Her Brooding Italian Surgeon (15 page)

‘With you, I've made peace with my past and now you and our baby are my future. Will you marry me?'

She stared at him, loving that he would offer her that, but not needing it. ‘I know how you feel about marriage, Leo, and I told you, I don't need to get married. Your love is commitment enough.'

He shook his head, his expression as serious as she'd ever seen. ‘No, it isn't. I want to stand up in front of my family and pledge my love for you. For our child. I want it on the public record that I will do everything and give my all to you, the love of my life. You deserve this and anything less isn't enough.'

His love surrounded her and she knew down to her soul she'd finally chosen a man who put her ahead of himself. A man who would stay with her, no matter what, but the need to test that lingered. ‘So you'll love me even when I disagree with you?'

He kissed her hard. ‘Especially when you disagree with me. I'll even try my best not to yell.'

She smiled at him. ‘You're Italian; it's a given.' Resting her head on his shoulder, she gloried in the way his arms sheltered her. ‘And you'll love me even though I'll never be able to wear clothes with your style and flair?'

He grinned. ‘I'm Italian; it's a given.'

She laughed, embracing the sheer wonder of being loved unconditionally. ‘In that case, I accept.'

His answering kiss was all she needed.

T
HE
launch of La Bella's Petit Verdot was in full swing. The press had declared it a ‘sweet, spicy and appealing red with immense cellaring capabilities', which was sweet news indeed. It meant the wine could become a collector's item as it was one of only a handful of red wines produced two years ago due to the crop losses of the floods.

Family and friends gathered in the shady courtyard of the restaurant, gorging themselves on the bountiful amounts of food, all made from local produce. Abbie snuck more than one slice of her favourite
quattro formaggi
wood-fired pizza, justifying to herself that the calcium in cheese was important for healthy bones.

She wandered over to the courtyard gate and stepped into the garden. Murphy immediately trotted up to her followed by a bouncing and enthusiastic puppy that ran circles around him. Murphy gave her a look as if to say, “Do I really have to put up with this?”

Laughing, she patted both dogs. ‘Hey, Alec, you got a border collie. Good choice.'

The teenager grinned. ‘They're the best dogs, Abbie. Murph taught me that.'

She'd kept in contact with the boy and Murphy had stayed
with him occasionally when Alec needed him or when Murphy had needed to escape the city. ‘How's mum?'

‘I'm great.' Penny scooped up the puppy and cuddled it.

Her face glowed with health and an air of contentment circled her. Unless someone took a close look and saw the faint scar of a tracheostomy, no one would know that she'd faced down death and won. She hooked a lead onto the puppy's bright red collar. ‘Alec, if you want the top pick of Chiara's mingle-berry jam you better come now because a tour bus just pulled in.'

With a wave they walked back inside. What had started out as a kitchen-table enterprise using the Cellar Door as an outlet had grown into a thriving business for Chiara that saw her products in delicatessens far away from Bandarra.

‘Abbie.' A deep voice made her turn.

Stefano kissed her on both cheeks and handed her a glass of wine.

She tilted her glass toward him before she took a sip. ‘It's a great party and a sensational wine.'

Her father-in-law smiled in his quiet way. ‘My love for Dom and all my family is always there in my wine, but this one, I dedicate to you.'

‘Really?' A bone-deep thrill rushed through her. ‘I don't know what to say except, thank you.' The Costas had enveloped her into their family without a moment's hesitation and for that she loved them dearly. After years of not having family, she now had one in abundance.

‘No, I'm thanking you. You brought Leo back to us.'

She shook her head. ‘I think he was ready.'

Stefano put his hand on her shoulder, his expression serious. ‘Never underestimate the power of love, Abbie.'

‘Papà, are you philosophising again?'

They both turned and dark twinkling eyes winked at Abbie.
Eyes filled with love and commitment. Eyes that made her knees go weak every time she saw them.

‘Nonno.'
A dark-eyed, curly-headed toddler leaned off Leo's shoulders, his arms outstretched toward his grandfather.

Leo reached up and lifted the child free. ‘Papà, your grandson wants you.'

Stefano put out his arms to receive the child. ‘Dante, let's go and look at the vines.'

‘Grapes.' Dante extended a pudgy finger toward the vineyard.

‘Smart boy.' His grandfather grinned as he strode toward his beloved vines.

Abbie waved to her son as he happily went with his beloved grandfather. Motherhood had exceeded all her dreams and she often had to pinch herself that this really was her life. Leo's arms circled her waist and he dropped his face into her hair. Love surrounded her and she leaned back into him, never tiring of his touch or the shelter of his arms. ‘Where have you been hiding?'

‘I took Dante and Nonna to the water-hole.'

She turned in his arms and smiled. For the last two years, Leo had accompanied his Nonna on her visits to the waterhole and whenever they visited Bandarra, which was about six times a year, he rode his bike out there. ‘I'm glad. Dante loves it out there.'

Leo grinned. ‘Well, he started life out there so perhaps he has a strong connection to the place like we do but for a different reason.' He wound a finger around one of her curls. ‘The twins are busy earning money for a trip to Italy.'

Anna's daughters, at fourteen, were growing into beautiful and determined young women. ‘Lauren was telling me all about an exchange program she wants to do next year.'

He nodded, trailing his finger down her cheek. ‘The problem
is they're underage so they can't work at the cellar door so they've started a babysitting club.'

His touch sent a tingle skating through her, a sensation that their time together had only heightened. ‘That sounds like a good idea.'

‘I thought so. In fact, they suggested they mind Dante for an hour so we can enjoy ourselves.'

His finger barely touched her chin but every part of her hummed with anticipation. ‘Enjoy ourselves at the party?'

His smile carved a dimple into his cheek and his eyes danced with wicked intent. ‘They didn't specify
where
we enjoy ourselves. I was thinking more along the lines of the cottage.'

She rose up on her toes and put her arms around his neck, loving that his desire for her was as potent as the day they'd met. ‘I love the way you think.'

‘I love you.'

And of that she had no doubt.