Tessa gazed down at the round blue stone surrounded by dozens of smaller round diamonds. The slender platinum band was also encrusted with pave diamonds. “It’s gorgeous, Ian. I love it. And I’m glad you chose a sapphire since they’re my favorite.”
“Ah, but it’s not a sapphire, love – it’s a blue diamond,” he corrected. “Very rare and very precious. Just like yourself.” He gave her a sweet, soft kiss. “It reminded me of your eyes. And also of that dress you wore the night of the Christmas party. The night when I finally had real hope that a moment very much like this one might actually happen.”
She pulled his head down to hers for a much longer, much deeper kiss. “I love you,” she breathed. “And I am so honored, so proud, that you’re going to be my husband. You’re the most wonderful man in the whole world, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy every single day of our lives together.”
Ian hugged her tightly. “And I love you, my darling bride-to-be. Speaking of which, do you recall when I told you during Julia and Nathan’s wedding that I had a very special place picked out for our own special day?”
She nodded, smiling. “It’s here, isn’t it? That’s why you were so mysterious. You wanted me to see the villa first. And yes, I love it here. I would love having our wedding here in Tuscany.”
He chuckled. “We might have a bit of a problem hosting so many guests here, though. And as beautiful as this place is, how much I’ve always enjoyed coming here, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind. Though it is very similar. Remember when we first drove up through the gates two days ago and you told me this place reminded you of somewhere?”
Tessa nodded. “Of course.”
“Well, I gave a great many photographs of this villa to Nathan and told him this was the feeling I wanted to capture when he came up with the designs for our new hotel in Napa. And while there are a number of differences, the entire resort is being built to resemble a Tuscan villa. And that, my love, is where I hope to make you my bride.”
She gasped in delight. “Oh, what a wonderful idea! I love it, absolutely love it! I know exactly what you mean now – why this villa looked so familiar. I was remembering all the drawings I’d seen of the new hotel. So we would hold our wedding there on the grounds?”
“Yes, that’s what I was hoping. Right now we’re scheduled to hold the grand opening the second week of June. My plan,” he added with a wide smile, “was to marry about a week before that time, so that ours would be the first wedding ever held in the place. And so that we would also be the very first guests to stay there as well.”
“That’s what you meant by another first. And I couldn’t think of a more perfect time or place to get married. Yes, absolutely. As usual, you think of everything.”
Tenderly, he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “One more thing I just thought of. Do you realize what other day this is, darling?”
Tessa arched a bow. “No, I can’t honestly say that I do. What day is it today?”
Ian’s eyes twinkled merrily. “It’s a Wednesday.”
THE END
Books by Janet Nissenson
Serendipity – Julia and Nathan’s story – published December 2013
Splendor – Tessa and Ian’s story – published June 2014
COMING SOON
All You Need Is Love – A Serendipity wedding novella
Shattered – Angela and Nick’s story
Sensational – Lauren and Ben’s story
Serenity – Sasha and Matthew’s story
Stronger – Cara and Dante’s story
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Ninteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Epilogue