“I can help you with that. I can pay for movers to get you here. That way you can decide what you want to do. And there’s no pressure for you to make a decision now.”

“What do you mean? It’s not just moving costs, Valentino. I don’t have money for a place or even enough savings to tide us over until I find a job. And I might want to go back to school.”

“There are schools here, and people that are willing to help you with Davis. And well…you can live with me. Right now I livein the main house, but we can get our own place. In fact, we can live on the property, but in our own home.”

I feel like I need to blurt all of it out at once so she doesn’t have time to argue with me. I can see that she’s thinking about what I’m saying.

“Okay, first of all, I don’t know you that well. And to move in with you after a day is insane. Second? I can’t let you pay for me and Davis, we aren’t even a couple. Not that it would be okay if we were.”

Dammit. I knew she wouldn’t see it my way. Is it fast? Fuck yes, it’s super fast. But do I feel like it’s right? Yes. Shouting it from the rooftops.Yes.

“I understand it’s fast. If it would be more comfortable for you, you can live in one of the houses and I’ll stay in the main house. As for the money part? It’s just money, and I’ve been saving mine forever. I’ve never had a reason to spend it. But I do now. On you and Davis. At least say you’ll think about it. Please.”

I’m not opposed to begging her if I have to.

“I’ll think about it. My original plan was to stay for a few weeks if the test came back the way it did. Look, we can talk about it more later.”

“I’ll take that. I should probably tell you that my family can be a little pushy…and they know how I feel about you. So they’ll be nudging you to stay.”

Leighton chuckles. “I’m really happy that Davis will have a bigger family now.”

“You’re included too.”

She nods and gives me a smile.

So now I know that I have a few weeks to convince the woman who’s captured my heart to stay. Piece of cake.

Chapter Six

Valentino

I’m a little nervous bringing Leighton to meet my family. They can be overwhelming. And it’s not just the Bastianinis, we live on a huge piece of land that’s shared with three other families. The Mancini, Nikolaidis and Athanasiou families. The Bastianinis joined the Mancinis on the property five years ago and the Nikolaidis and Athanasiou families came two years ago.

“You live here? Where does that road lead to? It says ‘campgrounds.’”

I chuckle. “The campgrounds are in the middle of the property, with ponds, cabins and RV hookups.”

“Wow! That’s really cool. Can we go there later?”

“Of course.”

I pull into our part of the property and head to the main house.

“Giacomo and Caitríona live in the main house, Celestino and Isabella do too,” I explain to her.

“Is that where you live too?”

I nod. “If you choose to move here, we can either stay in the main house or one of the houses you see that aren’t taken. I just need to be close to Isabella.”

“We?” She raises an eyebrow at me.

“Yes. We.” I chuckle. “I told you, you’re the one I want and I’ll keep saying it until you believe me."

She laughs as I park the cage. I notice that she didn’t say no and that makes me happy.

“It’s beautiful here. Even with all these homes and the campgrounds so near, it’s quiet.”

“It is, and even at peak time when the campgrounds are full, it’s still really nice here. It’s like the trees and mountain absorb the noise.”