Epilogue
“That was incredible,” Logan said. “My compliments to the chef.”
Enzo smiled. “I will pass it along. Maria and her husband, Aldo, are amazing at creating the perfect meals. I feel so fortunate to have found them.”
Kathleen let out a small sigh. Life was good. Great, in fact. “I wish your better halves could have come with you.”
“Me too,” Gage agreed, “but with Dani pregnant, I didn’t think it was a good idea to bring her along. She’s not feeling the best these days.”
Mitch snorted. “Not to mention this is not going to be fun, and none of them wanted to be in the middle of it.”
“Can’t blame them there,” Kathleen agreed. “Still, it would have been lovely to see them all. I think you guys should come back and visit again when you can all come and stay longer.” She immediately glanced at Enzo. She’d just invited people to his winery without asking. “Er, that is…I mean—”
Enzo grinned at her. “I wholeheartedly agree.” He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “You may invite anyone you like to visit us here.”
Warmth flooded her. Us. She loved the sound of that. The fact that Enzo made her feel so welcome, so loved, was still a thrill to her. He’d opened his life to her, and she’d responded in kind. Life was truly spectacular at the moment.
Enzo filled the wine glasses again. “You think it’s going to be rough? You guys did help the Bishops out of some trouble.”
“And they us,” agreed Gage, “but they are still bitter.”
Mitch dropped his napkin on the table. “Honestly, I don’t know why they’re so pissed off. It’s Dad and us that should be angry.”
Logan looked as if he might admonish his brother, but he simply nodded. “It’s true. There are legal implications to all this as well.”
“I’m sorry they are being so prickly.” Kathleen took a sip of wine and then put her glass down. “The thing is… You have no idea what their mother told them about your dad and you guys. It sounds like she wasn’t in the best place after her husband died.”
“True,” Gage agreed. “I know Mom and Dad were super close to Aileen and Colin. Dad said Aileen was devastated by Colin’s death.
She struggled for a long while, apparently.
It’s what led our mother to offer to help Aileen with IVF.
Aileen and Colin wanted kids desperately, according to our father.
So much so that Aileen was half mad when Colin died.
That’s what led them to say yes when Aileen asked for Dad’s sperm.
She said she would raise the kids right next door like they’d planned on when Colin was alive.
That we would all grow up together. It was the only reason our parents said yes.
Kathleen bit her lip. Asking your best friend and her husband for his sperm was a big friggin’ ask. There was no way Kathleen would say yes if someone wanted to use Enzo’s sperm. Her heart caught in her throat at the thought as jealousy shot through her veins.
“Your parents are truly very kind people,” Kathleen offered a smile.
“Too kind,” growled Mitch. “Aileen took off a few months later, saying she couldn’t take all the memories anymore and needed to start fresh. Our mother tried to stay in touch, but Aileen eventually disappeared entirely. They had no idea that she was already pregnant.”
Logan frowned. “To be honest, I am glad Mom isn’t around to see this. I think this would break her. Not knowing those kids were out there all these years, she would be devastated for us. Siblings we didn’t know we had.”
“How’s your father doing with all of this?” Enzo asked.
Gage shrugged. “Not great. I tried to get him to come with us, but he said he would rather spend a couple of days in Rome on his own. Mentally preparing himself to meet three children he didn’t know he had. It’s not an easy situation, and I’m pretty sure it’s eating him up inside.”
Kathleen could just imagine how difficult the whole thing would be. Families were the most complicated things on earth. “Try and be kind to yourselves and to the Bishops,” she said. “I think it will take all of you a while to come to terms with the situation.”
“You are not wrong,” Mitch said and drained his wine glass. “I hate to eat and run but we need to get a move on if we’re going to get to Rome tonight. We’re meeting them tomorrow morning.”
Everyone got up from the table and headed out to the front of the winery.
“Good luck with everything,” Kathleen said as he gave Mitch a hug.
She hugged Logan and then Gage. “I want updates on Dani and the baby.”
Enzo wrapped an arm around Kathleen’s waist, and they waved as the Callahans drove away.
“I would not want to be in their shoes,” Kathleen said as she and Enzo turned and headed back inside.
“Me either.” Enzo’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. “I have to take this.” He dropped a quick kiss on Kathleen’s nose and then walked away to take the call.
Kathleen grabbed her wine glass from the table and went out onto the terrace.
After taking a sip of the red wine, she held the glass up to the fading sunlight.
It was a wonderfully deep red. The wine tasted of red cherry and raspberry with notes of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
Enzo would tell her. He’d been teaching her all about wine, and she’d discovered she was a quick study. She had a knack for it. Who knew?
She looked out over the vineyard and smiled. She was blissfully happy. Being in Italy at Enzo’s favorite vineyard was heaven. Kathleen finally felt like she’d found where she belonged. Found home.
She glanced over her shoulder at Enzo, who was still arguing in Italian. Something with a distributor, she thought. Her Italian was getting better by the day as well.
Turning back, she took her wine glass and left the terrace.
Nothing like a stroll through the vineyard at sunset.
It was a magical time. The workers had all gone home for the day, and it was just her and the vines.
She loved it. The smell of the roses hit her, bringing a smile to her lips.
She’d learned that everyone planted roses at the end of the row of vines because if there was some kind of infestation, the bugs or bacteria or whatever would attack the roses first. They were the canary in the coal mine, as it were.
Kathleen drew in a deep breath. Life was good. Really good. She missed Connor, but he was doing his thing and seemed very happy. He’d come for a quick visit, giving Enzo his approval and telling Kathleen he’d never seen her happier. That was all she needed. She smiled at the memory.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Enzo said as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Red cherry, raspberry…and something else,” Kathleen said.
“Rose petals,” Enzo supplied.
“Right,” she agreed. “I’ll get it eventually.”
“I have no doubts.” He kissed her head. “It’s a beautiful evening. Should we go into town and wander through the square?”
Kathleen turned to face him. “I don’t know, I kind of like being alone among the vines with you.” She sent him a suggestive smile. “I thought maybe we could just hang out here for a bit.”
The corners of his mouth turned upward into a sexy grin that still made her heart pound. “Here? I like the way you think.”
Enzo reached for her, laying his hands on her waist, and skimming his thumbs along her sides until he got to the underside of her breasts. Kathleen gripped his wrists and dragged his hands upward until he cupped her soft flesh.
“Here?” he questioned, giving her an out as he dipped his fingers under the neckline of her thin sweater.
“Why not? We’re alone, and sunset is going to be glorious.” She jerked his Polo shirt free of his waistband and fingered the taut muscles there, loving the satin-like texture of his skin. “Take me here, Enzo. Make me yours.”
He bent his knees just slightly, enough to reach the hem of her long skirt and begin to pull it up her thighs.
He found the lace edge of her panties, hooked his thumbs under the elastic band, and tugged them down and off.
After jamming them into his pocket, he released her long enough to unbuckle his belt and lower his zipper.
All while lavishing kisses along her shoulder and neck.
Kathleen pushed his shirt higher and twirled her fingertips over his nipples as he shoved his pants to below his hips. They were both gasping and giggling like school children as they explored each other.
Enzo hissed in a breath when Kathleen took him in her hand and pumped.
She moaned when his hands left her body, only to quickly return to encircle her bottom.
She squeaked as he lifted her, then eagerly arranged her legs around his waist and rocked her pelvis. She dragged her skirt higher and draped it over their bodies as he notched the crown of his cock at her entrance.
“Ora, Enzo. Ti voglio dentro di me, adesso.” She whispered the words in Italian, knowing it drove him crazy that she’d worked so hard to assimilate into his world.
His low chuckle and quick thrust inside her channel made her lose her breath, and there was nothing else in the moment, but her, and him, and where they joined together.
He held her upright in his strong arms. Buried deeply inside her, he walked three paces to a post marking the end of one row of vines.
The wood behind her back was as firm and hard as the wood inside her body.
Clutching her torso tightly to his, he claimed her with each rock of his pelvis, every brush of his chest to hers.
And when they reached orgasm, they did that in sync, shouting their love simultaneously.
“Ti amo, Enzo.”
“I love you, Kathleen. Cara mia.”
The sun had sunk low on the horizon by the time Enzo handed her back her panties.
She stepped into them as Enzo tucked himself back into his pants and arranged the tails of his shirt over the lingering remnants of his erection.
Enzo grabbed her hand and held her gaze as he pressed a kiss to her palm, then guided her back to the villa.
As they approached the terrace, Kathleen’s stomach rumbled. “I know we just ate with the Callahans, but I seem to have worked up an appetite.”
Enzo threw his head back and laughed. “Fair enough. Let’s go into town for a snack. I have something to tell you anyway.”
She stopped and grabbed his arm. “Tell me now.”
He smiled down at her. “Patience isn’t your strong suit.”
“I’ve been patient long enough,” she growled. “Now is my time to live. So, spill it.”
“I may have done some digging around. I know you love it here as I do, but I thought maybe if you were getting a little bit bored, we might go explore the Greek Islands.”
Kathleen frowned. She didn’t want to travel. She was enjoying life too much right here. “I guess we could if you want to, but I’m not bored. At least not yet,” she said with a wink.
“Me either, but I thought if you were interested, we could follow up on a lead.”
“A lead? A lead on what?” she asked. Her curiosity was piqued.
“The Valmont Star. A little birdy told me it might be in the Greek Islands, but if you want to stay here, that’s fine. I can tell Alex, and she and Mitch—”
“Don’t you dare!” Kathleen playfully hit Enzo on the chest. “Of course, I want to follow the lead. When do we leave?”
Enzo smiled. “As soon as you like, cara mia. Your wish is my command.” His beloved green eyes twinkling, he swooped down and captured her mouth in a scorching kiss.
Keep turning the page to read a sneak peek of the first book of the exciting Lock And Key series: Locked Away