Page 174 of Mafia and Gold Digger

He kisses my exposed shoulder and then my neck. “There’s no better way I can think of to get married to you, Em, than in front of some guy dressed up like Elvis. It’s gotEmeraldwritten all over it.”

I giggle as I squeeze his hands resting on my lower stomach. “Good. I couldn’t go through another big wedding like the last one.”

“Nor me.” Saint kisses my cheek before stepping back. “Okay, ready?”

“More than ever.”

He gives me a lingering look, and I see that solid shell of his melting away to give me a peek of that heart which is still mending beneath. This is the Saint I’ve come to know. The man who loves deeply. And without realizing it, a man who gives me a beautiful kind of love by accepting me just the way I am. I smile up at him. “I love that you see the real me. Not Emerald, the daughter of a thief. Not Emerald, the daughter of an escort. Not Emerald, the shoplifter. But just Emerald, plain and simple.”

“No one could ever call you plain and simple,” he says dryly.

And I laugh out loud. “But you know you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Absolutely.”

Saint goes to stand at the head of the aisle. Jaspar bounces excitedly at his side in a little tux that matches Saint’s. The music starts. Saint asked me to let him choose it, and I don’t know what I was expecting, but when Elvis’sCan't Help Falling In Lovecomes on, I feel tears well up. For a man who claims to be hopeless at the emotional stuff, he’s done good. Real good.

Milena moves to stand in front of me with a smile as Giulietta scampers down the aisle and sprinkles pink glitter by the handful as she goes.

I wince just thinking about the cleanup. I tried to persuade her to scatter petals, but as soon as she wrinkled her cute little nose and demanded that she be allowed to sprinkle glitter, Saint immediately gave in to her and told the chapel he’d pay for the cleanup and give them a large extra sum on top of that.

Milena turns to me, a soft expression on her face. And it’s one that smooths over some of the ongoing tension between us. “Ready, Em?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

She flashes me a small thumbs up before walking down the aisle, trying to avoid the puddles of pink glitter—Giulietta’s gone overboard with how much of the stuff she’s chucked over the floor.

With one last deep breath, I walk down the aisle, knowing everyone’s eyes are on me. But my gaze is locked with Saint’s, and his lips tug up as I stand before him.

Elvis starts the ceremony by doing a hip swing, making everyone laugh. Saint’s hand clasps mine, thumb brushing the back of my hand as I feel more tears. Happy tears.

Before the ceremony goes any further, Jaspar makes Saint swear on the Bible that he won't steal any Lucky Charms from him ever again. This was the only way we could convince Jaspar that this wedding was a good idea.

Saint raises his right hand. “I solemnly declare that I’ll never steal a box of cereal from Jaspar Fiorelli ever again, so help me God and Elvis.”

Laughter ripples around the room, and Elvis gives a nod of approval.

Saint gives me a wink. “Can we get on now with the goddamn wedding?” he murmurs under his breath.

And I can’t help a giggle. And unlike last time, I smile the entire ceremony, my eyes never straying from Saint’s even when they blur with tears. For a coldhearted man, the way he talks to me during the vows, the way he speaks about me making him a better person and a better man, warms me in a way I haven’t felt before.

“By the powers vested in me, it’s time to get all shook up and lay a big ol' smooch on your hunka burnin' love! You may now kiss the bride!"

I laugh out loud as Saint cups my face, tugging me toward him and claiming my mouth. My fingers curl into his suit lapel as his body heat consumes me, and whistles and cheers from our small group of family and friends fill the space.

But all I can focus on is the way Saint’s smoke and spice envelopes me. The way his lips feel against mine. The tender way he’s holding me.

Every nerve, every cell and atom in my body, is alive and sparking.

And it’s all because of him.

CHAPTERFIFTY-ONE

SAINT

I press Emerald into the elevator wall as soon as the doors close. The smile on her face is a permanent fixture today, and I plan to keep it there for as long as I possibly can. Watching her walk toward me down that stupidly glittery aisle made my chest ache and body grow hard.

She’s perfect.

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