Pretending with the Greek Billionaire(74)

“You are?” he said, his tender expression warming her through and through.

“So much. Using your powers for good instead of evil. Not many supermen can pull off a switch like that.”

He laughed and hugged her again. “God, I love you so much.”

His arms enveloped her, crushed her to him like he’d never let go. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her heart so full of love for him she could scarcely breathe.

“I love you,” she said, pulling away enough to reach his face. “I should have told you before.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheeks, his brow, his lips, all the while whispering, “I love you, I love you,” over and over again.

He crushed her to him with a sound that was almost a sob, his lips capturing hers. He kissed her until she was breathless and dizzy before he released her with a ragged sigh.

“Don’t ever leave me again,” he said, leaning his forehead against hers.

“Never,” she agreed.

He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “You know what that means? I’ve done what I can to stay out of the spotlight, but there will always be photographers. There will always be private details splashed in the papers. My life will always be a little bit…crazy.”

“I know,” she said, smiling up at him. “I’m not saying I’ll enjoy all that, but it’s a small price to pay to be with the man I love.”

The smile he bestowed upon her took her breath away.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“Then maybe I should give this back to you.” He pulled her sapphire ring out of his pocket. “My strong, amazing, beautiful Stanzia… Marry me. For real this time.”

She laughed, so full of happiness she was sure it radiated from every pore. “Yes,” she said, her heart nearly jumping from her chest when he slipped the ring back on her finger.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the ring. “And you’ll move back into the house tonight. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

She laughed and then gasped, her stomach dropping. “Wait. I can’t.”

Luca’s face fell, his eyes widening.

“I want to,” she insisted, “I do. But…the girls…I can’t leave them…”

“Oh,” he said, letting out a sigh of relief and crushing her to him again. “God, you scared me.” He gave her a lingering kiss. “Don’t worry about the girls. I still have everything all set up for them. I don’t see any reason why the Family Aid organization wouldn’t approve me as a House Father, especially if you remain the House Mother. The girls were living with me anyway.”

“Luca, are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I want all my girls back home where they belong.”

“Oh, Luca,” she said, giving him a swift kiss. “Thank you so much.”

“Let’s sit for a second.” He pulled her down to the sand with him, tucking her into his chest with his arms wrapped about her and his legs on either side, keeping her cocooned from the cool breeze blowing in off the sea. “There’s something else I wanted to discuss with you.”

He still seemed happy, but there was something beneath the surface. He almost seemed nervous, anxious about something. “What is it?” she asked with a slight frown.

“I wanted to see how you’d feel about making some of the arrangements permanent. I mean more so than they already are.”

“What do you mean?” She thought she knew, but she was afraid to hope that much.

“If it would be all right with you, and with her, I’d like for us to adopt Elena.”

Constance gasped and flipped around in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist so she could hug him with her whole body. “Oh Luca, of course it’s okay with me. I never dreamed…” She pulled away to look at him though his smiling face was blurry through her tears. “Really?”

“Really,” he said with a little laugh. “I’ve sown enough wild oats.”

She snorted and he gave her a mock glare. “I think it’s time I settled down and had a family, and I always was one for instant gratification.”

She laughed. “Well, just this once, my love, I wholeheartedly approve.”

“Good,” he said, jumping up, bring her along with him. “Let’s go get our girls.”

Constance tugged on his hand, drawing him back to her. She reached up to cup his face, drawing him down for a kiss. “Mrs. Ballas is in charge for the night. You and I have some catching up to do.”