Page 57 of Black Jack (Advantage Play 5)

My eyes almost pop out of my head. “Matteo Moretti? This is his place?”

“Yeah. Or…”––his brows furrow––“one of them, anyway? We still thought it was too risky to have anyone attend, but I found a priest from a nearby church who was willing to meet us here and perform the ceremony with his wife as the witness. Is that okay?”

My eyes start to burn with tears, but I blink them away. No one has ever been this thoughtful for me. Ever.

“Yeah,” I breathe, answering Jack’s question as I take in the gorgeous ambiance all over again before covering up my awe with a look of indifference. “That’s…sweet of you, actually.”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“You’ll have to forgive me. I’m still getting used to the idea that you’re actually a nice guy instead of the ones I’m used to.”

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

“I haven’t decided quite yet,” I reveal with a watery smirk.

“Har, har. I also wanted to give you something.”

“Jack….”

He pulls out the velvet box that’s been taunting me for weeks then hands it to me. “Technically, I’ve already given it to you, but I figured since I didn’t help pick out your ring, these might be a solid second choice.”

I fidget with the box, desperate for him to take it back and relieve the guilt that’s swarming in my stomach. “Jack, you don’t have to….”

“Don’t have to what? Give you something on our wedding day?” His mouth curves up before he nudges me gently. “Come on. Open it.”

My hands are shaking as I lift the lid. With a gasp, I cover my mouth and take in the gorgeous diamond earrings nestled inside that somehow match the engagement ring on my left hand.

“Jack….” My voice trails off, replaced by a giant golf ball in my throat that I can’t seem to swallow past.

“Do you like them?”

“Of course, I like them. But they’re too much—”

“Says who?” he challenges with a laugh. “Put them on.”

I push down the car’s visor, then flip up the cover to reveal the passenger mirror before fiddling with the earrings that are hands down the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me.

Once I’m finished, Jack slaps the visor back into place, then bounces his eyebrows up and down. “Come on, let’s get going. We have a wedding to attend.”

As he opens his door, the sound of the symphony filters into the cab. It’s soft and sweet and kind of perfect, though I don’t point it out as he closes the driver’s side, then rounds the front of the car before opening my door.

“You ready for this?” he murmurs in a low voice as I tuck my hand into his offered arm. I smooth my expression and force the excitement flooding my veins to simmer down.

“It’s not exactly what I was picturing when I envisioned my wedding.”

It’s better, a tiny voice inside of me whispers.

“Cut me some slack, would ya? I had four days––”

“I already told you it’s nice.” I clear my throat and shove my bitchy self down before digging deep for the softer, more real version of myself that I keep hidden from people. “It’s pretty perfect, actually. Thank you, Jack.”

He smiles. “You’re welcome.”

Our feet crunch along the gravel scattered between the large gray stones until we reach the grassy front landscaping beneath twinkling lights where the priest is waiting.

“Buongiorno,” he greets us.

“Buongiorno,” I return, taking in his thick Italian accent like a warm glass of milk.

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