Page 146 of Say It Isn't So

She looked at me through those thick lashes of hers I loved. “Really? The kiss made it that way?”

Geez, I didn’t think there’d be a time in this lifetime (or any lifetime for that matter) when I didn’t want to taste her sweet lips, to feel her in my arms. Remember when I’d said once I tasted her, I’d always need more, that one taste would never be enough? Yeah, well, I was right. So right, in fact, it wasn’t even funny.

“Of course.” Maybe the kiss wasn’t necessary, but I’d take any chance I could get to put my lips on her. “On another note, last night I rolled over and noticed you had the light on and were sketching.”

She lowered her head, a small smile creeping across her lips. I didn’t think I had ever seen Bianca look like that before, like she was unsure. And I had to say, I didn’t like it. I much rather preferred the confident, sexy Bianca. You know, the one who had no problem demanding I give her exactly what she needed.

“Oops. Sorry about that,” Bianca said, brushing a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Sometimes inspiration strikes at night and I try to go with it. But I don’t mean to wake you or keep you up. I didn’t do either, did I?”

I furrowed my brows and shook my head. “No. And don’t apologize. I want you to sketch as much as possible. That way you can come out with your debut collection sooner.”

Bianca was seriously talented, and her debut collection was going to be a knockout, just like her. No doubt in my mind, she’d be showing at bridal fashion weeks around the globe soon, maybe even have her own flagship store one day.

“Yeah, about that. . . I’ve been doing a ton of research and it’s not easy becoming a wedding dress designer. And there’s really no guarantee I’m going to make it. I could do all of this and nothing, squat. It could all be for nada.” She sounded so unsure, I wished I could make it better, give her a guarantee.

Instead, I gave her the best I had—“I don’t believe that for one second. You’re going to excel at it, just like you do with everything you do. When you put your mind to something, Bianca Morelli, you are unstoppable.” I grinned and placed my thumb on her chin.

Her eyes met mine, and I knew immediately that she was back. Sometimes my girl needed a little encouragement, but she needed to remember that she could do this. She could have the whole world if she put her mind to it. If you asked me, she deserved nothing less.

“You think so?” she questioned, her eyes filled with emotion, but most important, hope.

“I know so.”

“What if it doesn’t work out? I’ll be a failure.”

Never.“Nah, you’ll be a success because you tried, which is more than I can say for most people. Don’t just have a dream, sweetness. Have it and make it come true.” I leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. “If no one sees your talent because you’re afraid you’ll fail,thenyou will have failed.”

Her eyes were sparkling now as they searched mine. “How is it you always know just what to say?”

“I don’t, but it’s easy with you because I have all the faith that you’re going to take this world by storm. Heck, in some ways you already have.”

“I love you, Knox Rhodes.”

“And I love you, sweetness.”

Never in a million years would I have thought I’d get this lucky.

To have a beautiful, smart, funny woman love me—every single piece of me—to not judge me for my past but try to make me see that it wasn’t a tragedy, but a part of my journey to get me here—to this very moment. To feel like I belonged, like I was part of a family.

I’d never felt a part of my own family, but this one (with the exception of Angelo) had made me feel welcome.

I didn’t think life could get much better than this.

* * *

Angelo

I wasn’t sure how long I was standing here, but I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off of Bianca and Knox.

I couldn’t exactly hear what they were talking about, but they were clearly deep in conversation about something. I feared if I could hear, I’d regret listening in, so I didn’t move from the bottom step.

They were alone in the kitchen, but for as zeroed in on each other as they were, I wasn’t sure it’d make a difference if anyone was around. In some ways, it was the same intensity I’d had with Regina when she was alive. God, how I missed her, rest her soul.

I knew one thing for certain: I didn’t think I’d ever seen my daughter look so happy, so relaxed with a man. She wasn’t working hard to keep his attention or flirting like she used to do. No, she was just Bianca. The same Bianca I knew, the same Bianca I saw with her sisters or Dom.

I wondered if that had always been the case and I’d just been too dense to see it.

Maybe Angelina was right, maybe Bianca was happy and I’d just refused to acknowledge it.

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