They kissed. It was as soft as a flower petal and tasted like warm honey. A ray of sunlight warmed their backs. He wrapped his arms around her in a possessive embrace. She was his. The future Mrs. Sabrina Toscani. It was as if her body had been struck by a bolt of lightning. Jolts of electric energy pulsated through her. She had never felt so alive. So radiant.
They both fell over, laughing wildly. “I have my answer before I have even asked you the question.”
Sabrina kissed his forehead. “Then ask me.”
His warm toffee eyes locked with hers. “Miss Hill. Will you do me the great honor of consenting to become my wife?”
The electric energy sizzled to the surface. “Yes. I will.”
He traced her lips with his thumbs. They kissed again. Slower. Gentler. They breathed deeply. Lorenzo cradled her into his chest and they sat in one another’s embrace for several long moments. For the rest of her life, Sabrina would remember the scent of roses and the shower of rose petals that fell upon them in the time they spent in the pavilion.
From his pocket, Lorenzo retrieved a small velvet box. Opening it, he pulled out a red garnet ring cut in the shape of a flower. Small diamonds encircled the yellow gold band. He slipped it onto her finger and kissed her hand.
“It’s beautiful.”
The sunlight reflected the dark and light hues of the garnet in the stone upon the ceiling.
“Your sister, your parents, and Nora all helped to design this ring. It was important to me that this ring be not just a token of my love for you, but for all of your loved ones.”
This man.
For the third time, they kissed.
As my dear Jane might say, “There is no charm equal to the tenderness of heart.”
