Page 66 of One Night with Cinderella

“Never again,” she said, stopping as they came to the front door. She held up her pinky finger. “I promise not to ever push you away and you promise to never leave. Deal?”

Gabe hooked his pinky with hers. “Deal. No fear?”

“No fear,” she agreed.

When they finally walked inside, the sounds of a successful restaurant surrounded them. Conversation blended with jazzy music. Forks hit dishes and glasses touched each other in toasts. Monica made a move to reclaim her seat, but Gabe held steadfastly to her hand to guide her behind him to the center of the restaurant where his family sat.

Frank looked relieved as he motioned for the servers to bring two additional flutes.

“What made you send the invite?” he heard Monica ask his mother.

“I was tired of seeing my son miserable without you,” his mother replied.

So, it was her.

He cleared his throat and stared down at his feet to gather himself before he finally looked over at his mother. By sending that invite, she had accepted and welcomed Monica into the fold. For him.

That, too, was love.

Gabe accepted the flutes and handed one to Monica before facing his guests. “I’m proud and humbled to announce that GABRIEL has full reservations for the next four weeks. Thank you for the first of hopefully many nights to come of good food, good drink and good times. This is my life’s dream, and I’m honored to share this night with all of you, with my family who taught me everything I know about food, and this woman beside me who taught me everything I know about love,” he said, looking down at Monica, who was already looking at him.

The night was perfect.

“To GABRIEL,” Phillip Sr. said.

As everyone in the restaurant raised their glasses in a toast to him and his establishment, Gabe looked over at his father and saw pride for him in his eyes. He had grown beyond needing his father’s approval, but in truth, it was an honor to have. Extending his flute, he touched his glass to his father’s before then lifting it into the circle created by his family with their own glasses raised in toast.

Atop the table, he covered Monica’s hand with his own and entwined their fingers.

“À la nourriture. À la vie. À l’amour,”he said, leveling his eyes on each of his family members.

“À la nourriture. À la vie. À l’amour,” they all said in unison.

With his thumb still stroking the back of her hand, he leaned in close to her ear. “To food. To life. To love,” he said before pressing a kiss behind her lobe.

He felt her tremble. “Soon,” Gabe promised.

Monica looked at him, her soft eyes filling with heat. “Another wild night like the first one, Mr. Cress?” she said for his ears alone.

His pulse raced as he chuckled. “Better,” he promised.

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