She placed her finger on his lips. “If you love her, and she loves you back, you will make every day count as if it might be the last. Nobody is promised tomorrow, no matter if you work in a bank or you put your life on the line as a first responder.”
True.
“All we can do is live and love and take care of our families with every breath we take.”
Tony nodded.
“But it’s ultimately her decision as to whether she wants to take on the role of firefighter’s wife.”
Tony wasn’t sure he wanted Mama thinking about him marrying just yet. “Mama, we’ve dated a few times, but I don’t want to leave you with the wrong impression.”
Mama smiled enigmatically but didn’t say anything.
Not wanting to pursue this conversation any further down the road Mama was headed, Tony stood. “What can I do to help get dinner ready?”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Over the next week, Tony spent every night off at Carm’s condo. He returned to Aspen Corners for work and fire station drills, but the dive-team members focused on swimming and individual skills, so he had more time to be with Carm. Once the team’s skills were more solid, they’d start training in the lakes again, because they’d need to learn to work in frozen lakes too. While Tony wanted to be up and running yesterday, he didn’t want anyone getting hurt because they answered a call before they were ready.
Carmella had given him a key to her place, and he tried to be there in time to prepare a nice meal for the two of them while she was still at work. He missed having her in the kitchen helping him cook, but she spent long days at the resort preparing for the onslaught of guests that would ramp up this coming Thanksgiving weekend.
Tonight, though, after having dinner at Mama’s, he chose to take Carm out to eat at her favorite Greek restaurant where they had dined over the summer. He wanted this evening to be special.
As they sipped their after-dinner drinks, Tony’s heart pounded. No amount of amaro was going to help his digestion tonight. His nervousness stemmed from the fact that he had a diamond ring in his pocket. After all these months, he knew with certainty Carm was the only woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He’d been waiting for the perfect moment but seeing the glow of the firelight on her face, she’d never looked more beautiful.
The time had come for Antonio Giardano Jr. to say what was in his heart and take the biggest step of his life. Without a word, he stood up, and Carmella gave him a puzzled look until the moment he went down on one knee and retrieved the ring box from his pocket. Her mouth formed an O as her eyes opened wide.
Tony could hardly hear the words he spoke due to the beating of his heart. “Carmella D’Alessio, would you do me the enormous honor of spending the rest of your life with me as my lover, my partner, and most especially my wife?” He opened the jeweler’s box and displayed the sparkling engagement ring. It wasn’t as elaborate or expensive as she deserved, but it was paid for. Tony waited.
She sputtered a moment, as if trying to find the words, and Tony started to worry when tears filled her eyes.
“Oh, Tony.” Her lips trembled. She pressed her fingertips to her lips as if to still their shaking.
Shit. Tony braced himself for a rejection. He should have waited longer. Sometimes his impulsiveness didn’t work out. However, until he heard her say no, he’d remain on his knee. Sweat broke out on his forehead and his heart pounded so loud he was afraid he’d just missed her response.
Carmella’s face broke into a smile. “Yes. A thousand times yes!” She launched herself at him; he grabbed onto her and held on tight, finally releasing the breath he’d been holding.
Tony heard the cheers from other patrons around them as he kissed her. He then fumbled to get the ring out of the box and on her hand before she changed her mind. She’d probably have to have it resized, because he easily slipped it down the length of her finger.
Carmella’s jasmine scent filled his nostrils as he cupped her face and placed another kiss on her lips. Engaged. He and Carmella were going to be married.
She’d said yes!
The kiss became more passionate, which only made the other patrons break out into rhythmic clapping to encourage them. As if they needed any encouragement.
When they sat down again, he added, “I don’t want to live a life without you in it, Carmella.”
“Me, either. But I’ll admit that the last thing I expected tonight was a proposal.” She placed the hand with his sparkling ring on it over his on the table. “I think I started to fall in love with you on Capitol Peak, Tony.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “When we had that heart-to-heart in the middle of the night, it was the first time you’d shown your vulnerable side to me.”
Vulnerability was sexy for women? Who knew?
“That conversation moved me in a way no other man’s ever had before.”
He cocked his head with a grin, not quite comfortable showing vulnerability but he was glad he had that night. “And here I thought women wanted macho, protective men.”
“While that’s part of the complete package, it’s not what tugged at my heartstrings.”
Tony thought back to when it had clicked for him that he was falling in love with her. “I know I first started to notice you as a woman when I placed that silly garter on your leg.”
“What was I before that?”
Okay, that didn’t come out right. “I mean as a woman I might be interested in dating. Not that I acted on it. My life did a one-eighty the next day, and the last thing I was thinking about was dating
