Page 281 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

Just like Cara and her love and soul.

A ruby was perfect.

He slipped it back into his pocket for the time being.

“Gian?”

At the sound of Cara’s sleepy call of his name, Gian was up off the chair and crossing the room. He slipped into bed with Cara easily, his arms snaking around her body to pull her in close. There, he could hold her still, feel her warmth, and hide away from the world for a short time.

“Afternoon,” he murmured into her hair. “Chris and Corrado are still asleep, so you can rest some more, if you need to.”

Cara sighed. “I swear, I have an internal alarm now. I wake up before the twins do, in preparation for them.”

Gian kissed the top of her head. “That might be very true.”

“There’s no ‘might be’ about it, Gian. The boobs know.”

His laughter rocked them both in the bed. Cara’s lips curved into a sweet smile against the column of his throat. “They do have a job to do, now.”

“Apparently.” Cara tipped her head back so she could look up at him, her wild red curls splaying over the pillow. “Gian?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you marry me?”

He stiffened in the bed, his gaze darting down to meet hers. “You couldn’t even let me ask, could you?”

Cara shrugged, her sly smile teasing him. “I saw you looking at the ring. I figured … well, I should save you the trouble.”

“You’re supposed to let meask, Cara. I’ve waited a long time for this.”

“It is a beautiful ring.”

“Cara.”

“Ask,” she whispered before pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

Gian let his fingertips dance over Cara’s side, tickling her. Her giggles rang out at the same time a quiet set of matching, perfectly-timed cries started from the baby monitor.

“Shit,” he muttered.

Cara winked as she pushed up from the bed. “I may be queen of the house, but I still answer to the little ones. Fun is over. The princes call, Gian.”

And they would keep calling, he knew.

Marcus, too.

Plus, every other person that interrupted their daily life time and time again.

Gian grabbed Cara’s wrist at the last second, stopping her from climbing off the bed. He could deal with getting the ring on her at another time. He only needed to ask.

“Marry me, Cara,” Gian said. “Please, marry me?”

Cara crawled back over the bed, kissed him hard once, and replied, “Do you expect any other answer but yes?”

“Not really, but I’m worried that if I don’t ask right now, I will never get the chance to ask. So please, Cara, will you let me love you like this, too? I’m already happy, whole, and lucky because of you, but will you marry me, too?”

“Yes, Gian.”