Page 93 of Matteo

Amy

Matteo took the day off so we can go house hunting together. After a week of looking with Elizabeth, I’ve yet to find anything I like. And I want his input on the house we’re going to make our home.

When the realtor pulls up to the first house of the day, I’m wondering why we’re here. I know it’s not for sale. When I first saw it as we drove by, Elizabeth saw me looking at it. She told me she knew the family, and they spent the majority of their time in Aspen.

It’s a gorgeous home that looks like it belongs in the French countryside. I swear it’s got to be based on a castle—there are turrets at the front corners of it.

Before I can say anything, Matteo is out of the back of the SUV. Janet is on her phone. I follow Matteo only to find he’s already inside. The enormous wooden door is open.

Barking catches my attention. “Where is that coming from?”

Oh my goodness, the cutest ball of fur is barking. I turn and find it running to me. Where did it come from? The dog is a twin to the one I grew up with. I’m down on my knees for the dog. I look up to find Matteo frowning down at the dog. His frown surprises me, making me doubt everything.

“Be careful. What if the dog bites?”

“You didn’t do this?”

“Do what?” Another frown as he scans the enormous lawn.

“I hoped the dog was your doing.” I sigh.

An eyebrow goes up. “A dog? I don’t know. A dog is a huge commitment. It’s a forever kind of thing.”

I’m confused. “Just like having a baby together is.”

“Ah, I’m glad you do seem to understand the difference.” He picks up the dog and walks with it into the house.

Wait, where is he going?

There is a large two-story entrance hall. In the middle of it is a wall of green with red and white roses arranged to spell out: "Will you marry me?"

Mouth open in shock I look to Matteo and find him on one knee. The dog is still in his arms. I see it sparkling as he takes it from around the dog’s neck. It’s an enormous, intense blue sapphire.

“You did do this.”

“I even went to a rescue the way you got Henry. It took them a few weeks before they got the dog they thought would fit us best. He’s ten months old. The previous owner did do the buy from a breeder, so he has papers. But the owner died a few weeks ago. No one in the family was able to take him in. His name is Walter. When they told me that, I thought it fit your love of people names for animals.”

I love the ring, but it means more to me that Matteo understood the breeder versus rescue debate and took it into consideration when looking for a dog.

“Well? You still haven’t given me your answer. Will you make my entire world complete by becoming my wife and being the best part of me?”

I’m nodding as I fight back tears. “Absolutely.”

Matteo

I exhale in relief at Amy’s acceptance. Even though I was certain, a part of me needed to hear her say it. This is the woman for me, forever.

I’m back on my feet, slipping the ring on her finger. The moment it’s on, her eyes are sweeping over the foyer and into rooms.

“Want to tour this place to see if it’s where you want to live and build our family?”

She shocks the hell out of me when she shakes her head.

“Why not? Mom said every time you drove by it, you couldn’t take your eyes off it.”

Her sigh is heavy. “It’s too expensive already. Then you’re going to pay for it to get the family who owns it out…no. Let’s keep looking.”

This woman. I keep her hand in mine as I walk into the first room to our right, a formal living room with the furniture covered in cloth to prevent dust from collecting on it. “I’m a billionaire, Amy. And now you are, too. My money is your money. Which means we could buy this place forty times over before we would feel it.”

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