Raffi had a plan, though. “But I’ve figured it out. I’ll move back to the city. I’ll hire more people at Ô. I can commute.”
In truth, he loved living in Napa, but he loved Ani more. So if he had to head back to the city to be close to her, he’d get a new place tomorrow.
He continued, “I’ll go anywhere you need me to be. You feel more like home than home ever did.”
Ani gave a particularly adoring smile, her cheeks pinkened. But then she shook her head. “I don’t know, almost all the wedding requests I’ve been getting are for Napa and Sonoma County.Imight be the one who has to move.”
Raffi froze. She would move to Napa? That would be…that would be beyond amazing. He could still be near his father in case he needed him. He’d still be able to run the winery daily and would get that mental peace from living in the country.
“You’d really do that?…With me?”
Ani hesitated, her fingers twisting the edge of her sleeve as she looked down, then back up at him. “I’ve been thinking about it…I want to, but I can’t move in with you.”
Raffi stared down at her, trying to read her face. She was smirking, though. “Why, baby? Too soon? I get that. I don’t want to push.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not too soon.”
Encouraged by that, he continued, “You know I would make my home yours in a second. You can decorate it any way you like. Even if you wanted to turn my place into a pink coquette paradise, I’d be down.”
She smiled. “I’m more of a minimalist, so you don’t have to worry about bows and ruffles. But no, decor isn’t the issue. My very strict parents would absolutely kill me if I lived with a man before I was, uh, engaged.” She blushed hard at that word. “I sort of made the promise to myself, too. I mean, I’m not asking anything—besides, I still have two months left on my lease, and I could always find a little apartment in downtown Napa—”
Now Raffi laughed as he held this perfect woman in his arms. The woman who had changed everything for him. She thought he wouldn’t want to marry her today? Oh, he did—only she deserved a real planned proposal. “Ani, Ani, Ani. Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a plan.”
Raffi kissed her again, feeling the waves of excitement for the future flow through him. He knew that they were creating a foundation upon which they would be building a life together, a brand-new one with him and her at the helm.
Epilogue
Ani
In true Gracefashion, she continued to be a class act and invited Raffi and Ani to the premiere ofMafia Princess. And in true Raffi fashion, he had rented a stretch SUV limo for just the two of them from their hotel in West Hollywood to the Fox Bruin Theater. Which is where they were now, in a line of cars waiting their turn to pull up to the entrance.
It had been a month and a half since Ani and Raffi had reunited in Marin, and it had been the best month and a half of her life. She’d been booked solid with weddings, as had Ô, and Ani was planning the majority of them. Everyone wanted a taste of celebrity at the now-iconic winery where Grace Zhang walked down the aisle. Which meant she and Raffi still got to spend plenty of time together.
He’d met her parents twice, and both times had gone wonderfully. Her mother had googly eyes for Raffi, and Ani caught her dad slapping him on the back jovially. She and Raffi had even attended a banquet together and danced all night in front of what felt like the entire Northern California Armeniancommunity. Nothing said “official” more than that, she joked with him, and he wholeheartedly agreed.
She stared out onto the scene of cameras flashing and no longer felt any fear about them. The stories about her completely died after the wedding. It seemed no one was actually that interested in the wedding planner, so no further stories surfaced. She happily retreated into obscurity—at least from the celebrity point of view. Ani was no longer obscure when it came to wedding planning. She smiled at the thought, proud of herself.
Raffi kissed her neck, and Ani closed her eyes to take in the full sensation. She leaned into him, savoring his touch.
Then Raffi reached a hand under the slit of her deep burgundy dress. He dragged his fingers up her thighs like he had several months ago, and he still took her breath away.
“Do we have time?” Raffi asked, his voice gravelly.
Ani gasped as he made contact, but their car moved forward. They were nearly at the front.
“I don’t—I don’t think so,” she managed. “See—” She motioned toward the glass, torn between wanting him and not missing their chance to get out of the car.
His hand slowly retreated, and he reached up and tenderly kissed her cheek instead.
“Probably for the best,” he said. “That hair and makeup need to stay intact.”
“Oh yeah?” she asked. He was grinning at her like he had a secret.
“I do think, though,” Raffi said, sliding down the seat and onto the…floor? “We do have time for this.”
My goodness, Raffi was dutifully committed to oral. Sheglanced out the window and noted they did probably have a few minutes. And after all, she wouldn’t mess up her hair. He was so thoughtful. Ani braced herself for the parting of her thighs.
But it didn’t come.
