Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Autumn slid her arms around Gabriel’s waist. “You were sworn off women, remember? And I would have bet the farm Andrew was going to be a bachelor until the end of time.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But you are exceptional. And no doubt, so is Sofia.”
“Hey, brother-in-law to be, what about me?” Hollie asked.
Gabriel laughed. “It doesn’t even need to be said how exceptional you are.”
She laughed like she and Gabriel were already related. That was the atmosphere tonight—a family of people who had chosen each other. These were bonds I was familiar with and could relate to. It was like the Ferrara family and my grandma and grandad’s neighbors, who treated my mom and me like we were their own. All my nerves dissolved and I was filled with warmth as I was welcomed with open arms into this carefully constructed group of pseudo-siblings. Maybe I was going to settle in more easily than I expected.
Andrew came up behind me and snaked one arm around my waist, his palm resting over my stomach. “You okay?”
I shifted so I could meet his eye. “I am. And so is she.”
“Wait, what?” Holly screeched. “Have you got something to tell us?”
Andrew groaned and I couldn’t do anything but laugh. Apparently, we’d been way too obvious.
“A girl I think,” I said. I’d just had my six-week scan, and although they couldn’t tell me anything about the sex of the baby, when I saw her, I just knew.
Gabriel gave Andrew a look like he was a proud big brother, and tears welled in my eyes. Andrew was going to be the best dad.
“We’re going to be aunts! Stella, get over here,” Autumn called. “Hartford, come and meet your niece.”
I turned to Andrew. “For the record, if I wasn’t Italian American, this would be overwhelming.”
He rolled his eyes. “I know.”
My move to London was supposed to be temporary, but now I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. My future was here, with Andrew. Soon our daughter would join this family, and I hoped my mother would, too. I’d miss New York, but London felt more and more like home.
Andrew
Sofia didn’t make it over to the Blake Enterprises offices very often, so when I heard her talking to Trudy, I sprang to my feet and pulled open the door.
“What are you doing here?”
She shook her head. “What a welcome! It’s eleven fifty-five. I’m waiting patiently for the clock to strike twelve.”
I pulled her inside the office and closed the door, then gently pushed her against the door and pressed my lips to hers. She sighed and her body sank against mine as our tongues met. We explored each other like it had been weeks, not hours, since we’d last seen each other.
“That’s a better welcome,” Sofia said as she slipped under my arm and headed to my desk. “I have documents you need to see.”
“Documents?”
“Yes, we need to go through some things before my mom arrives tomorrow. First, this is my resignation.” She slid a cream envelope onto my desk and sat in one of the guest chairs. “I made up my mind this morning after all our conversations. It’s just easier. I’ll stay until we find someone else. I’ve done all the rebranding and the launch, and now it’s just about growing the circulation. It’s time to move on.”
I sat across from her and took the envelope, shoving it in my top drawer. “Careful, Miss Rossi, you’re starting to sound like me.” We’d talked a lot about the advantages and disadvantages of Sofia continuing to head up Verity. I’d told her it was her decision and I would stand behind whatever she’d prefer.
“Never! But I do like the idea of working for myself. That way, I never have to worry about people thinking I only got the job because I’m married to the boss.”
“No one who met you would think that.”
“You’re biased. Anyway, my mind is made up. I’m resigning. Leave date to be decided. I’m going to talk to HR about hiring a search firm to find a replacement.”
“Okay,” I said. “Next?”
“This is the list of wedding venues you sent me. I crossed out the ones I don’t like.” She tossed a sheet of paper. “But honestly, when my mom comes over, we should have a small registry office wedding with just a few friends and family.”
I nodded, happy to go along with anything she wanted. As long as she married me, I didn’t care how we did it.
“Then after the baby’s born, let’s have a proper wedding with a big party. We can have a blessing in a church. That’s easier than a full-blown wedding too, because you’re not Catholic. It works out for everyone: you’ll stop hassling me to marry you, and my mom will be happy because we’ll be married before the baby’s born.”
Sofia seemed to have forgotten the most important person in all this. “Would that make you happy?”