Page 58 of A Lone Star Love Affair
“Give me a chance here. I mean it. I want you in my life all the time. I want you enough to give up that goal of billionaire. If Dad threatens to cut me out of their will the way he has Sydney, that’s fine. I’m a multimillionaire and I’ll always work, but as far as being driven—I’m only driven to keep you in my life. I’ve put you first in my life.” He reached for her, pulling her to him. “I’ve missed you a hell of a lot. I couldn’t think of anything except missing you. When we were together I put you first in my life. You were still first in my life even when you were away from me. I don’t want a life without you in it. No billionaire goal. Only family first, and by family, I mean you. I promise, Isabelle.” He touched her hair lightly, brushing it away from her face. “I love you. Really love you. I’ve never been in love before. Nothing like this.”
Her heart pounded with his declarations. Could she believe him? The words were magical, what she wanted to hear, but people rarely changed when personality and character and drive were involved.
“Tony, I desperately want to believe you, but people rarely change.”
“Of course, they do, if they really want to. Addicts get over addiction. Smokers stop, alcoholics reform, people learn anger management, they get educations late in life when they realize they need them. People can change. Isabelle, I love you and I’ll change for you. I’m putting you first right now.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring that sparkled in the light. Holding out the glittering ring, he knelt on one knee.
“I love you, Isabelle. Will you marry me and be my wife for all our lives? I promise to always put you and our family first because my love for you comes first.”
Isabelle melted. “Yes, Tony,” she whispered, her heart thudding as she took the ring with its huge diamond, surrounded by other diamonds. “Tony,” she whispered, looking up at him as he stood to embrace her. “I love you. I have for so long.”
Tears spilled over and he wiped them away. “Don’t cry,” he said, gazing into her eyes and then at her mouth. As she stood on tiptoe to kiss him, he leaned down and kissed her.
Her heart pounded with joy as he slid the ring on her finger. She knew she was taking a chance, but was willing to do so because Tony was willing to take a chance also.
“Let’s have this wedding soon,” he whispered, pausing to look into her eyes. “I don’t want to wait until June the way Sydney is.”
“I agree,” she whispered. “Are you going to let me keep my goal?”
“Definitely. I’m going to help you achieve it.”
She smiled at him and then they kissed.
Twelve
At the wedding reception at their country club in Dallas, Isabelle danced with her new husband. She had shed the long satin train to her dress, which was plain lines with a strapless top and a straight skirt. Tony took her breath away in his dark tuxedo, and the look of love in his eyes kept her warm.
It was May with flowers in bloom. The world looked beautiful to her and her love made her smile constantly.
“Your family is nice, Isabelle. Mine could take a lesson.”
“Your parents have been nice to me, Tony,” she said, glancing briefly at the guests surrounding the dance floor.
“They’ve given up. Maybe it’s old age, maybe hope of a grandchild. They’re even going to Syd’s wedding and Dad will give her away. They just told her last night at our rehearsal dinner.”
Isabel beamed. “I’m so glad.”
He smiled. “You are really into families. I’ve never asked how many kids you want and I suspect I may have to brace myself for the answer,” he said teasingly, holding her lightly as they danced around the floor.
“I really never had a set number in mind. I grew up in a big family. It was fun. Let’s think about three for a start.”
“Start and maybe finish. I can’t see myself coaching soccer, but I’m willing to give it a try.”
“I can definitely see you doing that, taking charge, making it all run smoothly and helping little kids.”
He laughed. “Right now, I want to dance you right out of the door and to the limo and away to where I’ll have you to myself for the next three weeks.”
She smiled at her handsome husband. “That you can do later. Right now we finish the dance and then I dance with my dad and your father and Dylan and maybe some of your friends and Vernon and Mr. Morris—”
“Stop. I know the drill. Weddings, protocol, ritual, routines—I just want to dream about five hours from now.”
A half hour later, Tony stood with his friends.
“Gabe, here’s a toast to you. You’re the last bachelor, which we knew you would be. You’ve escaped your dad’s meddling and now all our fathers have reformed,” Tony said.
“In short,” Nick added, “you’ve led a charmed life. Jake has paved the way for you, helped in some of your fights growing up. What a cushy life you have.”
“Beside that,” Tony chimed in, “you love that ranch you have and you don’t get any flack from your dad. Imagine if any of us had tried to become a cowboy—the blowup and threats would have been monumental.”
