She looked up at him. Was it his imagination, or did she lean toward him just slightly? Enough for her magnetic pull to work on him. He leaned in. “Is it going to be theatrical?”
He had to replay her question in his mind before answering. With Rocco, theatrics were very likely. “Possibly.”
She smiled. “Am I allowed to bring my camera into your secret fishing cabin?”
She smelled spicy and floral, like orchids, roses, and patchouli, her scent heated and changed by the chemistry of her skin. He wanted to peel her clothes away and breathe her bare skin. “It’s not a fucking cabin.” He looked at the side of her neck as he spoke.
“No? I thought you were here for a fishing retreat.”
He lifted his gaze to her eyes, shocked to realize he was now only inches from her. “Are you coming or not?”
One corner of her lush mouth lifted. “What time?”
What time? Now. He wanted her right now. “Um. Four, I guess, or earlier. And yeah, bring your camera.”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“You know where we live?”
“Yes.”
His eyes caught hers and held them for a long second before he nodded. “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow at four.”
“Fancy, not formal.”
“Right.”
“Bye, Val.”
She bit her lip. His gaze snagged on the part her teeth pinched. He couldn’t speak, so he just pivoted and went to the stairs.
Chapter Thirteen
Mandy slowly surfaced from a deep sleep the morning of her wedding. She looked over to Rocco’s side of the bed, but he was already up and gone. She stretched, smiling as she thought of their last few nights together. He’d stayed present. They’d talked about their dreams, hopes, goals. They’d talked about the kids they had and would have. Having a dream to share with someone was the one thing, the only thing, Mandy had ever wanted from Rocco.
Her bedroom door opened and Zavi ran inside. He jumped on the bed and gave her a big hug, holding a white rose in his fist the whole time. She lifted the covers and offered him a snuggle, but he shook his head.
“No, Mom. I’m already dressed. See? Papa and I brought you a surprise.”
She hugged him again. “Did you? What is it?”
“Breakfast!” Rocco said as he came in carrying a tray loaded with steel-covered dishes and three plates. He set it on the small table on the other side of her room. Zavi scrambled off the bed and took one of the seats. Rocco smiled at her. “I thought we could have breakfast together, just the three of us, before this day erupts, and I don’t get to see you again until evening.”
“That was some good thinking, Rocco Silas.” She threw off the covers then got out of bed. She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Give me just a second.”
He didn’t let her go. “I’ll give you a lifetime.” His eyes were somber. “I can’t wait until you’re Mrs. Silas.”
“I can’t wait either.” She smiled up at him. “But the baby really needs to potty.”
He chuckled and let her go. When she came back into the room, breakfast had been spread out on the table. Zavi was sitting correctly in his seat, impatiently waiting to start. She kissed his head and took a seat next to him, across from Rocco at the little round table.
Zavi started to reach for some scrambled eggs, but Rocco stopped him with a frown.
“Gentlemen wait for ladies to go first.”
Zavi’s brows knitted. Mandy laughed and filled his plate. “And moms feed their starving children first.”
Zavi watched her load up his plate. He looked at Rocco. “I’m glad we’re getting a mom, Papa. I knew if I started calling her Mom, she’d be ours for real.”
Rocco nodded, a little smile touching the corners of his mouth. “Well played, son. Well played.”
Mandy was so filled with happiness that she thought the extra joy had to be spilling over somewhere. They ate and joked and talked about the coming day. She noticed Zavi kept eyeing one more dish that Rocco hadn’t uncovered. She assumed he’d brought a breakfast dessert of some sort.
“Now, Papa?” Zavi asked after Rocco had collected their dishes and stacked them back on the tray.
“Now.” He reached over and lifted the lid. Inside was a pink envelope and a rectangular box in silver foil wrapping. He handed her the envelope first. “It’s Ivy’s schedule for the day. Don’t let it stress you.”
Mandy shook her head. The past few days had been so busy, they’d mostly been a blur. It was a great help to have all the details laid out in one place for her. It only listed the things she needed to do, not all the tasks happening in the background to make her and Rocco’s wedding a special event.
She looked up at Rocco, surprised by one of the entries. “I have a massage this morning?”
“I thought it might help you relax. After that, it’s a whirlwind.”
Mandy stood up and leaned over the table, meeting Rocco halfway for a kiss. “Thank you.”
Zavi knelt on his seat. “Casey and I are getting a pizza all for ourselves, and we get to watch a movie in the big movie room.”
“That sounds very special. Of course, you’ll be standing with Papa at the ceremony.”