The woman who has set my world upside down in the best way humanly possible.
The woman who loves me.
She pulls back slightly as I continue to rain kisses all over her cheeks and lips.
“I love you, Isabella. Eres mi luna y mi sol. Mi principio y mi final. I once thought I was a wealthy man. Little did I know that one of life’s biggest treasures—you—was yet to come.”
Her grin widens even farther as she pulls me in again and kisses me without the ability to wipe the smile off her face. “I love you, Mateo. Thank you for making me believe in love again. Believe inme, again.” Her smile turns playful. “And for not firing me, because the benefits at my job are quite excellent.” She erupts into giggles as I attack her neck with kisses.
My tone turns darker as I say, “I’m going to need you to work overtime tonight baby, just a heads-up.”
She nods, feigning seriousness. “Yes, boss. I aim to please.”
And that’s enough for my sense of self-control in public. I grab her hand and turn us toward the exit, but she pulls on my arm. “Wait. I need a second.” She laughs as her meek attempts to pull me back only leave her boots sliding on the smooth dance floor. I look down at her, clear desperation on my face as she rolls her eyes. I’ll make her pay for that one later. “I’m serious. Wait a sec. I want to say hi to Daisy’s fiancé. He must have just shown up.”
I sigh deeply as I release my iron grip on her hand and slowly walk toward where Daisy is leaning by a high table with her head tilted down as her fiancé drones on about something. “… just saying that the wedding is coming up soon, and I don’t think this piece of cake is going to help you fit into the dress my mother’s picked out for you.”
Isabella clearly catches the end of his statement, as I did, and I squeeze her hand to let her know I heard it, too.
Once Daisy realizes she has company, her head pops up, and she puts that bright smile back into place. I used to think she was a naturally chipper person. Now I see it’s just a mask.
“Isa! Hey, uh, this is my fiancé, Da—”
“Senator Damien Fischer, nice to meet you, Mateo. Big fan of what you do here.” He reaches out his hand for me to shake, as if he didn’t just disregard the woman whose hand I’m clearly holding.
“I believe you were being introduced to my girlfriend, Isabella, here, first.” I nod at his awkward outstretched hand.
His face does a terrible job of hiding his annoyance, but he tries his best regardless. “Oh, well, of course. It’s just, you know, my Daisy here knows everyone in the stadium. I’d be here all night if she tried to introduce me to everyone she knows.” He chuckles as he moves his hand toward Isabella’s to shake, but she crosses her arms in front of her chest, and I bite back a smile.
“Sorry, can’t relate,” I say dryly, as if he’s not inmystadium.
He clearly gets that this is no longer a warm welcome and pulls back his hands until they’re both in his pockets. “Well, then, I’ve got to head out since I have to be at the capitol tomorrow.” He squeezes Daisy’s shoulder as he speaks. “See you next week, love.” He kisses her on the cheek as he grabs the untouched dessert that sat on the table in front of her and makes his quick exit.
Daisy seems like she’s on the verge of tears, even though you wouldn’t be able to tell by her perfect posture and blinding smile.
“Daisy…” Isa starts, and Daisy quickly flicks her gaze toward me and back down to the empty table.
As much as I’m dying to get home and have my way with the woman I’ve publicly declared my love for, I know deep in my soul that Isabella is needed here by Daisy’s side.
I spot a few of the guys from my team and plant a quick kiss on Isa’s head. “Gonna go grab a drink with the guys. Come find me when you’re ready, no rush,” I whisper into her ear, then place another chaste kiss on her temple.
Appreciation floods Isabella’s face, and I’m glad I made the right call. I turn to walk toward the guys, when movement catches my eye.
You would think it was a waiter discreetly placing a plate in front of a guest as he doesn’t break stride passing by Daisy and Isabella’s table.
But it’s not.
It’s Coach.
Putting two pieces of cake in front of Daisy without a single word spoken as he continues to walk out of the room and into the night.
forty-five
I wake with asmile on my face.
Eyes closed, I stretch lazily as everything from last night’s event comes flashing back.
And I moan slightly as I remember what came after Mateo and I finally made it home.
