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  Gianna’s eyes widened. “Sei sicuro, Donovan?”

  “I am very sure. You have to be happy or I won’t be.”

  She threw her arms around him, and the tears she’d been fighting spilled over her cheeks.

  * * *

  The late night ride atop the two horses was a perfect ending to the day. Gianna rode Raffaello and Donovan had saddled Michelangelo, a large black Arabian stallion with a majestic gait and a coat that was pitch-black in color.

  There was a full moon in the dark sky, seeming almost like a spotlight leading their way. It was a slow stroll down to the coastal way as they rode side by side, trading easy conversation. Once on the damp sand, Gianna lowered her reins and applied pressure with her knees to transition Raffaello to a slow trot. Donovan and Michelangelo followed behind them.

  Once they reached Gianna’s secret cove they dismounted, the horses moving to stand in the only grassy area high up on a hill. Hand in hand, the couple walked the shoreline, savoring the cool evening air that wafted off the water.

  Coming to a stop, Gianna turned into him, sliding easily into Donovan’s arms. She reached up to kiss his mouth. He wrapped her in his arms and held her as he tossed a look over his shoulder and up the beach.

  “I want to make love to you,” he whispered loudly. “Right here, right now.”

  She laughed. “Then you should.”

  “Someone might see us.”

  She laughed again. “Don’t let that stop you.”

  Fervor danced in Donovan’s eyes. He watched as Gianna took a step back, slipping the T-shirt she wore over her head, exposing her bare breasts. He threw a look over his shoulder a second time, then wiped away the sweat that had beaded across his brow with the back of his hand. As Gianna pushed her sweatpants down to the sand beneath her feet, he tore at his own clothes until they were both naked.

  With a wink and a giggle, Gianna skipped to the shoreline and then into the warm water.

  “Are you coming?” she called out, laughter spilling past her lips.

  Nervous energy sent a shiver up Donovan’s spine. Without giving it a second thought, he raced behind her.

  They swam and danced in the warm waters. Kissed beneath the star-filled sky. The moon caressed and teased them as they made the sweetest love, their bodies carving imprints in the damp sand. Donovan loved her easily, oblivious to their surroundings. In that moment he felt immensely blessed. The intimacy between them was a mélange of everything that was good and decent, those things they loved most, wrapped in the prettiest paper and tied with one big bow. Perfection defined the love the two felt for each other, and in that moment, beneath that full moon, life was the best it had ever been.

  * * *

  The call came four days later, Dr. Northway apologizing profusely and asking Donovan to report immediately back to the classroom.

  “Miss Donati has been suspended for the rest of the semester, and after some discussion, Professor Mugabe felt it was in everyone’s best interest that she resign. And once you’re settled back in, we’d like to talk to you about possibly assuming the department chair position.”

  Donovan nodded into the receiver. “I’ll have to think about it,” he answered. “For now, I think it’s important that I fulfill my contractual obligation and finish out the school year. We can talk more on Monday when I return.”

  Dr. Northway had apologized one last time before hanging up the phone. Donovan pumped his fist in the air, a huge grin filling his face. He’d been expecting the director’s call. Dante had called earlier that morning to give him the news that he’d been completely vindicated. Donovan was grateful, but he still found himself feeling some kind of way and didn’t have the words to explain it. Before the call he’d been painting, his easel and chair sitting out on the patio as he stared out to the vast green fields. Signora Rossi had fussed about earlier, leaving them a pretty salad, an antipasto tray and two ramekins of panna cotta.

  Gianna looked up from the story she was working on, five hundred pages of copyedits she needed to complete and return to her editor. “Are you okay?” she asked, concern wafting between them.

  “I don’t know. I’m happy that it’s over but I don’t know if I want to go back.”

  “But you want to teach, right?”

  He nodded. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. But I don’t know if this position is the right one.”

  “Well, the secondary school is always an option if you like teenagers.”

  Donovan contemplated the comment for a brief moment. “I might give that some thought,” he said, moving back toward the door.

  She smiled. “How’s the painting coming along?”

  He grinned. “I think I’m about to give Picasso a run for his money!”

  “Picasso?” She laughed. “That should be interesting.”

  “Extremely!”

  Before Donovan could get out the door, his cell phone chimed against the countertop. He moved back inside to answer the call.

  “It’s my brother,” he said as he engaged the device. “Hey, Kendrick! I have you on speaker. Say hi to Gianna!”

  “Hey, there! Hi, Gianna! How are you?”

  “I’m good, Kendrick. How are you?”

  “I just called to warn you two. We all just landed.”

  “We all who?” Donovan asked as he and Gianna exchanged a look.

  His brother laughed. “Everybody! The whole family is here!”

  Chapter 14

  Donovan’s family came in like a storm wind. They were loud and forward, and in a split second after their arrival he remembered what it was about all of them that he missed most.

  Even Tarah, with all her annoying ways, brought a smile to his face. “Don Juan finally has a girlfriend!” she exclaimed as she gave Gianna a warm hug.

  Gianna laughed. “Don Juan?”

  “Our nickname for him because he was always such a ladies’ man...not!”

  Donovan rolled his eyes. His mother still had an arm around his waist, hugging him warmly.

  “Leave your brother alone, Tarah. Go outside and explore! There’s a reason we left all the kids back in the States!”

  Tarah rolled her eyes, pushing her lips into a feigned pout.

  “Where are the kids?” Donovan asked, inquiring about his nephews and nieces.

  Katrina grabbed Matthew’s hand. “This is an adults-only excursion. We left all the babies in Dallas with Matthew’s family.”

  Katherine laughed. “My grandbabies are all being spoiled rotten! You know how them Stallions do!” She gave Donovan another squeeze as she changed the subject. “I’m so glad you were able to resolve that mess with the university. But we were all prepared to be right here by your side at that hearing.”

  Donovan nodded. “Thank you, but now you all can just enjoy your time here.”

  “How long are you all staying?” Gianna asked.

  “Not too long,” Mason answered.

  “Long enough for some of us to get into trouble, I’m sure.” Maitlyn giggled. She wrapped a protective arm around her pregnant belly.

  “Won’t be none of that,” Senior interjected. “I’m not bailing anyone out!”

  “I just want to know where the boys are!” Tarah quipped.

  Their mother pointed her index finger. “Outside!” she said, her eyebrows raised at her youngest child.

  The chatter continued as the family inspected Donovan’s small space, his artwork and the landscape outside, and interrogated Gianna.

  “This is absolutely delightful!” Katherine exclaimed.

  “It’s small,” Senior said. “And there’s nothing wrong with small.”

  Donovan shook his head. “I wasn’t expecting a family reunion anytime soon,” he said.

  Donova
n’s brother Guy laughed. “You people are going to scare Donovan’s new friend away.”

  Gianna gave Donovan a look, her smile bright. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

  “How did you two meet?” Tarah asked. “I mean, Don Juan here hasn’t been in Italy long enough to suddenly have a girlfriend.”

  The couple traded a look as the room quieted, everyone waiting for a response.

  “We met online,” Donovan said.

  “My sister introduced us,” Gianna said at the same time.

  Confusion washed over everyone’s expression. Shaking his head, Donovan told them their story from the beginning, Gianna filling in any details he missed. When they were done, there was silence, everyone exchanging amused looks.

  Tarah suddenly burst out laughing. “Only you, Don Juan! Only you could make dating a textbook topic for what to do and how not to do it!”

  * * *

  The laughter was abundant, and it filled the space with an immense amount of joy. In the kitchen, his mother and Signora Rossi were in deep conversation. The family members marveled at how easily the two women seemed to intuitively know what the other was saying, although one was speaking English and the other Italian. Together, the antipasto and salad Signora Rossi had prepared earlier was enough for the Boudreaux army to all snack on. At one point the duo burst into laughter and Gianna blushed profusely, shaking her head.

  “What?” Donovan asked, wrapping his arms around the woman.

  Gianna laughed. “You really don’t want to know!” she said as she moved back to join the two matriarchs.

  Donovan’s father pulled him aside, the two moving to a corner of the small home. The patriarch stared down at the painting Donovan had been working on, studying it intently.

  “It’s good,” he said, impressed by his son’s talents. “It’s very good!”

  “Thank you, Senior.”

  His father slapped him gently on the back. “You look happy, son.”

  “I am happy, Senior. I’m very happy.”

  “That’s good. Your mother has been worried to death about you being here all alone with no family close by.”

  Donovan shook his head. “I don’t know why.”

  Senior shrugged. “Donovan, you were always the quiet, studious one. You were always home while the others were all out running the streets doing what they do.”

  Donovan smiled. “Kendrick said Mom and the girls thought I was soft.”

  “Maybe not soft, but the most vulnerable. And that’s only because they coddled you more than the other boys. You were always around and you let them. But I think these last few months, your mother’s been able to see that your quiet strength has been a formidable resource. And I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, son!”

  Donovan smiled as his father hugged him. “Thank you, Senior!”

  “So when are you going to tell your mother that you don’t plan to come back home?”

  Donovan shot his father a look, and the two men locked gazes. “How...?”

  “Kendrick told me.”

  Donovan sighed softly. “How do you think Mom’s going to take it?”

  Senior shrugged. “You know your mother. She wants you all home, or close to home. She hates it when you and your brothers and sisters aren’t close enough for her to love on you.”

  Donovan nodded. “I’ll tell her,” he said softly.

  His father nodded. “I’ll help soften the blow afterward,” he said. “She’ll be okay as long as she knows she can come visit anytime she wants.”

  Donovan smiled. “Mom knows she can always come see me!”

  Gianna moved to Donovan’s side. “I don’t mean to interrupt...”

  “Not at all, pretty lady! You’re not interrupting us at all!” Senior hugged her, too.

  Donovan pressed a kiss to her forehead. “What’s up?”

  “I just spoke to my father, and he and Carina want to prepare dinner for everyone if you all don’t have other plans.”

  “We’d love to meet your family,” Katherine said, joining the conversation.

  Tarah suddenly rushed in from outside. “I love Italy!” she exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly. “Can I stay?”

  * * *

  Franco greeted them at the door, his own excitement shimmering in his bright blue eyes. Donovan introduced them all one by one.

  “Franco, this is my oldest brother, Mason, and Mason’s wife, Phaedra. My sister Maitlyn and her husband, Zakaria. My sister Katrina and her husband, Matthew Stallion. My brother Darryl and his wife, Camryn. My brother Kendrick and his wife, Vanessa. My brother Guy and his wife, Dahlia, and my sisters Kamaya and Tarah.”

  Franco hugged and kissed and shook hands with them all. “Ciao! Ciao!” he said as he pointed everyone to Carina and Graham. “This is Gianna’s twin sister and her husband.”

  Lastly, Donovan introduced his parents. “And this is my mother, Katherine, and my father, Senior Boudreaux. Mom, Senior, this is Franco Martelli, Gianna’s father.”

  Franco and Senior shook hands before Franco threw his arms around the man. “What a spectacular family!” he said.

  He moved to stand in front of Katherine. “Ciao, bella! I see where your daughters get their beauty from.” He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it, his lips lingering. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said, batting his baby blue eyes at her.

  “Down, Giusseppi. That’s my queen you’re kissing,” Senior said, a teasing smirk on his face.

  Everyone in the room laughed.

  Katherine giggled. “Pay him no mind!” she said as she looped her arm through Senior’s. “He’s not jealous.”

  Franco laughed heartily. “With such a beautiful woman by his side, I would understand him being jealous!”

  Katherine giggled, a deep blush darkening her cheeks. “Gianna, your father is quite the charmer! You two should fix him up with my new friend, Felice.”

  Gianna and Carina both laughed. Carina moved to give Donovan’s mother a welcoming hug. “We’ve been trying to get him and Signora Rossi together for years!”

  The two fathers shook hands, cementing their new friendship.

  “This is a mighty fine place you have here,” Senior said.

  Franco grinned. “Thank you. We are very proud of it. You must let us show you around.”

  “Please,” Gianna said. “I’d love to give you the tour.”

  “There’s wine involved, right?” Tarah asked.

  Franco nodded. “Much, much vino!”

  “I’m in!” Tarah exclaimed, clapping her hands together excitedly.

  Kamaya shook her head, holding up a palm. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll keep an eye on her.” She gave Tarah a slight push, and the two sisters burst into laughter.

  * * *

  Hours later the Boudreaux and Martelli families were still laughing and sharing, telling tall tales about Donovan and Gianna. The couple leaned against each other, overwhelmed by the love and support, and mutually embarrassed by the attention.

  “I like her!” Katherine said, her husband’s arms wrapped warmly around her shoulders. “I really like her a lot!”

  Senior nodded. “She’s a sweet, sweet girl. Donovan’s done good!”

  “And she loves him! Just look at her face.”

  “Look at his! That boy is caught up something fierce.”

  There was a lull in the conversation as they sat watching their children. They were all basking in the moment, their time together much needed. Both knew that it would only be days before each of their offspring would be headed off in their own directions, back to the daily responsibilities that kept them apart. Pride shone across both their faces.

  “May I join you?” Franco asked, moving to Senior’s side.

 
“Of course,” Katherine said with a bright smile.

  Senior gestured for him to take a seat. “Still flirting with my woman, I see.”

  Franco chuckled. “I can’t help myself,” he said as he gave Katherine a wink.

  Senior kissed his wife’s cheek. “I’m a lucky man, Franco. A very lucky man!”

  Across the way, Donovan was watching his parents. He smiled with amusement as he eyed them teasing each other. “Senior’s being quite the romantic,” he noted, gesturing with his head toward the two as his father kissed his mother.

  “It’s Tuscany!” Gianna said with a bright smile. “Everything is romantic here!”

  Donovan nodded. He shifted forward in his seat, grabbing both her hands between his own. “Are you ready to marry me, Gianna Martelli?”

  She met the intense look he was giving her. “Are you proposing, Donovan Boudreaux?”

  Donovan suddenly slid down onto one knee, still holding tight to her fingers. He reached into the pocket of his jeans, and as if out of nowhere he held up a diamond ring in fourteen-karat white gold. The vintage setting was stunning, pavé-set diamonds along the top half of the stunning band and around a single three-carat round-cut stone.

  Gianna gasped in surprise, her eyes wide with wonder. “Donovan!”

  The room suddenly fell quiet, everyone turning to stare. Smiles were wide and abundant as the two families moved in closer, not wanting to miss a moment of the proposal.

  “Gianna, I love you. I can’t imagine my life without you. You move me in ways no other woman will ever move me. I want to devote my life to you. To us. To the family I hope we have. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife and the mother of my children?”

  Tears spilled past Gianna’s lashes as she nodded her head. “Yes!” she exclaimed as Donovan slipped the ring onto her left hand.

  The room erupted into cheers as their families celebrated the moment, congratulations ringing in the air. The women all pressed in to admire the new piece of jewelry that adorned Gianna’s hand.

  Kamaya turned toward her mother. “Is that Grandma’s ring?” she asked, her smile widening.