CHAPTER 29
Nirah
“THE GUESTS ARE arriving!” Amelia excitedly rushed into my bedroom.
I was staring at myself in my full-length mirror—running my hands down the sides of my dress.
“Are you ready?” she wiggled her shoulders, walking over to me.
“Yeah,” I breathlessly said. “Amelia, you look stunning,” I smiled, taking her hand in mine. I lifted our hands, and she spun under my arm.
“This old thing?” she casually asked, giving me a three sixty. “And hey,” she stopped. “Don’t worry so much,” she saw right through me, placing both hands on my shoulders. “You’ll do great, I swear.”
“I’m just a little nervous, that’s all,” I swallowed hard.
“Totally understandable,” she nodded.
“Where’s, Antonio?” I asked, looking up at her.
“He just found out that our brother will be a little late, and he’s trying not to kill him through the phone,” she snickered, and I nodded. “I could call him—”
“No,” I cut her off. “I’m okay. I’ll be down in a minute,” I assured her, and she kissed my cheek.
“You’re amazing, and you look beautiful. They’ll love you. Trust me,” she humorously nudged me, and I showed her a slanted smile. Trust her. Trust them .
She left my room and I examined the back and the front of my dress, making sure it was perfect.
I wore a black off shoulder bustier dress with a perfectly fitted bodice that cinched in at my waist. The beautifully draped silk skirt fell flattering down my legs.
I heavily exhaled. My dress is fine. I’m fine. Everything will be fine.
They’re just a regular family. A mother and a father. Normal people. Like me. Except, they’ll probably torture me for saying the wrong thing. At least his father will. Maybe his mother will too… No, Nirah. Calm down. Take deep breaths.
Slowly inhaling, I ran my hands through my straight hair. I swung my hair over my shoulder and saw Antonio standing in my doorway.
He leaned against my doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest, a little grin playing on his lips. “You look handsome,” I smiled as I looked at him through the mirror, and I watched his eyes linger on my dress—longer than necessary.
I started feeling self-conscious, so I looked at myself again, trying to see why he stared so long.
Before I knew it, he was wrapping his arms around my waist, kissing my neck.
“You are breathtakingly gorgeous, tesoro ,” he kissed my neck, and I let out a breath of relief.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my hands off you tonight. ”
“Thank you,” I nervously said.
“Somethings missing,” he slightly tilted his head to the right as he looked at me through the mirror.
“Oh no, what is it?” I nervously asked. “Do you think your mom will notice?” I asked, spinning around in his arms to look up at him as I brought both hands to my chest.
He was quiet for a second, then reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket. He handed me a black velvet box, and I looked up at him in confusion. “I’m missing a black box?” I asked, and he dropped his head. “Kidding,” I snickered before taking the box.
My smile slowly wavered as my eyes grew wide. A diamond necklace. He took the necklace out, and I looked up at him with unbelieving eyes. By my waist, he turned me to face the mirror, and his arms lifted over my head as he wrapped the necklace around my neck.
“Antonio…” I shook my head, gently placing my finger pads to the glistening diamonds. “Did you—”
“Buy my beautiful fiancée a piece of jewelry? Yes,” he kissed the top of my head. “And you look fucking incredible,” he said and I lifted my hand to gently touch the necklace again.
“No—it looks expensive,” I shook my head. “I can’t wear it.”
“You can. And you will,” he rested his hands on my waist. “And it matches these,” he pulled out another box and I took it.
“Oh God,” I breathlessly said as I opened it. Diamond earrings too? “No—you’re crazy. This is too much and you know it,” I said, turning around. “I can’t let you just—”
“Nirah, listen to me,” he cut me off, holding onto the sides of my neck with both hands—to not ruin my makeup.
“You’re my fiancée. I’m going to spoil you whether you like it or not.
I live and breathe for you now,” he gently ran his thumb up and down the side of my neck.
“I wake up to see you. I go to sleep to hold you in my arms. I make money to spoil you. I do everything for you. You’ve become my life now. ”
With teary eyes, I held onto his wrists. He leaned forward to kiss the top of my head and I closed my eyes. I felt my heart race at a thousand miles per hour.
“You’ll always be the most important woman in my life,” he softly said. “Now, I get to prove it to you. Prove just how much you mean to me.”
“You’re going to make me cry and ruin my make-up,” I softly chuckled, feeling my eyes sting with tears. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I threw my head back, blinking away my tears.
Lifting my head, I rested my chin on his chest. “You think your parents will like me?” I nervously asked. “I mean, I don’t even speak Italian—what if they think I’m not good enough?” I breathlessly asked and I could see him fighting back a smile. “This isn’t funny Antonio,” I reprimanded.
“They’ll love you just as much as I do, tesoro . I promise.”
“No you’re right,” I mumbled to myself. “If Amelia likes me—I’m sure they will too,” I nodded. “Amelia did say your mom was super sweet—” he cut me off with a kiss and my eyes fell shut.
He broke the kiss with a smile that spread warmth across my chest, and beautiful green eyes that made my heart flutter whenever he looked at me.
“I love you, Nirah,” he said against my lips and I felt my entire body go numb. Within seconds, it felt as though a flame rushed throughout my body and exploded in my chest.
My heart pounded against my rib cage as though it was going to burst with happiness any second now. With teary eyes, I pulled back.
Blinking up at him, I swallowed hard. “Say it again.” The words came out faint and he grinned down at me.
“I…” he leaned down to kiss my lips. “Love…” he continued kissing me softly. “ You , Nirah Joy.”
The most genuine smile danced on my lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning up to smash my lips to his in blissful excitement.
His hands traveled around to my ass and he gave it a quick squeeze before pulling my body towards his.
Smiling, I broke the kiss. “Are you sure you really love me?” I hesitantly asked, feeling my stomach do somersaults. “Maybe you’re just as nervous as I am, and now you’re just saying a bunch of words—yes that makes much more sense,” I nodded, swallowing a lump in my throat.
“Nirah Joy Valentino,” he held me tighter. “I don’t get nervous,” he reminded me, and I dropped my shoulders, letting out a quick breath.
Lowering my eyes, I removed my hands from his neck as my heart ached in my chest. “Hey, look at me,” he said, lifting my chin.
“I never understood what love was until you. You are the one who’s going to give me smile lines before thirty because only you can put a fucking smile on my face.
How can I not love you when your face is the only one I see when I close my eyes, and when you’re my first and last thought every day and every night. ”
Feeling my eyes swell with tears, I sadly smiled up at him. I’m capable of being loved?
“I’ve never met a woman who I’ve caught shamelessly checking out my ass one minute and calling it fat the next—it’s beyond belief but here we are,” he said and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You do have a really nice ass,” I shrugged my shoulders and he opened his mouth to protest but shut it immediately.
“You are truly incredible, Nirah Joy,” he gently held my waist. “I can’t even remember what life was like without you and I don’t want to, because any life without you must be torturous.”
I playfully hit his chest, glancing away for a second.
“Oh, I love you too, De Luca,” I giggled, jumping to wrap my arms around his neck and with a firm grip on me, he squeezed me in his arms as he lifted me off the ground.
I couldn’t contain my happiness as I kicked my feet in excitement and his chest vibrated with a chuckle.
Steadily, he lowered me back down and stole a kiss before I broke the hug. “You’re ruining my makeup,” I said gently, tapping my face here and there with the back of my hand.
He walked me over to my vanity mirror and I sat down. After touching up my make-up he put his arm out for me and I held onto it with both of my hands.
“If you feel too overwhelmed, scared, or anything, we can leave for a little while, okay?” he said and I nodded. “And, if you still don’t feel completely fine I’ll kick them all out and make you feel better,” he added.
We walked out and he closed the door behind both of us. “And how would you do that?” I asked and he stopped walking.
“I could show you right now what you’ll be in for,” he answered and I pretended to think as I tapped my chin with my finger.
We both share ear-to-ear smiles as we continued walking. I heard multiple voices downstairs and my stomach churned. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous.
We reached the top of the stairs and he placed a soothing kiss to my temple. “My mother loves you, tesoro ,” he assured me as we descended and my head snapped to him.
“How?”
“I’ve already told her about you,” he explained, looking at me and my heart dropped to the floor. “And she’s been keen to meet you ever since.”
“What if I’m not what she expected?”
“You won’t be. You’ll be even better because words aren’t enough to describe how incredible you are.”
“You’re going soft on me De Luca,” I murmured, tapping the back of my hand against the corner of my eye to wipe tears that started brimming. Why am I so emotional tonight?
We reached the bottom of the stairs and thankfully not all—but most—eyes were on us now. On me .
Looking around the room, I spotted beautiful women accompanied by men in fancy suits. A few children were running around too, and my heart raced in my chest.