“Yes, sir,” Alexander replied smoothly.
“Good.” My father gave a nod before turning toward my mother, who had already begun fussing over Nicola, pulling her into a long embrace.
Nicola shot me a look over my mother’s shoulder, a bit panicked. I grinned. My mother had more love to give than space in her arms. By the time we were all seated, passing plates and wine around, I leaned into Alexander.
“What were you talking about with my dad?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Hmm?” He feigned innocence.
“Your place? Are you not staying here with us?”
“You’ll see.” A smirk tugged at his lips.
I narrowed my eyes. “Alexander Wright, I hate surprises.”
“You liked me showing up early,” he countered.
“Well, yeah, but you can’t just drop something like that and not tell me what it is!”
He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Be patient, angel. I know you’ll love it.”
I grumbled, knowing he wouldn’t budge. There weren’t any houses for miles, just rolling hills and sprawling vineyards.
The meal passed in a blur of laughter and warmth. My heart felt full, surrounded by my people, my family. The sky had begun to melt into gold and lavender when Alexander touched my arm.
“I want to take you somewhere,” he murmured. His voice was soft, intimate.
I glanced toward Gianna, who was happily playing with Monty as Nicola and Matteo looked on.
“She’s having a sleepover with Nicola,” Alexander assured me with a grin. “And Monty, of course.”
“A sleepover?” My brow lifted.
“She’s very excited about it. Now, say your good nights. I’m stealing you away for the night.” My heart thudded.
After thanking my family for the wonderful meal and pressing a kiss to Gianna’s curls, I followed Alexander to the cobblestone driveway, where a sleek black Alfa Romeo awaited. He opened the door for me before sliding into the driver’s seat, and soon, we were gliding down the winding road. I let my hand drift out the window, fingers dancing in the cool night air.
We drove for a while, the familiar landscape slipping past, until Alexander slowed, turning onto a side road I didn’t recognize. A large iron gate loomed ahead. He pressed a button on the call box, and with a creak, the gates parted.
“Alex…” My voice trailed off.
“Few more minutes, angel.”
The car rolled up a newly paved road, twisting through the hills. And then?—
A house came into view.
It sat perched atop a hill, glowing in the dimming light. Tall windows reflected the fading sunset, stone walls softened by warm wooden inlets. It was stunning, breathtaking, but more than that—something about it felt familiar.
“Alexander,” I whispered. “Where are we?”
He turned to me, smiling. “Home.”
My heart lurched.
“I closed on the land last summer,” he explained. “It’s the lot next to your parents’. I worked with a local architect and designers to have it ready by the end of the season. There’s a lit path through the vineyard to your parents’ place—we can add a road later if we want to. There are extra rooms, an office, a wraparound porch in the back where you can sit and read.” His fingers fidgeted together as we approached the front door. “I-I started adding things, maybe unconsciously, for you and Gianna. I want to get some animals, make this a real home. Every other place, none of them ever felt right. Nothing did until I started spending summers here. This is where I want to be, where I want to raise a family one day.”
Emotion thickened my throat as he unlocked the door, revealing a breathtaking entryway that opened into a cozy living space. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined one wall, framing an oversized, impossibly comfortable-looking couch. Warm light pooled from vintage sconces, the scent of fresh wood lingering in the air.
