The Broken One (Corisi Billionaires, #1)(70)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR



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SEBASTIAN

I never thought I’d feel anything this deeply again. Yet all it took was a look from Heather to tangle me up on the inside—in the most amazing way.

I loved seeing her with my family. My parents’ thoughts were an easy read—I knew they approved of how she’d taken Ava in. I wasn’t sure how a career woman would get on with my mother, but they already seemed comfortable around each other. My father hadn’t stopped smiling since we’d walked in.

My brothers overwhelmed Heather when she was first introduced to all of them at once, but as soon as they started giving me shit, she relaxed. For an only child, she didn’t seem to mind my loud, chaotic family. Nothing my family could have said would have swayed my decision to ask Heather to marry me, but their acceptance of her was important to me.

During dinner, Heather and I sat closest to my parents. They asked Heather enough questions to write a book, but she didn’t seem to mind. On my other side, Ava sat quietly with big eyes while my brothers bantered back and forth. I was considering moving her closer to Heather when I saw Gian motion toward Ava.

Conversation on that side of the table quieted. “Ava,” Gian asked, “did you bring Wolfie with you?”

“You know Wolfie?” Her little jaw dropped open.

“We all do,” he said. “We met him the day Sebastian saved him from the side of the road. How is he?”

She leaned forward. “He’s in the car because of Sara. Wolfie has his own puppies now. Eight. And a wife—Wolfina.”

“That’s great,” Gian said.

Mauricio asked Ava what grade she was in, and her shyness fell away. She told them about her teacher, her friends at school, the boy who pooped himself and tried to hide his underwear in his cubby. My brothers didn’t have to prompt her to hear about Charlotte and her brothers. No one would ever have to worry that Ava would run out of things to say.

After dinner but before dessert, my brothers and I cleared the table. In the shuffle, I pulled Ava aside. “Ava, I’m about to ask your mother to marry me. Do you know what that means?”

“Maybe,” she said with confidence.

“It means that I’m going to ask her if she wants to be my family. If she says yes, we’ll have a wedding, and then you both will live with me. Would you like that?”

“You’d be my daddy?”

I swallowed hard. “If you want me to be.”

She pulled on my arm until I bent down, and she gave me one of her tight-around-the-neck hugs. “I want a daddy.”

“My parents would be your grandparents. Your Nonna and Papa.”

“Really?”

“If you want more grandparents.”

“Wow.”

“And my brothers would be your uncles.”

“A big family.” Ava’s expression turned serious. “I hope Mommy says yes.”

“She will,” I assured my little peanut. “But there’s something I need you to do. Could you hold on to the ring until I ask for it?” I handed her the box that held a flawless two-carat diamond.

She opened it and said, “It’s so pretty.”

“You think she’ll like it?”

Ava nodded, closed the box, and looked down at her dress. “I have a pocket.” She stuffed the small box inside.

“Good thinking,” I said. “Now let’s go back in, and you take good care of that ring for me until I ask for it, okay?”

She gave me a confident thumbs-up and followed me back into the dining room.

When we returned to the table, cannoli were waiting on dessert plates. Ava rushed to take her seat.

Heather gave me a curious look.

I tried to appear innocent.

Once everyone was seated again, I tapped my fork against the side of my glass of water. All eyes turned to me, and conversation died away.

I stood and took Heather by the hand. She rose to stand beside me. “Heather, I don’t know if it was chance or something greater that brought us together, but I’m grateful for whatever it was. You’ll probably never know how much meeting you has brought me back to my life. I love you and Ava.” I dropped down to one knee. “Marry me and let’s be a family.”

“Yes. Yes. Yes,” Heather said, holding out her hand.

I gave my coat pocket a pat. “Hmm, I had it with me earlier.” I felt around the breast pocket of my jacket. “No, just dice in there.”

Heather blushed.

I continued, “Where could I have put that ring?”

Mauricio joked, “Small things are easy to misplace. I’m sure you’ll find it.”

Ava jumped up. “I have it. I have your ring.”

Heather teared up when her daughter came to stand with us and handed me the ring box. Ava’s eyes rounded as I slid the ring onto Heather’s finger.

“Can I have the box?” Ava asked.

“You sure can,” Heather said, “because I’m never taking this ring off.”

I kissed her then. It wasn’t the kiss I would have given her had we been alone, but it held a promise of a future together.

“I’m so glad she said yes,” Ava said to the table in general, and there was a round of laughter.