onths

lined the aisle, their sweet scent mixing with the warm breeze. Valentina "Tina" Rossi stood there, her heart thumping like a d

own, Mrs. DeSantis?" he s

ou don't trip over my dress on the dance floo

at made her stomach flip. "I'l

t row, and old Mr. Jenkins from the diner showed up in a tie that looked like it'd been through a war. It was everything Tina had imagined. Well, almost. There we

kissed her, the crowd whooped and hollered, and Tina felt

mething upbeat. Enzo twirled Tina across the dance floor, stepping on her dress no

e now," he shot back,

one of those suited guys whispering to Enzo's cousin, both of them looking too serious for a

hrough a home decor magazine. Enzo had his arm around her, sipping a beer. "We need a real plac

, eyes wide. "Wait, fo

his lips warm. "Anyt

with white shutters, a big green yard, and a porch swing swaying in the breeze. It was perfect. She could see it all:

ractically bouncing. "I found it.

said, voice steady but war

s he parked. The owner, some guy named Paul, was out front, watering the lawn in a fad

ashing a smile that was all

wiping his hands. "Uh, t

ouse," Enzo said, hands in his

hing his neck. "It's

eyes got a little sharper. "Come o

don't k

name drop like a stone, watching

d. "I... yeah. Maybe. But

Here's the thing. My wife loves this place. Makes her happy. And when she's happy,

it, hands fidge

mooth but edged with steel. "Or we can make

he envelope, fingers shaking, and peeked inside. His breath h

n back in full force. "Good choic

that big, oblivious smile. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she clapped her ha

down her face, cursing Enzo's name. "You did this to me, you

shing her hair back. "You're almost t

hing, tears streaking her cheeks. The nurse swaddled the little bundle and handed her ove

spered, voice crack

Mia's as he touched her cheek. "She's beautiful,"

ning through the exhaustion

yes locked on Mia.

. Enzo shifted, cradling Mia like she was made of glass. "Gonna g

r eyes. "Better start w

rked.

t it, jaw tightening for a split second before he

the phone away. "Just

tle knot twisted in her gut. That "just business" line was starting to sound familiar-too familia

t it go. Mia's tiny yaw