Page 26 of Claimed by my Stepbrother

“When I almost lost you that day, I realized that I couldn’t bear to be without you. I told your mother that night that she couldn’t take you back to America because I was going to make you my wife, and I bought the ring the next morning,” I say, running my finger along Gabby’s jaw.

“I love you so much. I don’t want to spend a single moment without you for the rest of my life,” she says and wraps her arms around me.

Gabby and her mother discuss wedding plans and guest lists on the way back to the harbor. I sip my wine and watch how animated and excited she is.

“You’re a lucky man, son,” my father tells me. “When I asked you to let her stay with you, I was sure you were going to tell me no.”

“You taught me to never say no to family, Papà. Right now, I’m very glad you did.”

EPILOGUE

GIOVANNI

Five Years Later

It’s been five amazing years since the day I married the girl of my dreams. In that time, we’ve brought two children into the world. Our first—a little girl we named Gia—looks just like her mother, and our second—my son Gianni—is turning two years old today.

“Are you going to get the grill going? Mom and Dad will be here any minute,” Gabby calls out to me from the kitchen.

“We have a cook, you know. I can’t see why you’re making me do this,” I yell back.

“We’re doing this birthdayalaAmericana, and it’s the Dad’s job to man the grill,” she giggles.

“You’re lucky I know how to do this. You could have ended up with raw chicken and overcooked burgers.”

She comes out to the deck and hands me the grilling utensils.

“I have the utmost faith in you. You can do anything.” She kisses my cheek but that’s not enough for me, so I pull her back and press my lips against hers.

“Careful, that’s how you got these two,” my father shouts to us. Gia has him by the hand and has led him to the birthday boy who is resting in his playpen.

I shake my father’s hand and peek inside where Gabby and her mother are busy in the kitchen.

“How’s business, son?” he asks me.

“Smooth sailing for the last five years, Papà. How’s the house?” Last year, knowing that I had cleaned up all of his old enemies, my father convinced his new wife to move here.

“It’s good. I started my garden right where your grandfather had his,” he smiles proudly.

“That’s great. I’m glad you two are happy in the cottage. Just know, you’re always welcome to move into the big house with us, too.”

“Nah, I appreciate it but we like our privacy.”

“I’d better get the grill fired up or we’ll be eating corn and potato salad for dinner. What is potato salad anyway?”

As I man the grill, I watch Gabby snap photos of the kids playing with my dad in the garden. Her mother sets the patio table as they play. This is a life I never knew I wanted, but now, I can’t imagine it being any other way.

After two kids and five years of marriage, my sweet, little wife is still the sexiest and most beautiful girl, and watching how she cares for my children makes me fall in love with her even more.

We round up the kids and sit down at the table for my first taste of homemade American potato salad. Gabby stares at me as I investigate it with my fork before finally taking a bite.

“So? What do you think?” she asks, smiling from ear to ear.

“It’s the best potato salad I’ve ever had,” I tell her.

“It’s the only potato salad you’ve ever had!” she feigns anger and bursts into laughter.

“It’s good, baby girl. I mean it.”

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