Capri Nights (10 page)

He threw back his head and laughed. “I have always loved your American honesty.”

She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head in mock outrage. “Talking about honesty, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could have been prepared and at least taken off my chef’s coat. You haven’t called in two days. I was worried.”

“Clothes mean nothing. You are beautiful no matter what you wear.” A wicked gleam in his eyes, he added, “Or don’t wear.”

“You’re sweet.” She grinned. “And sexy. You always know the right thing to say.”

“I would like to be very sweet and sexy with you every day and night.” He released her hand. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I have been especially busy these last few days, tying up things at the company and preparing for this trip.” With a tender smile, he continued, “I was afraid if I spoke with you on the phone, I’d tell you I was coming here. What I need to say, I must do in person.”

Cat put a hand over her stomach, pressing to stop its trembling. “What do you have to say—?”

A waiter carrying a bottle of champagne and two glasses interrupted. “The staff sent this over.”

When he’d filled their glasses and left, Alex raised his. “To my lovely Cat.”

She touched his glass with hers, sipped, then set down her glass. “Alex, what is so important you had to tell me in person? And how were you able to get away from your work?”

“The company is in the very capable hands of my cousin Vincenzo.” He leaned closer. “I have a surprise for you.”

At the happy glint in his eyes, hope rose in her. “Surprise?”

With a satisfied smile, he leaned back and wrapped his fingers around the stem of his champagne flute. “With Vincenzo’s help, things are coming along at the company better than I’d hoped. Most of my family has forgiven me for calling the authorities when I found out what Uncle Giuseppe and cousin Camillo were doing. The Italian press has been kind and my father’s good name is almost fully restored.”

“Alex, that’s wonderful news.”

“There’s more.”

“What else?”

“I’m selling my shares in the company to Vincenzo. He’ll build it up to what it once was.”

Cat sat straighter and touched Alex’s forearm. “Are you all right with that? You sacrificed a lot for your company.”

“To continue to run it would mean I would have to stay in Italy. I know how much your career and this restaurant mean to you. You worked hard and I can’t ask you to give that up.” He placed his hand over hers where it rested on his arm. “If I have to sell my company to spend my life with you, that’s a small sacrifice. Without you, my life is dark and without meaning. With you so far away, I realized how much I need you and love you.”

Her breath came in small gasps. “What-what are you saying?”

“I am moving to San Francisco. A financial company here has been trying to get me to work for them. I’ve accepted their latest offer.”

When she didn’t speak, he frowned. “Maybe you no longer want to be with me.”

The shock that had frozen her voice melted. “Oh. My. God. Alex, I love you so much. You’d do this for me?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I sacrifice to be with the woman I love?” He slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small jewel box.

Cat forgot to breathe.

He slid off the chair and knelt on one knee on the floor in front of her. “Caitlyn Megan Connors, will you marry me?” He opened the box. Inside, on black velvet, rested a marquis-cut diamond ring. The facets of the large gem sparkled in the overhead lights. “It was my grandmother’s. I would be honored if you would wear it.”

Tears streamed down Cat’s face. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you. Yes!”

Clapping broke out in the restaurant.

Alex took her hand to help her stand. He slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.

She threw herself into his arms. With her right arm around his waist, she held her left hand out, admiring the ring. “I love it! How did you know my size, and how did you know my middle name?”

“I called your mother.”

“My mother?”

“I had to get her permission to marry you. She’s here.” He nodded toward the door where Molly Connors, her face tear-streaked, waited.

Molly ran across the room as the guests and wait staff clapped and cheered. The two women embraced. Alex hugged both women.

A beaming Edward came over. “We have a table reserved for you. Bobbie has prepared a special meal to celebrate.”

Cat’s eyes met Alex’s. “You arranged all this?”

“But of course.”

Holding onto his arm, she said, “It seems like a celebration is in order.”

His eyes softened. “I will celebrate every day you are mine, Cat.”

She’d not only found her true self on Capri. She’d found a true love to last a lifetime.

EPILOGUE

Capri, ten months later

Canon in D
by Pachelbel, performed by a cellist, filled the small mountaintop church. Guests, seated in their pews, fidgeted, waiting for the ceremony to start.

Cat, flanked by her parents, stood in the vestibule of the church.

“Ready?” Molly Connors said to her daughter.

Cat’s hands holding her wedding bouquet shook. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, with the exception of your mother,” her dad said. Tears rimmed his eyes.

Her parents each threaded their arms through hers, preparing to walk her down the aisle.

A soprano from one of Italy’s top opera houses took her place in the front next to the cellist. Alex and his cousin Vincenzo, his best man, entered from the side and stood next to the priest at the altar. The guests quieted now, excitement in the church palpable.

Cat’s gaze met Alex’s across the expanse. The happiness that surged through her made her heart drum against her chest and echo in her ears. She held the bouquet tighter, fighting the temptation to fling it aside and run down the aisle to jump into Alex’s arms. As if he read her mind, he winked.

The soprano, accompanied by the cellist, began singing the soaring strains of Schubert’s
Ave Verum
.

Arm-in-arm, Cat and her parents walked down the white-carpeted aisle. Cat barely noticed the others in the pews. She had eyes only for her handsome groom. The custom-made tux enhanced his wide shoulders and broad chest. His dark-blond hair was slicked back, emphasizing his high cheekbones and full lips. But it was the love shining from his hazel eyes that made her breath catch and her feet falter.

At the altar, her parents stepped aside. Her dad took his place in the first pew, and her mother stood next to Cat as her matron of honor.

“Cat,” Alex whispered, as he took her hand. “
Molto bella
.” Together, they turned to the priest.

Her mind in a blur, the priest’s voice barely registered. Then came time to recite their vows, vows Cat and Alex had written together. She handed her bouquet to her mother.

Holding hands, Cat and Alex faced each other. Her gaze never leaving his, Cat began, “Alex, you are my heart, my life, my soul. You make me happy. You make me laugh and smile. The day I stepped onto this island and met you, my life changed. You’ve opened a new world of love to me. You’re my rock, the man whose face I want to see each morning and whose lips I crave each night. I want to have your children, grow old with you, and tell you every day how much you mean to me. Will you brighten my days forever?”

Beside her, her mother sniffed.

“Cat, the day I saw you walking along
La Piazetta
, sweet and filled with life, I lost my heart to you. You are beautiful inside and out. Fate brought us together to laugh and smile and build a life. You are the person I want to share everything with. I will spend every day making you as happy as you’ve made me. I will cherish you and the children we will have. We will brighten each other’s days forever. Will you take my ring as a pledge of our love? You already have my heart.”

Cat’s mother sniffed louder.

With a wicked grin, Alex leaned in and said loud enough for the others to hear, “If I hadn’t been watching you so closely that first day, I wouldn’t have seen you drop your phone. It was my lucky day.”

Returning his grin, she said, “Well, this Cinderella doesn’t need a glass slipper, but she sure needs her phone. I’m so glad you returned it.”

Laughter erupted in the church.

When the laughter died down, Alex’s best man handed him the diamond studded wedding band. Alex slipped it onto Cat’s finger. “Wear this ring as a symbol of our enduring and passionate love.”

Her mother handed her the plain gold band that would be Alex’s. Cat slipped it onto his finger. “Wear this ring as a symbol of our enduring and passionate love.”

Happiness covered Cat like sweet melted butter. She was afraid her heart would burst through her chest.

The priest said prayers over them, then pronounced them husband and wife. They walked swiftly down the aisle to smiles and claps. Her father had tears streaking his face.

*****

Cat leaned against Alex as they stood on the upper balcony of his villa overlooking the calm turquoise waters of the gulf. She breathed in the heady scent of flowers that grew over the walls of the balcony, in a riot of colors, dancing in the setting sun. She lifted her wrist to take a whiff of the lime basil perfume, a scent that would always remind her of this enchanted island and the man who’d captured her heart.

“Happy?” Alex drew her closer and kissed the top of her head.

“Very.” She smoothed a hand down the ivory silk of her elegant wedding gown, a one-of-a kind dress designed by her mother. “I wish all these people would leave so I can get you into bed to ravish you.”

He laughed. “How can we make them go away?”

She scanned the gardens below where white-clothed tables had been set up for their wedding reception. A band played soft rock music as the guests danced on the wooden floor constructed for the occasion. Almost a year ago, when she’d arrived in Capri, a woman determined to have a new life, she could not have imagined the riches in love and happiness that awaited her.

“I think everyone’s having too good a time to leave,” she said. “Or to miss us.” Among the guests, she could see her parents laughing together. Her mother glowed with an inner happiness Cat had rarely seen. Soon after Tinsley’s wedding, Cat’s father had stopped drinking. He’d also started divorce proceedings against Nolan and began courting Cat’s mother. Her mom hadn’t welcomed him with open arms, but he’d worked hard to convince her he still loved her. Staring down at her parents, elation, sweet as wedding cake, coursed through Cat.

The staff and owners from Vault occupied two large tables where they laughed and talked together. Alex had flown them all in from San Francisco. Bobbie St. James catered their wedding as his gift. Because the restaurant had to close for five days. Alex had paid the owners what they would have earned had the restaurant been open. Her new husband was as generous as he was loving.

“Let our guests party.” Alex kissed her gently. “They won’t miss us. We will make love now.”

She wound her arms around his neck. “Sounds good to me.”

With a soft chuckle, he picked her up and carried her through the open doors to their bedroom. With tenderness, he laid her on the bed and sank down next to her. “I love you, my Cat.”

“I will love you always, Alex.”

While the band played a romantic song, Cat and Alex went to the stars and back together the first time as husband and wife, promising many more magical Capri nights.

Potato & Onion Frittata

(Much like the spinach, mushroom, potato frittata

Cat and Alex share)

• 1 large red onion

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil

• 2 medium red potatoes (about 12 oz.), cut into ½ inch pieces

• Salt and pepper

• ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

• 8 large eggs

• 1 cup whole milk

• 4 oz. extra-sharp Cheddar

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Finely chop the onion.

Heat oil in a large oven-safe nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the potatoes and chopped onion, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are golden brown and just tender, 12 to 15 minutes more. If desired, when the potatoes are almost done, stir in fresh spinach and sliced mushrooms and saute. Stir in the parsley.

While the potatoes and onions are cooking, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and ¼ Tsp. each salt and pepper; stir in the cheese.

Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and stir to distribute the ingredients. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the frittata is puffed, brown around the edges, and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, 14 to 16 minutes.

Serve with a salad and crusty bread.

All About Cara Marsi

An award-winning and eclectic author, Cara Marsi is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She loves a good love story, and believes that everyone deserves a second chance at love. Sexy, sweet, thrilling, or magical, Cara’s stories are first and foremost about the love.