I loved being able to experience this with him. Salvatore Gallo had stacks of money, a beautiful family, a brain so big it would always amaze me, and a hugely successful business. Yet he was still capable of feeling awed over something like this. A flight few people ever took over aplace so remote, it was practically untouched. We were the only souls for miles and miles and miles.
I turned to the window, trying to see it through his eyes. The sky outside was so dark, it didn’t feel real—endless and velvet and quiet. Below us, only the ocean and clouds. And somewhere out there, far past the horizon, was Antarctica.
“It’s the loneliest flight in the world,” he added, a little breathless. “Did you know that?”
“You’ve mentioned it,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Once or twice.”
He grinned, and it lit me up from the inside out. There was a time when that smile had been rare. Now, it was mine, and he gave it to me freely, without restraint. When we woke up in the morning, when I was standing next to him, brushing my teeth, talking to the kids, dancing with Tony, walking around…he watched me, smiling as he did.
Three months after Clara and Jake’s wedding, I’d moved across the street. Sal had been as patient as he was capable of being, only reminding me he wanted me officially living with him once a week. Though he hadn’t pressed more than that, allowing me to make the decision.
In the end, it had been easy. One morning, I’d dreaded going back to my place to get dressed. And Benjamin had been pissed I was, yet again, dragging him away from his kids. So we’d stayed. Sal had hired movers that same day. By that night, all my clothes had been hanging in his closet, my makeup in his cabinets, and my shoes on the rack between Scar’s and Tally’s.
I’d kept my little black house, though. I loved it too much to let it go. It had become my catering office and test kitchen. And on the occasion we had visitors, it doubled as our guesthouse.
Scar was still my assistant, and the only teenager I’d ever met who could make onions cry when she chopped them. Now that she’d gotten comfortable in her role, she played moody playlists, rolled her eyes on schedule, and acted like she was doing me a favor by working with me. And…okay, she was, but I also really loved having one-on-one time with her.
I wasn’t her mother. She’d had a beautiful, loving one, and I could never take her place. I didn’t want to. But we were more than friends. This, I figured, was what family was supposed to be.
The Gallos had folded me in like I’d always been one of them. No one asked what I could do for them. They didn’t expect me to prove my worth or earn my place. They just…loved me. Exactly as I was.
I loved them the same way. Lacey for her constant pep and creativity, Tally’s endless curiosity, Tony’s warmth and acceptance, Scar’s artistic talent and sass, and Sal…my Sal. Just everything about him.
It was a few months after Sam left Nox that he’d turned to me with a frown.
“You don’t call me Tore.”
“I—” I opened my mouth to argue, but quickly shut it. He was right. “I don’t think you’re Tore—that’s who he tried to make you. Does it bother you? I’ll call you what you want to be called.”
He cocked his head, contemplating. “No. I like you calling me Sal. That’s what my family has always called me.”
My heart flipped and flitted, preening with delight to be part of that category. “I’m glad you like it, baby. It feels right.”
“I like when you call me baby too.” He took my hand in his, dragging his finger along my knuckles. “There’s something else you could call me.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
His mouth trembled, and his ears glowed as he dragged his eyes up to meet mine. “How does husband sound?”
“It sounds good, if that’s what you are going to be. My husband.” I didn’t torture or tease him. Not over this. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“Yes.” He pressed his thumb to my ring finger. “I have a ring tucked away for you, but the timing felt right now. Will you still agree to marry me, even if I’m doing it all wrong?”
“Yeah, Salvatore. I’d love to be your wife.”
The ring, as it turned out, was a vintage emerald on a platinum band, and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It hadn’t made me want to marry him more than I already had, but it was another reminder of how deeply this man saw me. If I had an unlimited budget, I’d have picked the exact ring and worn it happily the rest of my life.
When I’d reached my quota of watching Salvatore—I only allowed myself ten minutes at a time to keep from becoming creepy—I pulled out my phone to check for messages and smiled.
Tally had texted new photos of Benjamin. His latest special interest was photography. After reading everything he could about it, he dove headfirst. Sal, as always, had gone all in with him, buying a camera and letting him learn by doing. Benjamin was his favorite subject, but we’d all modeled for him at this point.
I tapped a reply.
Me:Gorgeous, Talon. I love the way you played with shadows in this one. Tell me about it, would you? By the way, Uncle Sally and I are currently over the Southern Ocean. Cool, huh?
I could almost see him gearing up his reply. It would be long and detailed. I looked forward to reading it. The way he thought and expressed himself was as unique and lovely as his uncle’s. My husband.
Sighing, I opened my email and froze.
