“Why the tears?” he whispered in my ear, rubbing my cheek with the rough pad of his thumb.
“I’m just happy.” I touched his hand, moving into his touch, and leaned to the side to kiss him.
He smiled, moving toward me, and enveloping my lips in a loving kiss. “I can’t wait to call you my wife.” He searched my eyes, a small smile on his face. “You’ll be mine legally.”
“I’ve always been yours, City.” I smiled, warmth flowing through my body. He’d never let me think otherwise. He laid claim to me early in the relationship and never let me too far out of reach. No matter how scared I was or how hard I tried to fight him, the pull he had over me was too great.
The cocky grin I could no longer live without spread across his face as he grunted. “There’s no going back now, sugar.” He crushed his lips to mine, stealing my breath, the familiar dull ache returned between my legs.
“You two are kinda nauseating,” Anthony said, pretending to gag.
We both turned to glare at Anthony. City cleared his throat. “Someday you’ll understand, brother.”
“Not going to happen,” he said, grimacing before stuffing a piece of bread in his mouth. “I have too much to offer to be tied to just one woman,” he said with a muffled voice and small pieces of bread falling from his mouth.
“Yeah, I can see that. Who couldn’t resist such a specimen of a man?” I said, breaking out into laughter.
Mrs. G pushed back her chair to stand; the sound of the wooden chair scraping against the slate flooring sent a chill through my body, reminding me of fingernails on a chalkboard. “Alright boys, the ladies are done and we’re going to work on the wedding plans. Get this place cleaned up.” She raised an eyebrow and looked around the table. The boys, including Mr. G, nodded at her but grumbled under their breath. “Come on ladies, we have work to do. We have eight days to make it perfect.”
Mia, Izzy, and I rose from our chairs and followed Mrs. G out of the dining room. “I can’t believe I’m going to have a sister,” Izzy said, throwing her arms around me. “Finally, the tables are turning. We’re so close to equalizing the cock in this family,” she whispered in my ear, a small giggle escaping her lips.
“That’s not possible,” Mia said as she walked behind us. “All the vaginas in the world couldn’t outnumber those boys. They’re too…” Her voice trailed off.
“Full of themselves,” Mrs. G chimed in, turning to face us. All of us laughed as we walked up the stairs. Gallo men were unique, and we knew it. “It’s my fault. I made them who they are, but never fear ladies; we control everything, even though they think otherwise.”
We sobered, hanging on her every word. “You control them, Ma. We sure as hell don’t.” Izzy rested her body against the wall outside the wedding war room I’d created.
“I’ll share my secrets when we’re inside and out of the boys’ earshot. They don’t need to know who really holds the power. It may bruise their male egos,” she said, her body shaking with laughter.
“Come on, ladies. Be prepared, its organized chaos inside.” I smiled as I opened the door, standing back to let them walk in first.
“Wow,” Mia said as she stepped inside and looked around with her mouth agape.
“Holy shit,” Izzy said, stepping into the room with wide eyes as she spun around.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, dear,” Mrs. G said as she put her arm around me and gave me a tight squeeze as we entered the bedroom.
I smiled at her, blushing. “We haven’t made it into a bedroom yet. We’re using it for the wedding only right now. It is pretty damn cool, isn’t it?”
“Will it be a nursery?” Mrs. G looked at me with hopeful eyes.
“Maybe someday.” I smiled, my stomach in knots.
We weren’t ready for a baby, not just yet. I had too much City left to enjoy.
“No worries. I have all the faith in you, my sweet Suzy.” She released me and walked toward the gown.
My body warmed from her sincerity and love as I took in the most important women in my life, all in one spot and without our testosterone other halves.
“This is stunning,” Mrs. G said, running her fingers across the lace skirt of my wedding gown.
“Joey is not allowed in this room anymore. I can’t risk him seeing my dress.” I shook my head. He begged me to wear it for him, he wanted to dirty it—his words not mine—before I walked down the aisle. That wasn’t going to happen.
“Good idea,” Mrs. G said, smiling at me.