Page 39 of Innocent Union
“I’m not as pretty as my sisters,” she says without taking a breath. “Ok? I feel insecure about that. That’s why I wanted my dream wedding, so I could actually feel special for once.”
“Why wouldn’t you feel special?”
“Because no one wants me. You’re only marrying me out of pity because you’re friends with my brother.”
I frown. “Who said I was marrying you out of pity?”
She looks away from me again and shrugs. “I mean … no one said that. I just … assumed.”
“Mia, don’t assume that. You know what they say about assuming. I’m not marrying you out of pity.”
“Then, why? Because you can make a good alliance with my brother?”
I shrug. “That’s part of it, yes. But do you even know that I like you? Not to sound like I’m in high school, but I like youlikeyou, Mia.”
Her eyes widen. “You really do?”
“Yes. That’s why I suggested we get married. I knew you were having trouble finding a match, and I thought to myself, ‘Thisgirl is pretty. I like her. Why not marry her?’ It’s a win-win for both of us.”
“I just struggle to believe anyone could be into me. I never used to feel this way, but after what happened with Cecilia and how so many men treated me because of it, I started to feel insecure. That’s why having my dream wedding is important to me. And that’s why it hurt when you dismissed that.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, truly meaning it. I never wanted to hurt Mia. My intention of marrying her was to help protect her from being hurt. “I guess we’re just a bunch of screw-ups, huh?”
She laughs slightly. “I guess.” She grabs my hand. “I do want your mom to attend our wedding. We can have the wedding in the hospital.”
I give her hand a squeeze. “And we can have your dream wedding, too. I was being uncompromising. I want you to know, Mia, that I want to see you happy. I have no intention of hurting you.”
She looks up at me with her wide, brown eyes. I could get lost in them. “I don’t want to hurt you, either.”
“Then, good. We’re on the same page. But there’s something I want to do to show you I mean what I say.”
“What?”
I lean down and kiss her. Mia immediately pulls back, her shock clear. “I … didn’t expect you to do that,” she says.
“It’s ok. I just never had anyone pull back from kissing me so fast. You humble me, Mia.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just wasn’t ready. If you want to try again …?”
I cup her face with both my hands. “We can try again.” I kiss her once more, and this time, she doesn’t pull back.
The kiss starts off light and simple. Gentle. I know this is new for Mia. I don’t want to scare her away again.
Mia soon responds, and our lips move together in a good rhythm. Kissing Mia is like drinking a cool glass of lemonade. Refreshing and sweet.
I pull back, smiling down at her. “There. That wasn’t so bad, right?”
“No,” she says, her voice breathless and her cheeks flushed. “That … wasn’t bad at all.”
“Glad I have your stamp of approval.”
She ducks her head before looking back up at me. “Glad I have yours, too.”
Looking into Mia’s eyes, I believe things will be all right. If we were able to talk this through, then I have hopes we can get through anything else.
The only problem will be convincing Giulia of our wedding plans.
As if on cue, my future mother-in-law walks into the foyer, scowling.
