A Forever Love (24 page)

Authors: Maggie Marr

Tags: #FIC027020 FICTION / Romance / Contemporary; FIC044000 FICTION / Contemporary Women

He took a bite of her cake, knowing she’d notice if he didn’t eat every bite. “Oh my God, this is good.”

A giant smile spread over her face. She relaxed into her chair and clasped her hands in satisfaction. “I’ve wrapped up the rest for you to take home. Maybe share it with your brothers. I see Justin on the television; he looks too thin.”

Ha! He wouldn’t be sharing anything with his brothers anytime soon. After the dinner with Max and Max’s mother, he couldn’t imagine Justin wanting to break bread with him for quite a while. The earful he’d received from Leo had been enough for Anthony to want to escape work today. Sure, Leo and Devon wanted Max to get a paternity test, but then they had the arrogance to throw out words like loyalty and respect and family when all Anthony had done was voice what the three of them agreed needed to happen. They wanted proof of Max’s paternity. Not too much to ask, especially when dealing with a billion-dollar business.

“Have you heard from your sister lately?” Mrs. Bello’s last living relative aside from Shelly was a retired nun living in San Francisco.

“You are kind to ask. I have. She phoned just yesterday. Said to expect a surprise.”

Anthony smiled and tugged at his tie. “Surprises are nice.”

Mrs. Bello nodded. “Around Christmas. I know that seems forever from now, but it won’t be. Christmas will get here quick.”

Anthony forced his face to remain neutral. Christmas was four months away, but maybe the days flew by for Mrs. Bello. “You’ll come and be with all of us again, yes?” He sipped his espresso. The smell reminded him of his parents. His mother had drunk espresso every hour of the day.

“Oh, Anthony, I’d love that. Last year was magnificent. With the tree and the mass! And the children the Travati Foundation gives presents to.” She pressed her hands to her heart. “I loved every moment of seeing them so happy.” She took a long, deep breath. “If only I’d had my Shelly too, the day would have been perfect.”

Anthony swallowed. Yes, with Shelly there the day would have been perfect. Or the Shelly he’d known when he was a teenager and then while in college. He doubted that should Shelly return she’d be the same type of girl. Not with everything she’d done and seen and … He shook his head. He didn’t want to think of Mrs. Bello’s Shelly,
his
Shelly, having gone through everything she went through, especially after what he’d promised Vincent before he died.

Anthony had tried. Dammit, he’d tried. Five years ago, he’d tracked Shelly down in some hellhole roadhouse in Texas and couldn’t convince her to come home. She’d been strung out and not the same beautiful girl he remembered. Her eyes had held a scared wildness, her skin parchment thin, and her formerly lush blond hair limp and dirty. He’d been waiting for a horrible call about her demise since the last time he’d seen her.

“Have you heard from her?” Anthony asked. His voice remained steady even while his heart beat faster.

Again a small smile. “I did,” Mrs. Bello said. “Not too long ago.”

His eyebrow arched. “Is she still in Texas?”

“Nope, got a job in San Francisco.”

“Really? Where your sister is?”

Mrs. Bello nodded. “Oh Anthony, I can’t keep a secret.” She leaned forward and pressed her hand to Anthony’s knee. “That’s the surprise! My Shelly is coming home this year for Christmas.”

Anthony’s eyebrows pulled tight. “That is a surprise.” He couldn’t tell Mrs. Bello that he doubted Shelly would return, that she’d actually show up here for the holidays. How many times before had she told her grandmother she was coming home for a visit and then failed to return? “That will make for an extra special Christmas.”

“Yes,” Mrs. Bello said. “Yes it will.”

He’d spend the next four months managing Mrs. Bello’s expectations. Slowly getting her used to the idea that Shelly wouldn’t return for the holidays. Anthony knew she wouldn’t be here. He’d make this upcoming Christmas special for Mrs. Bello even without Shelly. He had four months to plan. Because if Shelly Bello actually came home to New York for Christmas, that would indeed be a surprise for him.

Chapter 24

The sealed envelope lay on the table in front of the couch in Justin’s office. He waited for his brothers. The door opened and the three Travati brothers filed into his office. He didn’t need to open the envelope or see the results. He knew. He knew that Max was his, and now so was Aubrey. There was no doubt in his mind.

Leo and Devon had the decency to at least appear repentant with an “I’m sorry” look in their eyes. Not Anthony. He walked into Justin’s office, head held high, an indignant look on his face. So be it. Should Anthony wish to be a complete prick, Justin would let him. They were brothers—it wasn’t as though they’d gotten to choose one another.

“The results are in the envelope.” Justin nodded toward the table. “Just as you asked. We had the test done.”

“You didn’t open it?” Devon nodded toward the table.

“I don’t need to,” Justin said. “I know Max is my son, and I also know the woman who is soon to be my wife.” His gaze landed on Anthony with the final word.

“Wife?” A smile spread over Leo’s face. “You and Aubrey? Congratulations, brother!” Leo reached out and pulled Justin into a hug. He slapped him on the back.

Next was Devon.

Anthony stood to the side. He tugged at his shirt cuff. “Congratulations,” he said coolly. “That still does nothing for our quandary.”

“Your results are there. Go on, open it,” Justin said as though he were daring his brother to lean over, pick up the envelope, and break the seal.

“Thank you, I will.” Anthony grasped the envelope and slipped it into his inside suit pocket. “I appreciate your willingness to appease my doubts.”

“Those results have nothing to do with
my
willingness,” Justin said. “They have everything to do with your nephew who wants a family that isn’t at odds. You can thank Max, not me.”

“Ah,” Anthony said. “My nephew.” He patted his hand to the front of his jacket pocket. “I guess we’ll see.”

A smile filled with sympathy crossed Justin’s face. Suddenly he understood exactly what was at play. Even Anthony knew the truth. Poor Anthony. He was fighting the urge to love, the urge to give his heart to another, even if it was his nephew. Would Anthony ever get over the losses he’d suffered? Now instead of anger, Justin simply felt sorry for his younger brother.

Anthony’s face reddened. His eyes clouded. He must have sensed the change in Justin’s thoughts. Anger Anthony could endure, but sympathy? That was like kryptonite to a Travati.

“When’s the wedding?” Devon asked, changing the subject.

“Two months. Rockwater Farms.”

“Oh man,” Devon said, his hand starting to scratch his arm. “Those wide-open spaces. Jeez. You couldn’t have said New York?”

The three brothers laughed. Justin glanced toward his office door just in time to see Anthony retreat. His younger brother would go lick his wounds, pretend not to feel, and then sometime before the wedding return to apologize to Justin. Eventually Anthony would be the most devoted of uncles to Max, Justin knew it. Anthony just needed to adjust to the idea of letting another person into his heart, because aside from his three brothers, whenever Anthony started to love, that person seemed to disappear from his life.

The day was bright. The morning had held a crisp chill in the air, but the early-autumn sun had breathed warmth into the day. Little bits of summer lingered in late September, but red was beginning to tinge the leaves on the trees in the timber. The wedding was small. Max was the best man and Nina the maid of honor. Scout and Dad gave Aubrey away.

She stood before an intimate group in the orchard at Rockwater Farms, her dress white and tea length with a small jacket made of lace. Her heart raced. Before her was the man who had danced through her dreams since she was in her early twenties.

How had she gotten here from there? She looked into Justin’s eyes. She never wanted to be without him again. This man. The father of her son. Her husband. And the father of their unborn child.

She wasn’t showing yet. A miracle really. That’s what the doctor said, and they hadn’t told anyone but Max … and Nina … well, and Justin’s three brothers … and of course Dad knew, but no one else. Only family and Cassidy, who was like family.

“I do,” Justin said. The words slid from his lips.

She’d heard so little of what they’d said. She’d been swimming in Justin’s gaze. The word
kiss
passed from the minister’s lips, and Justin pulled her toward him and his lips were on hers.

Heat rushed through her. Joy. Love. Her entire body tingled with a knowledge that this moment would forever be one of the best moments of her life, a memory that she would fall back into over and over and over again.

A cheer erupted from the small group of guests and a cheer in her heart that they were now officially a family. Justin pulled his lips from hers. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said.

“And I love you both,” Max threw an arm around each of them, and together the family of three walked down the aisle.

The End

About this Series

Thanks for reading
A Forever Love
, the sixth book in the Eligible Billionaires Series. I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews help other readers find books and I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Please take a moment and write a review for
A Forever Love.

The next book in the series is
A Billionaire for Christmas
, which is coming soon.

Books in the Eligible Billionaire Series:

Can’t Buy Me Love

One Night for Love

A Christmas Billionaire

Last Call for Love

Running from Love

A Forever Love

A Billionaire for Christmas
—coming soon

Omnibus:
Eligible Billionaires Books 1-3

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