiwi said, and her stomach muscles fluttered.
In a few minutes, she’d be with Gio again.
She walked next to Serenity through the vineyard that smelled like grapes.
Gio had worked so hard on this surprise she didn’t know what to expect. Kiwi arrived at the vines that blocked her view where a blue carpet had been laid down a row to keep her newly designed white shoes with the royal blue bottoms clean.
Her heart raced as the music changed. Caro lined up with Anthony and walked out first.
Her feet practically jumped up and down as the pulse in her veins spiked.
In a few seconds, she’d see him.
Victoria went next, paired with Lorenzo.
Walking all alone meant everyone would see this dress—and it deserved to be seen. Serenity let her hand go and went to walk next to Bartolomeo.
Now she was all alone. She closed her eyes and said a small prayer.
She swore the bubbles in her stomach was her baby and laughed. Done with the giggles, she opened her eyes and took her first step forward.
The moment she turned the corner, her gaze flew to meet Gio’s. He was handsome and it felt like wings grew on her high heeled shoes because she practically flew to the altar.
Once she took his hands, the day became real again. His slightly calloused hands from sewing and working in his vineyard made every cell in her body wake.
Kiwi’s knees trembled, but Gio placed his hand on her lower back as they stared at the minister and she slowly calmed.
His nearness made the air even sweeter than the grapes. This was as close to heaven she’d ever been.
Suddenly the minister broke through her bubble that surrounded her as he asked, “Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
This was it. The question that mattered. She smiled wide and nodded. “I do.”
The minister then turned toward Gio and all her focus went to him as the minister asked, “Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Nothing moved in her world until he said, “I do.”
A laugh escaped her again. She never laughed this much but today was the happiest day of her life.
Gio hugged her waist and a craving for him grew inside her.
Finally the minister said, “You may kiss the bride.”
Her eyes fluttered closed and her lips parted. A fraction of a second later, Gio kissed her.
They were now one. Forever.
Chapter 20
Gio stood near the warehouse where his workers transformed his grapes into wine and watched the wedding guests shimmying and swaying on the wooden dance floor positioned over the grassy area they weren’t farming this cycle.
Today he had lots of brothers and sisters. His mother, if she was alive, would have been happy her children were at peace with their siblings and not at war.
Anthony was the only one that didn’t quite see that and Gio wasn’t sure why.
Bartolemeo and Lorenzo were both knee-deep in conversation with their half-siblings from Paris.
But most of all, Gio was entranced by how radiant his lovely wife was when she laughed with her friend Serenity, as a young boy and girl raced by. The girl won despite the pink princess dress that fluttered in the air.
He pushed himself off the wall to return to the wedding celebration, but his blonde, blue-eyed American sister Victoria waved him over.
He kissed her cheeks and intended to continue past. But then Anthony broke away from his small group and tapped him on the s
houlder. “I’m going to find Belle now.”
Another mistake, but Gio glanced ahead at Kiwi. Right now it was time to join her and just hope his family figured out their own lives.
Victoria leaned past him and said, “Wait. Belle? You know where she is?”
Anthony’s lips curled like he was still a boy before he mumbled, “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
Victoria stepped in front of Gio so he couldn’t just slide past them. “We’ve been looking for her for months. My brother is making a huge mistake today.”
“With the woman I love.” Anthony crossed his arms.
Victoria’s eyes widened like she’d just been hit with an electric shockwave.
Gio stopped a waiter and picked up a few champagne flutes for Victoria and himself as she said, “Jennifer? Really?”
She waved off the offer of the champagne and pressed her hand to her belly like Kiwi did when she thought about their baby.
Gio’s gaze narrowed in on his partner and then further along toward his wife who did the same gesture as she laughed with the children. The Morgan clan was growing.
Gio then said, “Anthony, go.”
His brother left without another word.
Victoria crossed her arms in a stubborn manner. “Gio, Peter’s important to me. He’s always looked out for me.”
“And he has his own life to lead,” Gio reminded her.
Victoria lowered her arms. “You’re right, but if Anthony knows where Belle is, I want to help.”
Gio slung an arm around her shoulders and they went toward Kiwi who stood like the Venus de Milo as she beckoned him closer. Gio patted his sister’s side and teased, “Victoria, relax. It’s not good for you, mamma.”
A huge smile frew on her face as she laughed. “Good? You know?”
With a wink, he glanced at her belly. “So you confirmed it. Congrats.”
Victoria’s face paled as she scanned the wedding. “You don’t know this, but I was run over and lost my unborn baby last time I was pregnant. I don’t want to tell anyone. What if something happens?”
Gio hugged her tight then placed his hand on his heart like he was sworn to secrecy. “I won’t tell a soul though you should be safe enough from my cars in my vineyard.”
A cautious smile graced her pretty face. “True. There’s a black fence surrounding your villa and vineyard. Can I ask you a quick question?”
“Of course.”
Her lips thinned as she was uncertain but then she asked, “What happened to your sister Aurelia?”
Kiwi’s beauty called to him, but he stopped and looked down toward his feet at the thought of his little sister, dead all these years. “That was a long time ago.”
His sister nodded but frowned. “Our father said I was dead. He kidnapped Catherine and he hid Elizabeth, Luke and Matthew. Our father’s MO seems to be to take the women from their mom’s as a way to control his wife and girlfriends.” She touched his wrist. “So I wondered about Aurelia?”
This wasn’t something he’d considered possible, but he glanced around his wedding to the women who were his half-sisters. If his own sister was alive, then he’d like nothing more than to see her again. He stepped toward Kiwi, forcing Victoria to move with him. “It would be wonderful if she was alive. But if that was his usual MO, it failed with my mother.”
Victoria stayed in step with him as they crossed the party. “Why?”
“After Aurelia died, Father came to visit my grandfather, but my mother shut him out of her life and bed.”
Victoria let out a slightly disbelieving chuckle. “It’s good that he failed with your mother, but what happened to your sister?”
Fifteen years had passed. He tried not to think about it, but he remembered his mother waiting at the bus stop until sunset. “Aurelia never came home from school.”
Victoria didn’t blink. “That’s it?”
Years ago his mother cursed his father over and over again, kicking him out of her house. The memories replayed in his mind like he was still a teenager too as he said, “Father said she was murdered but my mom, she never accepted that.”
Victoria motioned with her head toward Caro and the small group she was with. “Would you mind if I give this information to Rafe and John so they can look into the disappearance?”
“Go for it,” Gio said. He’d grieved with his mother for his sister and it hurt to open that wound again, but he would. What a miracle that would be. He reached for Kiwi, sliding his arm around her side. She quickly kissed his cheek while bouncing his son in her arms. He had a family of his own.
Victoria stopped like she just understood where she’d been led as she said, “Kiwi, sorry I kept your groom.”
She turned to leave, but Gio shook his head and motioned for the non-alcoholic grape juice from a waiter. “Let’s get Caro.” He handed out the flutes filled with juice as he said, “I think the four of us need to toast merging the House of Morgan fashion line as we’re going to dress the world fabulously,” he winked. “Shoes to scarves, everyone will be wearing House of Morgan by next year.”
Victoria had waved at Caro, who joined them and accepted a flute of champagne. She held her glass up. Victoria smiled and said, “Our company is nothing without you, Kiwi, and Caro. I’m happy we’re all family too.”
Kiwi said, “So let’s toast to the four of us taking next year’s fashion world by storm.”
The four of them clinked glasses. Gio, with his wife and son, and his daughter on the way, realized that he had perfection in his grasp. Perhaps like a feather in the wind, it might fade away, but for right now, right here, he’d found his happily-ever-after.
THE END I hope you enjoyed Gio and Kiwi’s fight for love like I did. The next book in the series, Secret Bridesmaid is where Emily Wilson gets backstage passes to her favorite band and then falls in love with Axel Morgan. Get your copy Now!
And don’t forget to pick up Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website).
Start Reading the House of Morgan Now
Secret Crush
For some, joining the FBI is a long-term goal. For billionaire John Morgan, joining the Bureau is a stepping stone to proving his father is culpable for his sister’s death. After his estranged father dies, John is forced to return home and face the ghosts of his past. But that proves to be more difficult than he ever imagined.
After losing her best friend under inexplicable circumstances, Alice Collins’ world view shifts until her small town sensibilities convinced her to attend Mr. Morgan’s funeral. Soon, the past and the present collide, and Alice is caught in the crosshairs. But when John comes to her aid, it only serves to complicate matters for both of them.
Can a handsome billionaire on a vendetta fall for a small town girl…or does he have something else in mind?
Secret Baby
Victoria thought her baby died. Colt thought Victoria abandoned their daughter at birth. Her father had destroyed them both with a single lie. But will the truth be enough to bring them back together?
To escape her billionaire father’s cruel manipulations, Victoria let everyone believe she was dead. Burdened with a broken heart and the tragic loss of her baby, she felt there was nothing left for her. But her return uncovers an avalanche of secrets and lies, starting with the fact that the child she thought had died is alive…and being raised by the very man who broke her heart.
Ex-Marine Colt Collins has been raising his daughter alone while nursing a burning resentment for the woman who abandoned them both and then died before he could find out why. Determined to move on and make a life for himself, Colt plans to marry and give his daughter the childhood she deserves. But then Victoria Morgan returns from the dead, and he learns that nothing about their past is what it seems.
Victoria wants to claim her child, but Colt isn’t sure he can believe his former lover. After all, it’s her word against a dead man’s. She could say anything is true. Together, they will have to sift through the lies and unrave
l the truth. But can they learn to trust each other again and find find a happily ever after, or is too late for a second chance at romance?
Secret Bet
One Cocky Billionaire. One former Marine jilted at the alter. And one bet that forces them back together and threatens to tear them apart.
With a history of women sticking around only long enough to win over his money, not earn his love, Peter has learned to keep women at arm’s length. But as much as he plays it smart with romance, he’s still a sucker for a challenge. So when his brother bets that he can’t date the same woman for thirty days, it’s game on. Wooing a woman for one month and then walking away unscathed sounds almost too easy. Until his brother announces who the woman will be.
Former Marine Belle Jordan has lived through the scandal of being jilted at the altar. Ever since, she protects her heart, knowing she can never go through that kind of heartbreak again. Now the brother of the woman who tore her life apart is pursuing her with an intensity that is hard to resist. Her brain warns her to stay away, but her heart wants to trust his seductive words.
Before long, Peter finds that Belle is turning his cynical world on its head and awakening his long-dormant heart. When the truth comes out about the secret bet, Peter fears he may lose the one woman who can look past the dollar signs to see the man behind the throne. But will the realization be too little too later?
Secret Wish
She kept him in the friend zone for years. Now she’s single with a secret…and living in his family home.
With little memory of his mother and a strained relationship with his father, it’s difficult for Dr. Luke Morgan to reconcile between who he is and who he wants to be. But when he returns to the House of Morgan to accept his place in the family, painful secrets come to the surface, leading Luke to believe his family name is the reason behind his niece’s kidnapping.
Secret Match Page 16