Epilogue
Abby watched Dante emerge from the pool and she took in the muscled chest, trim waist, and long, solid legs.
God, her husband was gorgeous. She had to pinch herself every day to remind herself that this man loved her.
She looked at him with hungry abandon. He smiled back at her as if he’d love to be alone with her right now.
She didn’t care what anyone said—Dante was her Prince Charming and she was living the fairy tale.
“If you keep looking at me like that, mio fiore, these swimming trunks are going to become very tight, and I’d rather not shock our guests,” Dante said, winking at her.
Abby giggled and then squealed as a very wet Dante leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her lips.
“For heaven’s sake. Can’t you leave your wife alone for at least one afternoon, Dante?” Marcia’s husband, Alexus, called. “You’re setting a bad example for us men.”
Dante looked into her eyes and laughed. “I don’t care what any of you think. Look the other way while I love my wife.”
“Tell him to take another dip in the pool and to stop pawing at you,” Marcia said.
Abby turned to her sister-in-law, who was sitting beside her. “I don’t want him to stop. Your brother is irresistible, you know.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
Alexus moved to his wife’s side. “You’re irresistible too.” And he bent and kissed his wife.
Marcia tried to sound grumpy but it didn’t work. “Do your eyes need testing? I’m as big as a house.”
“More to cuddle. Anyway, I don’t notice how big you are. All I see is a radiantly beautiful woman whose heart is filled with love for her family. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing for Abby and Dante. It makes you even more beautiful in my eyes.”
Abby’s eyes welled with emotion and she took Dante’s hand in hers.
“Come, you need some rest. It’s too hot out here for you.” Alexus gently helped his very pregnant wife to her feet.
“Now there are only Salice, Mother, all the children, Rachele, and Pietro to get rid of,” Dante murmured against her neck, “before I can have you all to myself. Give me strength. Your scrap of a sundress makes me want to strip it from you and do wicked things.”
Dante took her lips in a branding kiss, and despite becoming soaking wet, she lost herself in his embrace.
Her body reacted to his nearness as it always did, and the terrace was suddenly filled with a loud moan.
She drew back, cheeks heating with embarrassment.
Did she just moan out loud? There were still some things she didn’t wish to share with his family.
But the sound came again, from Marcia.
Abby’s heart began to pound and she pushed Dante aside. “Marcia?” She watched Alexus scoop Marcia up in his arms. Abby scrambled to her feet, knocking over the chair in her excitement.
“It’s time.” Alexus grinned at them.
She saw Dante’s face go deathly pale.
Marcia laughed. “I’m not dying, brother, so stop looking so worried.”
Abby was by Marcia’s side during the whole four-hour labor. She hoped her hand wouldn’t be permanently squashed out of shape from Marcia’s grip. She owed her sister-in-law everything.
Marcia was having their baby.
Dante was pacing the room like a caged lion. “I don’t know how you’ve sat through three other births. I’d never sleep with my wife again if it meant she had to go through this.”
Alexus smiled and clapped him on the back. “Children make her happy. She wouldn’t want this any other way.”
“What rot!” Marcia yelled. “If there was an easier way, I’d take it. I’m not a masochist.” Then she gave a smile that could light up the world. “The precious gift at the end makes this all worthwhile.”
The midwife interrupted the conversation. “One more push, come on…”
Everyone in the room held their breath as Marcia gave one final scream and their baby slipped into the world. The midwife looked at Marcia, who firmly said, “Give her to her mother.” And she nodded at Abby.
Abby held out her arms and took the squirming, slippery bundle of flesh.
“It’s a boy,” she barely heard the midwife say. Abby didn’t care what sex the baby was. She felt her heart flood with song, and she wanted to squeeze this miracle to her chest and never let him go.
Dante came to stand behind her and he wrapped his arms tightly around them both.
Her throat constricted with emotions. This was her son.
And Dante’s. A child she thought they’d never have.
But thanks to Marcia’s surrogacy, they had a child.
Their child. Her egg and Dante’s sperm. With Marcia’s help, they had their miracle.
“I can’t thank you enough, Marcia. He’s gorgeous.”
“Just make sure you ask Salice to do this for the next one. I’ve done my bit,” Marcia joked through her exhaustion.
Alexus stood proudly by his wife’s bed. He gently wiped her brow with a cloth. He looked up at Dante and Abby. “Have you selected a name for him?”
Abby smiled at her husband, and he nodded.
“We are naming him Marco, the masculine version of Marcia.”
Marcia took her husband’s hand and he raised it to his lips.
“It sounds perfect to me,” Alexus said. “Just as perfect as my beautiful wife.”
A few nights later, Abby, following Marco’s midnight feeding, put him down to sleep.
Dante came around the side of the bassinet and swept her into his arms. He held her tightly against his chest as they stood looking down at their beautiful boy, their miracle, and he whispered in her ear, “He’s perfect. Like his mother…”
He took her lips in a reverent kiss while walking her back to their bed.
He laid her gently on the sheets and came down next to her, pulling her tight against him.
He gazed into her face with a look so serious it took her breath away.
“I never thought I’d ever be this happy.
You’ve made my life more wonderful than I ever thought possible.
I am truly blessed, and I don’t intend to waste a minute of it.
” Dante reached and pulled out a jewelry box from under the pillow.
“Open it. I can’t adequately speak the words that fill my heart to overflowing, but I hope you’ll take this as a token of my adoration for you.
” He stroked her cheek with his finger. “I might not always be with you, but I want you to remember me and this moment, every time you wear it. I love you, mio fiore. You and Marco, my family, are my everything.”
“You’ve blessed me, too.” Abby opened the box. A stunning diamond bracelet was inside. She gasped.
“Marco’s birthstone,” he whispered. “I love you.”
She swallowed back the tears. “I still can’t believe you took the risk and loved me after you learned I could never have children.
You could have lost everything. Your family could have lost everything.
The title, the company, the villa—your whole world.
The surrogacy idea might never have worked.
You might never have been able to hold your own child in your arms.” She gave him a brief kiss.
“Standing by me means more than any jewels you give me. I’ll remember the man, not the bracelet. ”
She moved closer, slid her hand inside his shirt, and ran a finger knowingly down his chest. “Speaking of remembering…” At her touch, Dante nuzzled her shoulder, pushed her onto her back, and set about proving just how very good life could be.
There will be more stories in the Italian series… Join my newsletter list to learn more.
While waiting for more Italian hunks. why not try my ice-hockey series Boston Bruisers.
Book #1 Pucking Tempting is an enemies to lovers, forbidden romance and damaged hero and heroine story.
He’s the captain they call The Beast.
She’s the journalist who swore off players.
But when the ice melts, someone’s bound to fall.
Jack Callahan has everything he’s ever fought for—captain of the Boston Bruisers, first-line center, and a shot at the Stanley Cup.
But with his bad-boy rep and a lifetime of keeping his past locked down, the last thing he needs before training camp is a distraction…
especially one with killer curves and a sharper hockey IQ than half his team.
Tara Collins is a rising sports journalist determined to prove herself in a male-dominated field.
Landing an exclusive “week in the life” feature with Boston’s infamous captain should be her big break—if she can keep her heart out of it.
Because Tara doesn’t date athletes. Ever. Not after what happened last time.
But when Jack and Tara are forced into close quarters, the ice starts to crack. Between late-night strategy sessions and sizzling tension neither of them can deny, lines blur and rules shatter in this forbidden romance story.
He plays for glory.
She writes for truth.
Only one of them can keep their cool when things get pucking tempting.
A swoony hockey romance with forced proximity, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, touch-her-and-die protectiveness, and a hero who falls first and hardest.
Tropes you’ll love:
Enemies To Lovers
Forbidden Romance
Alpha-but-damaged team captain hero
“Don’t date athletes” rule (broken spectacularly)
Found-family/team dynamic
Emotional, sexy, slow-burn with heart
Read Chapter one below
Chapter One - Jack
The music is pumping, and O’Malley’s bar is packed with the usual preseason crowd—wannabe puck bunnies checking out fresh meat and old-timers buying us drinks like we’re already champions.
Fuck, I love this time of year. Training camp’s about to kick our asses.
But tonight? Tonight, we own this place.
Being first-line center and team captain of the Boston Bruisers means I get the best spot at the bar.
“Jack, another beer?” Jimmy the bartender keeps my beers coming without my having to ask.