He gathers our plates and leaves me alone to stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the city skyline. It’s a wall of lightsthat twinkle against the nearly black sky and it adds to the romantic ambiance of our meal.
Gio returns carrying two plates with a berry-topped panna cotta on each. He places one in front of me and my mouth waters in anticipation. Of course it’s my favorite dessert. I wait for him to take his seat but he doesn’t.
“Before we have dessert could you stand up please?”
“Is dessert going to get sexy?” I tease. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time that dessert didn’t come in a bowl.
He chuckles as he takes my hands. “There’s that dirty mind again. I love it. In fact, Tori, I love everything about you. Your quick wit, clever mind, big heart, and your strength when facing the scariest shit, are all beautiful to me. And when everything you are comes in a sexy, beautiful package then I’m the luckiest man alive to be the person you come home to.”
“I’m kind of enjoying all of you too.”
His face turns serious, but his gaze never wavers from mine. “I can’t imagine you not being beside me always and forever. So …”
Gio drops to one knee before me and it finally all makes sense. My hand goes to my mouth and my vision turns misty.
“Victoria Jones, will you marry me, please?” He fumbles to open the small black velvet box in his hands, and before he can, I drop to my knees in front of him and wrap my hands around his.
“Yes, Gio. Yes. A thousand million times, yes. I love you and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
He grins. “You don’t want to see the ring?”
“I’m sure it’s beautiful but I just want you to hold me and kiss me.”
“Fuck, I love you, bella.” He seals his words of love between us along with a promise of our future.
This man has made my life an adventure and already given me a library of beautiful memories. I can’t wait to see what comes next because he always was and always will be my perfect match.
***
