"Joseph Barone, you gave me a priceless gift and I wasn't worthy of it. But I ask you to reconsider." She smiled at him tentatively. "I love you," she said, tears in her eyes.

He reached out to cup her face in his hands. "I love you too, " he said at last.

"I... Will you marry me?" she asked, holding up a small jewelry box.

"Hell, yes." He scooped her off her feet and carried her into the house.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he bounded up the steps, then laid her on the center of his bed. He pushed off his jeans and briefs in one quick moment, then moved to cover her.

"Don't you want to know what changed my mind?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"Later," he said, testing her and finding her wet and ready for his possession.

He thrust into her body, slid his arms up under her legs, folding them gently back toward her body. She moaned a deep husky sound that he'd die remembering and met him thrust for thrust.

Only when they were both shuddering with completion could he begin to think about their future. He knew he wasn't going to be able to wait long for a wedding.

He rolled off of her and cuddled her against him. "I'm never letting you go."

"Me neither," she said.

"I want to get married right away." Life had taught him to grasp the things he wanted and hold them close.

She nodded. "My dad and brothers have to be there."

"I want to meet them."

"They want to meet you too. I'm sorry I kept you from knowing them. I was afraid I couldn't have you and them."

"Why?"

"Love is a huge responsibility."

"Not always. Love is sharing."

"I didn't know that until I met you."

She raised herself up on her elbow and kissed him. He knew she meant the embrace to be a soft, caring one, but he'd been denied her for too long and lust reawakened in him.

"Are we done talking?" he asked.

"Why?"

He took her hand and guided it to his erection. "As long as I know you love me, everything will be fine."

Everything was fine. He made love to her all night and called in sick to work in the morning. He'd finally found the one woman he'd been searching for.

 

Epilogue

Their wedding day dawned bright and sunny. It seemed crazy but only three days had passed since she'd visited Joe's house and asked him to marry her. But he didn't want to wait another minute to start their life as man and wife.

Holly watched nervously from Joe's bedroom window as his family, her family and their friends gathered around the pool.

She'd have felt a lot better if her mom were with her today. But this morning her father had given her the rose-charm necklace that her mother had worn every day. She'd been so touched to have something of her mother's on her neck.

They'd asked Gina to be maid of honor, and Nick was standing up for Joe.

"Ready, Holly?" her dad asked from the doorway.

"Yes," she said, hurrying to his side.

She walked down the stairs and out onto the deck where Joe waited. He smiled at her and she felt her heart stop. She'd never expected love to feel like this. She'd never expected Mr. Right to look like him. She'd never dreamed happily-ever-after was in the cards for her.

But now she knew it was her destiny. The fate that Joe and she would make together.

She walked to him on a cloud of feeling and exchanged vows in a haze. The only part she was truly aware of was when he lowered his head to kiss her.

"You're mine," he said.

"And you are mine."

Their families and friends clapped and cheered. Holly was aware that she'd found the one man she'd spent her life searching for.... Well, maybe he'd found her.