Gabe grinned and raised the flute of champagne that had barely been touched. “Thanks, guys. I don’t know that my life is quite that charmed, but I’ve been lucky. I still enjoy being single. I definitely enjoy my ranch life, plus the fact that Dad leaves me alone. I do feel a little lucky.”
“To the golden boy,” Jake said, “my kid brother.” They all sipped.
“There is cold beer at the bar if any of you want to get rid of this,” Tony said, and Gabe nodded. “If you guys will excuse me, I’ve been away from my bride a long time now.”
“All of half an hour,” Jake remarked dryly, and they laughed as Tony left them.
His heart filled with joy at the sight of Isabelle. She had never looked more beautiful than today and he wanted to whisk her away from here and leave for their honeymoon. Before heading to Paris, they were spending four days in New York City and he had no intention of leaving their hotel suite. He was overjoyed to have her to himself, wondering why he had ever thought making a bigger fortune was more important than having her in his life. He watched as Sydney stood talking to her. He was happy for his sister, too, who was so much in love she couldn’t stop smiling. He could understand her feelings now.
He walked up to slip his arm around Isabelle’s tiny waist.
“Can I steal my bride away?” he asked the group, and without hearing their answers, he led Isabelle away. “Can we leave?”
“Not a moment too soon,” she whispered, smiling at him. “My clothes are on your plane and I can just go. I said my goodbyes to everyone earlier.”
“So did I,” Tony replied, his heartbeat speeding as they headed for a door.
Hours later Tony carried Isabelle over the threshold of their hotel room. He set her on her feet, kicking the door closed while he kissed her.
Holding him tightly, she wound her fingers in his thick black curls. Her heart pounded with joy. She pushed away his tuxedo coat and it fell unnoticed on the floor.
“Tony, there are moments I can’t believe all this is really happening,” she whispered as she felt his fingers at the buttons of her pale blue dress.
“It’s real, love. I’ll show you and I’ll spend my life trying to make you happy and be the husband, lover, father you want. You’re first in my life, Isabelle,” he stated solemnly. “Always first. It couldn’t possibly be any other way. I can’t tell you the joy you give me, but I’m going to try to show you, every way I can.”
She smiled at him. “You already have in so many ways,” she whispered, fingering the diamond-and-sapphire necklace he had given her as a wedding gift. Her conversation ended as they kissed and she held him tightly. Happiness consumed her. His dark eyes proclaimed his love with unmistakable warmth.
“Tony, I love you with all my heart. My joy is complete in you,” she whispered, and returned to kissing him again.
The future looked filled with promises of hope, fulfillment and dreams come true.
