Page 119 of All Mine
Alex stretched a hand towards her and put one hesitant foot forward. Everyone else watched in confusion, not sure which way this was going to go.
Amber moved quickly, closing the space between them, and Isabella saw Alex’s eyes widen, a flicker of hope cross his face– before Amber slapped it off in a smack that echoed off the restaurant walls.
Alex put a hand to his cheek as Amber spun on her heel and headed towards the kitchen.
‘Amber!’ he said again but she put up a hand and carried on walking, her hips swinging exaggeratedly from side to side.
‘Never in a fucking month of Sundays, Alex!’ She banged open the kitchen door without looking back and let it swing shut behind her.
Alex made a single step towards following her, but Etienne put a hand on his arm.
‘Maybe later,’ he said quietly, nodding to the family audience. Nonna’s mouth was still open. Everyone looked from one to the other, trying to ignore the scarlet handprint on Alex’s face as he tucked his chair under the table.
‘I’d better go. I’ll see you later at home,’ Alex said to Etienne and excused himself.
Etienne stood.
‘I should probably go too,’ he said. ‘I need to open up The Bistro. Nice to meet you, everyone.’
Isabella felt a pull inside, not wanting him to go, especially after that drama. His eyes met hers.
‘See you later?’ he asked quietly and she was flooded with a relief that drove her to her feet to kiss him, softly, gently, repeatedly in front of everyone before he left.
Later that night, after a successful second day in the restaurant, Isabella crossed the dark, deserted square to The Bistro. She’d tried to talk to Amber earlier, but her friend had ruefully told her it was ‘a story for a girls’ night, over a drink or ten,’ and she’d have to wait. Maybe Etienne would know more. He might be able to fill her in. She laughed. In more ways than one.
Etienne had suggested she should stay with him on one of their endless messages during the day. It made sense. Her parents could have her bed for the few nights they were here, before they took off again to see the vivid oranges and yellows of the forests in Japan. With Nonna and Gabi there too, hers was a full house and she could think of no better solution than sleeping with Etienne. Or, hopefully, not sleeping with him.
The door to The Bistro was on the latch and she let herself in, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark.
The only light came from a single candle at the table in the corner where he sat waiting. Her breath caught in anticipation. A nightcap and then bed, with the man she loved. She wished in that second her parents needed to stay longer.
Etienne’s long fingers turned the glass of whisky on the table, the ice cube glinting through the amber liquid in the candlelight. She slipped into the seat beside him and clinked her glass against his.
‘I need to talk to you,’ he said and the gravity in his voice stopped her glass between table and sip. Her breath halted in her chest; her heart paused. She lowered the glass without drinking.
‘I don’t want this to be a part-time thing,’ he said, and she heard her own exhale at the same time as her blood began to pulse again. Thank God.
‘I want you and me to be together for ever,’ he said. ‘Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to let you go. I want you to be all mine.’
She reached for him across the table, but he kept his hand in his lap, watching her.
‘You’re everything I ever wanted but was afraid to look for.’ His voice was full of emotion, his eyes holding hers. He was mesmerisingly beautiful. She would never tire of looking at that face.
‘I love you, Isabella Tucci, and I want to marry you.’
She blinked, heard her breath hitch.
Now, he raised his hand from under the table and in it he held a black velvet ring box. He placed it on the table between them and carefully lifted the lid. The diamond flashed and she put her hand to her mouth.
‘Will you marry me, Bella?’
She swallowed and licked her lips that were suddenly dry as she took it in.
‘This was my mother’s engagement ring,’ Etienne said, tilting the box so that she could see it shine, ‘and it would make me the happiest man alive if you would wear it.’
The bells rang midnight in the square and he watched her as her thoughts raced and heart beat so loudly she could hear it. He was waiting.
She reached her hand over the table to the ring box, covering it briefly before shutting it with a quiet click.
