*Bianca*
One Month Later
“I’m telling you that these peonies will be much more fitting.”
I turned my head and rolled my eyes fondly at Amara, who was giving Isabella an exasperated look.
Isabella huffed. “Who uses peonies for weddings?” she asked. “It’s roses all the way. Everyone knows that!”
I watched my two best friends bicker as they continued to dish out plans for my wedding. I just leaned back in my chair. Neither of the girls have bothered to ask my opinion on things for the past hour we were occupying one of our favorite coffee shops. That’s how I wanted it though. I told them that I wasn’t too interested in the minor details.
Amara was thrilled to hear it and as maid of honor, she was taking her role very seriously.
Amara shook her head decisively. “Roses are far too typical for soone like Bianca,” she argued firmly. “And peonies are big, bright and beautiful! They are the only option.”
“We could have both,” I suggested, finally speaking for the first ti in the last hour.
Both girls turned to look at , surprised expressions on their faces as if they truly had forgotten I was even there.
“That’s true,” Isabella muttered.
“Fine,” Amara said reluctantly. “If that’s what you want. You are the bride after all.”
I took a sip of my decaf mocha latte, my eyes fluttering shut at the smooth chocolatey flavor. I sat back in the plush booth we were occupying. After setting my mug down, I stroked the defined bump beneath my sweater, marveling at how firm it felt under my clothes.
I couldn’t believe that I was already five months along. This baby was going to be here before we knew it.
As I thought about all of the things that had happened since I got pregnant, I got a little dizzy. It was insane to think about how close I ca to losing Leo last month, how close we ca to our lives being very different.
Above all, I was just so grateful and feeling so blessed that I had a wonderful fiance, kind friends and a healthy baby on the way.
Life was everything I could ever hope for, despite all of the turmoil I endured to get here.
“So, what were you thinking for music?” Amara asked , cutting into my thoughts. “Like, what song do you want to walk down the aisle to? Do you want to keep it traditional with the wedding march or sothing more unique?”
“You can’t go wrong with the good ol’ wedding march,” Isabella chid in.
Amara gave her an exasperated look. “Let’s see what the bride wants,” she suggested.
The two continued to bicker and I just laughed, giving them both a fond look.
I could understand their eagerness. We didn’t have a ton of ti to plan this wedding since we wanted to have it before the baby ca.
Since we didn’t have loads of ti to plan, we decided to just have a small ceremony with our closest family mbers and friends. Both Leo and I preferred that anyway since neither of us really cared to be the center of attention.
My heart thudded as I thought about the fact that before too long, I was going to be a married woman. It wasn’t sothing that I really thought about much. I kind of assud I would marry soday but that was always in the distant future, far too much past the horizon for to truly sit with.
Now that Leo and I were together, I found that I wanted it more than I have ever desired anything. While Leo and I were already living together and not too much would change when we were married, I couldn’t help but think this was going to bring us even closer together.
I got out of my car and trotted up to the front steps of the compound with a little bounce in my step. I had a nice ti with the girls but I was excited to be back ho.
I jumped when the door opened as I reached for the knob, revealing Darion. He blinked in surprise at seeing there.
I smirked at him. ‘What’s with that face?” I asked teasingly. “I do live here too y’know.”
I studied Darion’s face. He looked more than a little dead. He had defined bags under his eyes and was looking rather pale.
I knew it was because he was working really hard to prove himself worthy as the future don. Ever since Leo was rescued, Darion completely took over his duties while both Leo and Franky recovered from their injuries.
I was so indebted to Darion now for more than one reason. Not only did he save Leo’s life, but he was taking over as the leader of the Valentinos so that Leo could leave and be with and the baby.
I was still amazed by the fact that I had hated him and was extrely suspicious of him not that long ago. Now, I kind of thought of him as a brother of sorts.
Darion smirked down at but it wasn’t quite as mischievous as it normally was. His eyelids drooped slightly with fatigue. “Just shocked because I didn’t see you at first. You’re lucky I didn’t step on you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Short jokes, really?” I asked. “That’s what you’re going with?”
Taylor, who was standing behind Darion, laughed and shook his head. “You are on the short side, Bianca,” he said with a good-natured shrug.
I glared teasingly at my friend before giving the two an odd look. “Shouldn’t you guys be down at the warehouse?” I asked suddenly. “Why are you still here?”
Taylor opened his mouth to respond but Darion beat him to it, shrugging his shoulders and suppressing a yawn. “When your boss calls asking you to co back to ask for help with a surprise, you can’t exactly just say no,” he said. Then, as an afterthought, “Although, I have tried that and it did not go over well. I wouldn’t recomnd it.”
“Surprise?” I echoed, picking out the most important word of that sentence easily.
I reeled when Taylor’s eyes narrowed and his hand snapped out to smack Darion in the back of the head.
“Hey!” Darion snapped, looking back at him with annoyance.
Taylor ignored him and grinned at , putting a hand on Darion’s back and shoving him out the door. “Sorry we can’t stay, Bianca. You know how it is. Duty calls!”
I narrowed my eyes after them suspiciously for a mont before shrugging my shoulders. Those two can be so weird sotis.
I was eager to get inside so before another second could pass, I slipped my key into the door before shoving it open.
I smiled softly at the sight that greeted .
My fiance was fast asleep on the couch, his dark hair falling over his forehead. His mouth was just slightly parted, his annoyingly long lashes tickling his cheekbones.
I quickly put my bag down and slipped my shoes off, kicking them to the side. I sauntered up to the couch, carefully ducking my head and slipping beneath his arms that were crossed over his chest. I had to suppress a shiver at the delicious warmth that suddenly engulfed as I settled on his chest. Miraculously, Leo remained peacefully asleep.
I stared at his face. The fact that he was sleeping so deeply showed just how exhausted he had been lately. He was healing up nicely, most of his major injuries were all healed up. He still had trouble walking around but his leg should be as good as new in a couple weeks as well. Until then, he was confined to the house, which he had not been taking kindly to.
It didn’t shock that he was an awful patient. He couldn’t stay in bed all day. My man needed to be moving around.
I shifted so that I could kiss him on the lips. That was when he finally started to stir, his dark eyes fluttering open. He blinked owlishly at before smiling softly, wrapping his arms around and pulling more snugly against him.
“I could get used to waking up just like this,” he said, pressing his mouth to my forehead.
I humd appreciatively and put my cheek against his, enjoying the way his stubble lightly grazed my skin. “It’s a good thing that we live together and that I’m going to be your wife soon.”
He sighed heavily and stroked his hands up and down my back. “I can’t wait,” he breathed in my ear.
I giggled. “Really?” I asked. “Even though not much is going to change once we’re married since we’re already living together?”
“Of course I an it,” he said, sounding slightly affronted that I asked. He gave a tender look that had my heart stuttering. “I can’t wait to be able to call you my wife. That ans forever and I want to be bound legally because that ans one more step closer to being tied to you in all ways.”
“Leo,” I breathed, touched by his words. I reached up to cup the side of his face, my thumb absentmindedly tracing one of the scars he had from being tortured. I didn’t mind it. He looked so sexy with his new scars in my opinion.
We held onto each other for several minutes, just basking in one another’s presence. I truly didn’t want this quiet mont to pass. This past month had been completely blissful with Leo being ho and safe with . Finally, the drama and turmoil were behind us.
I was unwilling to break the miraculous silence but curiosity was eating away at . I rested my chin on Leo’s firm chest so that I could look him in the eye. “Darion ntioned sothing about a surprise,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “I wonder what he was talking about.”
Leo stiffened and I heard him curse Darion quietly under his breath before he patted my hip. “Let’s go upstairs,” he said to . “There’s sothing I need to show you.”
I slipped off of his body, allowing him to stand before I took his hand. He was limping a bit but he was more than capable of moving around on his own so I let him take the lead up the stairs. My heart rate picked up when he put his hand on the doorknob of the nursery.
My jaw dropped when he pushed the door open.
The nursery, which had been a ss of boxes and unopened baby supplies, was now completed. Beautiful sky-blue paint covered the top half of the walls while a forest green covered the bottom. The white crib was built and tucked lovingly into a corner. There were animal plushies and toys on the various pieces of furniture.
Best of all was the platypus thed mobile that hung above the crib, the little webbed-foot plushies grinning.
I just stood there in stunned silence for a long mont. I jumped when Leo’s hands snaked around my waist and he tugged so that my back was against his front. “Do you like it?” he asked and I was shocked to hear a touch of uncertainty in his voice.
I whirled around in his arms. “Of course I do!” I practically shrieked. “Thank you so much! It’s absolutely perfect!”
I leaped up to wrap my arms around his neck and he laughed in relief before capturing my lips with his, squeezing to him tightly.
We stayed just like that for several minutes, connected by a searing kiss that I never wanted to end.
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