Page 134 of Highball and Chain

“Don’t tell her I told you.” He pulled me toward the door.

I made a mental note to avoid sharing secrets with my mother in the future. Although…her gift of gab could be useful if I needed to leak information.

Enzo walked outside.

“Surprise!” Our friends and family clapped and cheered.

He pretended to startle before laughing and shaking his head. I had to hand it to him, he deserved an Academy Award for his performance.

“Happy birthday.” I forced a smile.

Enzo grabbed my waist, yanked me against his chest, and laid a not-safe-for-little-kids kiss on me.

When he released me, I made the mistake of glancing at his siblings.

Dante narrowed his eyes and nudged Marco. The brothers folded their arms and shook their heads. Dante called out, “He’s faking it.”

Gabe and Leo nodded their agreement.

The kids booed.

Enzo took a bow. “All right. All right. I knew about the party, but I have a surprise or two of my own.”

I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry. I’d worked my tail off to pull this together. While he didn’t seem disappointed, I damned sure was. I turned to go inside to change, but Enzo caught my hand in his.

He dropped to one knee and stared with the same expression he’d worn the first time he’d told me he loved me.

Several people gasped, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him to figure out who.

“Shanna, you’ve turned this place into a home. Because of you, I see the world differently. I’m closer to my brothers, have made some great friends, and discovered I can, in fact, love a cat.”

Every nerve ending in my body sparked to life and demanded I answer him. I pressed my hand to my mouth to keep from answering before he finished his speech.

He alternated between wrinkling his brow and smoothing it as if struggling to hold back his emotions. “I’ve loved you since the first time I heard you laugh. You’re the kindest, bravest woman I know. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God for every morning I have the pleasure of waking up next to you.” He cleared his throat. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

I couldn’t get the word out fast enough. “Yes.”

Cheers and applause erupted around us.

Enzo shot to his feet, lifted me from the ground, and spun me in a circle. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”

Gabe’s voice rose over the rush of blood behind my ears. “Did you forget something?”

Enzo stopped mid-spin and muttered a few Italian curse words under his breath. Ears burning as red as Zach’s had earlier in the evening, he set me on my feet and dug in his pocket.

The Marchionni brothers in the crowd laughed and elbowed each other, but I’d come to understand their razzing was as much a sign of affection as their bear hugs and slaps on the back.

Enzo opened a pale blue box to reveal an antique ring I’d spotted in Jack’s shop. The diamond was hand cut, so the shape wasn’t quite a circle or an oval. Small stones surrounded the larger one, and continued around the thin platinum band.

I reached for it, but hesitated. “It’s beautiful.”

“It reminded me of you. Stunning, unique, and delicate but strong.” Enzo took the ring from the box and slipped it onto my finger. He gave me a half a second to admire it before kissing me silly.

Once again, our friends and family cheered.

Much to my surprise, Evelyn joined in but stopped when she caught me watching her. I’d given up trying to figure her out. Despite the fact we both loved Enzo, she’d likely never accept me as a daughter-in-law. As far as I was concerned, it was her loss. We’d make a wonderful life for ourselves, with or without her approval.

“Everyone please, enjoy the food and drinks. I need a moment alone with my fiancé.” Enzo pulled me into the house.

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