Such a handsome, accomplished man.But the subject of rings had him completely flustered.
I smiled and felt my eyes well up with tears.“If it's okay—” I gazed into the most handsome eyes I'd ever seen, “I'd like to keep this one.”And then I backpedaled a bit, in case he actually had to get the ring back.“Unless Carlo and Giselle need it back.I would totally understand that, seeing as it's an heirloom.”I started taking my ring off—
But Stefan stopped me.His hand grasped mine.“No, Francesca.Nobody needs it back.But it's not quite as—” He held out the new ring with the gigantic stone, “grand as this one.Or, like I said, if you have your hopes set on something else, we can get that, instead.We have to go to the jewelry store to pick something out for me.Carlo decided he wanted his wedding band back.”Stefan grinned.“Not the first time he's done something like that to me.So, it's completely unsurprising behavior by my brother.”
My eyes went wide, and I gasped, “Oh, wait.Actually—” I dug into my pocket and pulled out the ring I'd bought him from the market.“I got you this one.As soon as I saw it, I thought of you.”I held it up and turned it around.“Classy.Yet dark and broody.”
Stefan looked at it.
Then, for some reason, I asked him, “Stefan Sovrano.Will you marry me?In the vineyards your family started from nothing, years and years ago?”
He smiled and looked at me adoringly.“You already married me, Francesca.”
I bit my lip and shook my head a little.“I don't think I really did.At the time—” I took a deep breath.“At the time, I was so afraid.And everything was—crazy.”I stared into his loving eyes for a moment.“But now—” I grabbed onto his hand.“Now I'm ready.And I would love nothing more than for you to be my husband.”
Stefan's eyes grew watery as I recited my vows.This time—without hesitation.Or fear.
This time—
It was for real.
When I was done, I slipped the ring onto his finger.
As soon as the ring was secured, he began saying his vows to me.
So sweetly.
So seriously.
And it was then—surrounded by the Sovrano vineyards, underneath an amazing Italian sunset—that Stefan and I pledged our love.
Till death do us part.
12
Francesca
We continued our walk around the vineyards for a while after dark.
Holding hands.
Talking about how nicely Carlo and Giselle's wedding turned out.Even though there were definitely some rough patches.
I didn't mention anything about the—odd—make out sessions earlier in the kitchen.The night was too.And Stefan really seemed to be quite taken with his ring.
I didn't tell him what it cost.Which was practically nothing.Especially compared to what I had on my own finger.And the huge diamond he'd bought for me.
Anyway, after such an emotional twenty-four hours—I didn't want to ruin the wonderful vibes we shared right now.
There would be plenty of time to talk about everything else another time.
Maybe tomorrow.
By the time we wandered back to the house, it was mostly dark inside.
No one was on the patio.And the kitchen was clean and quiet.
“Let's go down here for a while.”Stefan pulled my hand.and I followed him into a room down the hall from the kitchen.It had overstuffed, comfy-looking furniture in it.With a large, square ottoman in the center of the room.
