Page 85 of Worth the Vow

“No. I took Sienna and Aspen. Sienna did help. She suggested an emerald, but I knew this aquamarine was perfect for you. Aspen agreed, but mostly shopped for herself.”

“Really?” Kate’s voice breaks as a new wave of tears pour out. “That makes it even better!”

“It does?”

“Of course it does! I love that they were part of it.” She rests her forehead against mine for a moment before sighing. “I asked for a sign, you know.”

“What?”

“When the basement flooded, and that horrid article came out, I cried in the closet and begged my mom for a sign that I was supposed to be with you.”

I open my mouth to tell her anything that will get whatever thought is out of her head. I don’t believe in signs. There’s no direct lines to heaven. We make our own destiny. But before I can say a word, Kate continues. “I asked for a sign, and you opened the door about ten seconds later.”

“Really?” I ask quietly.

“My mom was always pretty punctual. I think she sent me to you, Dominic. I think we were destined to be together, even before we met,” she whispers, before leaning forward to kiss me softly. The moment our lips touch, it’s as if we’re shocked with an electrical current. Waves of endorphins zing throughout my body as I turn us quickly, lowering Kate to the blanket. My dick had softened slightly while I waited for Kate to react to the ring, but immediately hardens as she unconsciously clamps down on me. With her legs wrapped around me, she tries to use her feet to make me move faster, but I just chuckle and nibble on her collarbone.

“One of these days, you’ll let me choose the speed,” Kate mutters.

“Maybe. But today is not that day, Mrs. Santo.” I feel her breath catch, and I smile as I tilt my head to kiss her pulse point. I love that Kate has a reaction every time I call her wife. Mrs. Santo. Mine. Every single time.

“I want you to speed up,” she stammers breathlessly, “because I’m about to come, and I want us to come together, husband.”

And fuck if she doesn’t know how to get me too. I groan as my body immediately starts a more punishing pace, feeling her walls flutter around me as I hurtle us both toward perfection.

I let out a guttural moan as I feel the first spurt coat her walls, fireworks exploding behind my eyelids as I ride the wave. Kate’s body bows upward into mine, as she silently comes, her nails digging deep into my back.

“L’anima gemella,” I rasp.

“What?” Kate asks breathlessly.

I rest my head against her shoulder for a moment, before raising up to meet her eyes. “I said my soulmate. You’re my soulmate, Katharine.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in soulmates,” she says softly, her eyes filling with tears.

“I didn’t, but I hadn’t met you yet, raggio di sole.”

“Will you please tell me what that means now? Please, Dominic. It’s been bugging me for months,” Kate laughs as a tear falls from her eye. I catch it before it hits the ground.

“It means ray of sunshine. You’ve always been a bright spot in my life. In all of our lives, really. At the beginning, that really pissed me off,” I chuckle. “I didn’t know how to handle my thoughts about you. Then I caught myself looking forward to seeing you. Even arguing with you. Seeing that fire burn in your eyes was spectacular. But nothing even compares to how I felt watching you bring love and peace to my kids. You aren’t just a ray of sunshine to me. You’ve become home to all of us.”

“You’re my home, too,” she whispers, pulling me down to give me the sweetest and most poignant kiss of my life. “I’ll never be able to thank you for all you’ve given me, Dominic.”

“Just promise me you’ll love me, even when I mess up.”

“I have to. I made a vow.” Kate tries to keep a serious expression, but fails miserably as she breaks into a fit of laughter.

“Speaking of the vow, I was wondering if you’d be up for a renewal? Maybe not right now. But sometime soon? I’d like my family to be present. Our family.”

Kate gasps, pulling so hard on my neck, my arms buckle and I crash down onto her with a laugh. “Oh, yes! A renewal. Here? Just a simple thing with family, right?”

“I was thinking maybe at the hotel,” I murmur. We have tons of weddings there. It’s almost a rite-of-passage for Eternity Springs residents to have their weddings at Everlasting. I naturally assumed most women would love to get married there, so I’m surprised when Kate’s face screws up in distaste.

“No, that’s not really my style. I mean, I love the hotel. I do. But it’s pretty formal for a renewal, don’t you think? I don’t need much. I only want to have the kids, your family, my brothers, and maybe a couple friends. If we can’t have it here, what about your parents’ house? I love their backyard. We could just do a simple ceremony and cook out.”

I’m stunned into silence.

“Dominic? Are you okay?” Kate asks with a giggle. “How do I manually reset you?”

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