“Nope.”
“You know it’s my anniversary, too.”
Silence. I sigh dramatically enough to impress my actor brother. “How much longer?”
“Fifteen minutes or so.”
Since my husband isn’t giving me any hints, I try to use my ears, but it’s hard to hear anything with all our windows shut and the radio playing that Ed Sheeran song about the perfect girl he found. It used to make me want to cry, but now it makes me want to hug my husband and dance with him until I get blisters on my feet.
Every day of my life since our engagement has started with my heart full of love and gratitude and ended even fuller. At first, I worried about balancing everything—being his fiancée, then wife, leading the foundation and doing my art. But it soon became obvious my anxiety was all for nothing. He’s been unbelievably supportive and understanding. Rhonda and Patrice have taken on more responsibilities and are thriving. I’m painting again, slowly, and finding joy in creation.
The car finally comes to a stop. I wait for Dominic to open the door, since I’m not allowed to undo the blindfold until he says it’s okay. I don’t have to wait long before I feel the outside air rush in and Dominic’s hand on my arm.
“Careful,” he says, helping me out. He turns me slightly to the left.
I can hear the ocean, smell the brine, feel the faint warmth of the sun.
Gently, he removes the blindfold. I squint at the sudden light, then do a slow turn.
It’s like I’m back in time, the familiar Tuscan landscape coming into focus. Then I see the cottage that used to belong to my grandfather. The stone walls are rustic and sun-faded. Portico terraces stretch on three sides facing the ocean. And the olive tree…
I place a hand over my thudding heart. “How…?” I can’t continue as hot emotions swell inside me. This is the place I spent the happiest days of my childhood with my grandfather. I always assumed Dad tore it down and built some ostentatious vacation villa over the land when he inherited.
“Julian decided to put it on the market some months ago at my strong recommendation, so I had my agent snap it up.”
“You convinced Dad to sell?” I can hardly believe it.
Dominic nods. “Antoine helped me come up with a very persuasive argument.” He gestures at the cottage. “It’s yours.”
I know that isn’t the whole story, but I don’t care. I leap into Dominic’s arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is so perfect!”
When Dominic brushes his thumb over my cheek, I realize I’m crying. “Happy tears,” I tell him, not caring my makeup’s turning into a mess. “They’re happy tears.”
With a bright grin, he places a kiss on my forehead. “Happy anniversary, my angel.”
He kisses me on the mouth this time, and I kiss him back with all the love and joy in my heart…and let him carry me over the threshold.
* * *
Dominic
The light touch of my wife’s fingers over my heart wakes me up. Well, technically, I wasn’t really asleep. Just sort of zoning out…
“Jet-lagged?” I whisper, taking her hand to my mouth and kissing each knuckle.
“No. Just happy. I never thought I could be this happy.”
“It’s only fair. You’ve made millions of people happy.”
She cuddles closer, and I place a kiss on her temple. My cock’s getting hard again, but she’s probably sore. We’ve been screwing like animals since we arrived at two days ago.
“Did I tell you Ming Ming’s visiting L.A. next month?”
“No. Is she trying to stay at Ryder’s place again?”
Liza chuckles. “No. She’s trying to find the best pose for her nude portrait.”
I snort a laugh. “She was serious about that?” She mentioned doing one when she turned thirty, but I thought she was just drunk.