Page 86 of To Have and To Hold

A chuckle came from my chest. “Poor Emiliano.”

“Don’t feel sorry for me. My time is coming” —he winked at me— “and so is yours.”

Beneath my bra and blouse, my nipples hardened. “You know I’ve never…”

“I didn’t know, but since yesterday was your first kiss and first date, I kind of guessed.” He squeezed my hand. “Trust me, Izzy.”

It was the first time he’d used my nickname. My gaze went down to where our hands were linked. “I do.”

“That’s what you need to tell Father Gallo.”

“When is he going to arrive?”

“He’s already there.”

Em drove us beyond a locked gate. Looking up at the house, I remembered attending Mia’s wedding here. As I recalled, similar to Mia’s house, the other side of the house was situated high on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Not once during Mia’s wedding had I imagined coming back to this location, and definitely not as Emiliano’s intended wife. The clock on the dashboard read nearly one in the morning. “How did your mother get a priest here at this hour?”

“Father Gallo has been on call for the Roríguez cartel for many years. He performed Jano’s and Camila’s weddings. Now he’ll perform ours.”

My parents wanted tradition.

This was tradition—just not theirs.

Em parked the car on a large brick driveway. Opening my door, he extended his hand. “Come, Miss Luciano. Forever more, you will be Mrs. Isabella Ruiz.”

I stepped out into the cool night air.

Chapter

Thirty-One

Isabella

Em led me to the front step with his steady hand in the small of my back. The door opened and his mother welcomed me at the front door with tears in her green eyes. She wrapped her arms around me and tugged me into the house. “Eres un ángel enviado del Cielo.”

While I couldn’t understand her words, her welcoming intent was evident.

“Mama,” Em said, “this is Isabella.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. I was afraid Emiliano would never marry.” She clasped her hands together. “And tonight, he comes home, and my prayers are answered.”

“Isabella,” Em said, “my mother, Valentina.”

“Nice to meet you, formally.” I nibbled on my lower lip. “This is rather sudden.”

“Love doesn’t live by clocks.” She smiled. “You’re a good girl. I can see that. For the two of you to wed, you need a priest’s blessing.”

I nodded. “My parents would agree.”

“We will let them know your marriage is blessed. Sunday, ifel Patr?nagrees, we will host a small wedding, so your parents won’t miss out.”

“If he doesn’t agree?” I asked, suddenly worried.

“Then it will be smaller, a full ceremony with a license nevertheless.”

I feigned a smile. “Thank you.”

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