Page 131 of Forging Caine

No such thing as coincidence, I mouthed.

“Shh, you.” He feigned a frown, the little golden flecks in his brown eyes swimming in tears that hadn’t yet fallen. He sniffled. “These are my vows. Let me get through them.”

I squeezed his hands, my cheeks already aching for how much I was smiling.

He swallowed and I wanted to remind him to breathe, too. “Somehow, this woman ended up in my office, had coffee with me, and I was done for. I’m the luckiest man in the world to have you standing here with me, Samantha. It’s been a wild ride, but I—” He wiped away a tear from his eye. “I wouldn’t want to be on that ride with anyone but you.”

He accepted a ring from Mario and slipped it onto my finger. An over-the-top platinum band with as many diamonds as he could cram onto it. “Samantha Caine, part of me has loved you for those twelve years. You were my guiding light, my north star, and I will always find my way to you. From this day forward, you’re never alone.”

A sharp sting behind my eyes had my gaze snapping heavenward.Don’t cry. Wearing too much make-up.

“Samantha?” prompted the officiant. “Your turn.”

The thickness in my throat was too much. It was a ball of tears ready to choke me or spill free. I whispered, “You did a really good job. Can I just say ditto?”

Antonio leaned closer, his amber and vanilla cologne surrounding me. That scent had carried me through so much. “Are those the vows you swore to me you’d prepared?”

I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “No.”

“Then…?”

“The ones I prepared were for you and Elvis. Not all these people.”

“Do I need to find an Elvis, as well?” He raised his eyebrows, telegraphing how silly I was being.

It was just words. I could do words. I could push aside the squirmy ball of nerves in my stomach that tried telling me to hold it all in. For once, I could use Antonio’s currency to show him how much he meant to me.

“A year ago, I felt alone. I’d lost too many people I cared about, so I kept my circle small. I was sure if I let anyone else into my heart, I’d just get hurt again. So I pushed everyone away. Refused to set down roots.” I swallowed hard.You’ve got this, Sam. “Until I met the most stubborn man in the world.”

Antonio bit back his laugh, but the crowd didn’t.

“You’ve been with me through…” I blinked up at the ceiling, then forced my gaze back to Antonio, despite the first tears rolling down my cheeks. Sofia swore the mascara was waterproof. Hopefully, she was right. “Oh my god, we’ve been through so much in such a short time. And you haven’t backed down for a second. You stood uptome. You stood upforme. And when I needed it most, you even stood infrontof me.”

Always, he mouthed.

I took the simple platinum ring Cass handed me and slid it onto his finger—the one the promise ring had been on since September. “Antonio Ferraro, you’ve shown me a love I didn’t know I was capable of. You’re my rock. My partner. My everything.” My voice broke, and I choked out the last. “And I can’t wait to share every adventure of my life with you.”

The officiant held his arms wide. “Now that Antonio and Samantha have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce they are Mr. and Mrs. Ferraro.” He leaned closer and shifted to a stage whisper. “Now might be a good time to kiss.”

I flung my arms around Antonio’s neck, and our lips met. There was a cheer, some laughs, applause, and music started. But my entire world was the kiss. His arms. His body wrapped around mine.

When we finished, Antonio winked at me. “On to the next adventure, wife?”

“Lead the way, husband.” I threaded my arm around his elbow before we headed through the crowd, still clapping. Whatever the world had in store for us, we’d be fine. Because we had each other.

Forever.

Epilogue

Samantha

“There’saspot.”Antoniopointed two car lengths ahead of us. “Park there.”

“I see several spots from here that are closer to the office.” I waved my hand ahead of us but pulled into the parking space he’d requested. “Didn’t get enough exercise in Tahiti?”

“I’m exhausted! I need a vacation from my vacation!” He snatched my hand once I’d put the truck into park, bringing my palm to his lips. “You didn’t let me lie on the beach for more than a half hour.”

“Don’t complain.” I winked at him. “You had fun.”

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