Max took a deep breath and shook off the last few minutes of conversation. He loved Tara, and she loved him. They were nothing like his parents. He squared his shoulders. “Uncle Alessandro, do you have an engagement ring I could give Tara?”
Alessandro’s face beamed with joy. “We have Nonna Felisa’s. She was my mother’s mother. Elise wore it for a time when we first married, but replaced it with an anniversary ring. I’ll ask her, but I know what she’ll say. She adores Tara already.”
Max looked around the room at the large number of people gathered. “I want to ask Tara privately, but then announce it to the family. Could we keep this low-key?”
Alessandro let out a hearty laugh and nodded. “Si, si. Low-key. Victor, do you see Elise?”
Victor pointed to where Alessandro’s wife and his own were standing together. “There.”
Alessandro turned to walk toward them with Victor. As they did, Max heard him say, “I’ll get the ring and prepare the patio for them. It’s cold. We’ll need heaters. And music . . .”
Victor said, “Katrine has an event planner on speed-dial . . .”
Max turned to his brothers. “Why do I have the feeling I asked for a snowball but set off an avalanche?”
Chapter Eighteen
If Tara were the paranoid type, she would have said Julia and Rena were deliberately trying to confine her to the home’s kitchen. They had asked her to help them locate a platter Julia had left there during a prior visit. The description of the dish was as inconsistent as the story of why it was important to find it that evening. They had also been vague about why asking Elise, Katrine, or any of the house staff was not a more efficient way of finding it.
After looking through each of the kitchen cabinets twice, Tara leaned back against one of the counters and folded her arms. “Does this platter even exist?”
Julia’s eyes rounded, and she looked across at Rena. “Of course it does. What a silly question. Why would we have you looking for it if it didn’t?”
Rena eyes went to the kitchen door, then back to Julia. “Did we look in the pantry?”
Tara pursed her lips and raised a brow. “Three times.”
Maddy burst into the kitchen. “So this is where you are.”
Rena rushed to her side. “Maddy, we’re doing fine in here. Everything is going perfectly. Why don’t you go see if your father needs you?”
Maddy’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t trust me not to say something.”
I knew it. What are these ladies up to? Tara kept her expression as bland as possible. They were too sweet to be cooking up anything that malicious. Still, Tara knew plotting when she saw it.
Julia put her arm around Maddy and started guiding her back out of the room. “That’s not it at all.”
Left alone with Rena, Tara said in a confidential tone, “I know what you’re doing. Care to tell me why?”
Rena smiled shamelessly. “No, but if you try to leave this kitchen I may have to tackle you.”
“Is Max planning a surprise for me?” Tara asked, anticipation making her voice breathier than normal. When Rena said nothing, Tara continued, “Searching for a platter was actually a good plan.”
Rena relaxed slightly and went to stand beside Tara. “Thanks. It was my idea.”
Tara tapped her fingertips on the counter by her side. “Not going to tell me more than that?”
“Nope.”
“Maddy would have spilled the whole thing.”
“In a heartbeat,” Rena said and laughed softly.
“Julia, too. She’s a softie. And she likes me.”
“I like you, but I’m still not telling you anything.”
“It’s a good surprise, right?”
“The best.”
“Does Max know about it?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Is it something I’ll have to unwrap?” Tara asked, carefully watching Rena’s expression.
“I’ve already said too much.”
“You haven’t said anything.”
Max walked into the kitchen and Rena let out a laugh of relief. “Thank God. Five minutes, my ass. I would’ve come up with something better if I’d known you would’ve taken this long.”
Max shot her a grateful smile. “I’ll take over from here.”
Rena was about to walk out of the room then turned, rushed back, and hugged Tara tightly. She let go and said, “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” As she walked out of the room she shot Max a thumbs up.
Max wrapped his arms around Tara’s waist and pulled her to him for a quick kiss. He released her and shrugged off his jacket, then draped it across her shoulders. “I have something outside I want to show you.”
“Outside?” What would Max give her that he’d keep outside? If it was another car, she had to admit this time she’d accept it. Hell, if it were an elephant, she’d find a place to keep it. Whatever it was, Max had gone to a lot of trouble to give it to her and that’s all that mattered. She slid her hand into his and followed him happily down the hall and out the side door of the house. Their path was conveniently clear of people, which lent even more anticipation to the moment.
They stepped out onto the large stone patio of the Andrade home. The large glass doors of the home were covered on the inside by beautiful curtains. The expansive lawn that surrounded the home was hidden in the dark, creating an intimate setting, illuminated by lanterns and warmed by heaters. Bouquets of white flowers lined the area like romantic snowdrifts. A violinist played soft music in the background, present but out of view.
This couldn’t be what she thought it was.
Max took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. “You’ve been happy this past month, haven’t you?”
Tara found it difficult to breathe, never mind speak, so she merely nodded.
“So have I,” Max said simply, running one hand lightly through her hair. “You excite me, challenge me. Most importantly, I’m a better person when I’m with you. Not just to others, but on the inside.” He dropped down onto one knee and held out a ring. “This is my great grandmother’s ring. It has graced two happy marriages.”
Tara put out a shaky hand. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
He slid the ring onto her finger. “Asking implies I’d accept no as an answer. In gambling, there is always a time when a person has to decide what their maximum bet will be . . . how much they’re willing to risk for a chance to win it all. There is no maximum risk when it comes to us—because I don’t consider you a risk. You dared me once to believe in something, anything. I believe in us, Tara. You and me. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.”
With tears in her eyes, Tara leaned down and kissed Max on the mouth, whispering, “Yes,” between kisses. “I love you so much, Max.”
Max stood and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, too.” They kissed deeply, then he raised his head and groaned. “Remember how much you said you liked my family?”
Tara froze. “Yes?”
“Keep that in mind as you turn around.”
Tara slowly looked over her shoulder and burst out laughing. The curtains of the house had been pulled back and the large glass doors, along with every enormous window on either side of them, were filled to capacity with his family smiling and waving. Her parents were squeezed between his uncles and their wives, looking both happy and a little shell-shocked. The glass reflected the fireworks that went off in the sky behind Tara and Max, and they both jumped at the boom that followed.
Tara leaned into Max’s arms, loving how naturally they closed around her. With a huge smile on her face, she said, “Your family is crazy.”
Max kissed the side of her neck. “You’re my family now. What does that make you?”
Tara turned in his arms and took his face between her hands. “The happiest woman on the planet.”
Continuing to nuzzle her neck, Max asked, “Does that mean I can finally buy that rope?”
Laughing, Tara pulled her head back. “Is that seriously what you’
re thinking about right now?”
Max playfully defended his train of thought. “You said happy. I thought about how to make you even happier. Tying you to my bed wasn’t a big leap for me.”
Tara burst out laughing, and he joined her. “It had better be a soft rope.”
“The rope will be the only soft thing in the room,” he said and pulled her against the evidence of his arousal.
Tara laughed again while shifting closer to him and rubbing herself discreetly against his erection. The fireworks continued to go off behind them, the sound of their boom vibrating through both of them. “What do you have planned for after the fireworks?” Tara asked huskily.
“The shortest engagement announcement in history,” Max murmured, bending to kiss Tara’s ear.
Chapter Nineteen
A week later Max and Tara hosted a dinner at the estate on Slater Island where he and Tara had spent time together. They kept the guest list short: Gio, Julia, Nick, Rena and Luke. He’d told his family he’d asked them there because he wanted their opinion of the property. None of them had seemed overly enthusiastic regarding Max’s plans to tear the homes down.
Near the end of the meal, Max stood up and said, “I spent a good portion of my life angry even though I told myself I wasn’t. It took meeting Tara to open my eyes to what I was doing.” He looked down at Tara, then across at Luke. “Don’t be upset that I heard her and not you. I know you’ve said the same for years.”
Luke raised a glass to his brother and joked, “At least you acknowledge my wisdom.”
Max nodded. “I do. And that of Uncle Alessandro. He has always said family was his priority, and I believe him now. He doesn’t judge anyone. He loved our father despite his faults. And he welcomed me, all of us, back into his home without ever asking us to apologize for all the hateful things we’ve said to him over the years. I spent a lot of time focusing on what I thought people had done wrong, but tonight I want to acknowledge what our family has done right.”
Nick said lightly, “We couldn’t get Max to say more than two words to us for years; now he won’t shut up.” Gio gave Nick a warning look that Nick laughed off. “Not complaining,” Nick said with a shameless smile, “just making an observation.”
Rena smiled and shook her head. “Will you let your brother speak, please?”
Julia rushed across the room and returned with a box of tissues. “Just in case. I can see where this is going, and I cry at beautiful moments like this.”
Tara held out her hand, and Julia passed her the box. Tara’s eyes were already misty.
Max smiled across at Tara. She dabbed beneath one eye, gave him a tearful smile, and nodded her encouragement. Max reached into a bag he’d placed beside his chair and took out a small pile of envelopes. As he handed an envelope to each of his brothers, he said, “Isola Santos is where our family used to gather. We can’t change that it wasn’t the place it should have been for us, but we can create something for ourselves. I purchased this row of houses with the intention of knocking them down and putting a resort here. I changed my mind after meeting Tara and getting to know the people on this island. I’ve deeded a home here to each of you. Renovate it or knock it down and build your own. No matter what happens, we’re family—and we’re Andrades. Let this island be where we prove that.”
Gio stood and tucked his envelope into his jacket pocket. His eyes shone with emotion. He reached out and gave Max a pat on the shoulder. Julia blew her nose into a tissue.
Tara looked at the one envelope left in Max’s hand and urged Max on with a lift of her chin. Max laid it down on the table and said, “I had originally bought four houses, but I recently paid an outrageous amount of money to purchase an additional home to the south. For Gigi.”
Julia gasped, stood, and hugged Gio tearfully. “He bought a house for your half-sister.”
Gio nodded with approval. “That’s Max. He does what he wants.”
Tara crossed to stand next to Max. “She doesn’t know it yet, but she has a wonderful family. She’ll see it one day.”
Max hugged her. With Tara at his side, Max believed anything was possible.
Nick walked over and gave Max a hug. Rena followed and did the same.
The doorbell rang. A moment later one of the house staff Max had recently hired said, “There is a Michael at the door with a pastry delivery.”
Max and Tara exchanged a look and burst out laughing. They laughed even harder when no one else in the room found the announcement funny.
Tara wiped the happy tears that were brimming over into her mascara. “It’s Waffle.”
Max hugged Tara closer and kissed her hair. “And his mom’s fucking pie.”
Nick looked across at Gio. “Do you think there’s something in the water?”
Max chuckled and told his staff to set another plate at the table. “You’ll understand when you meet him.”
Gio frowned and asked, “You’re inviting a man named Waffle to join us?”
Max met Waffle at the door of the dining room and shook his hand. “Waffle, meet my brothers.”
Nick walked over and shook his hand. “Waffle, huh? Like the food?”
Waffle’s smile lit the room. “Exactly. Like the food.”
Max walked back over and put an arm around Tara’s waist. He said, “Waffles and pie, two things that make everyone happy.”
Tara went up on her tiptoes and whispered, “Happy. Did I mention I found the island hardware store earlier today?”
Heat rushed up Max’s neck. “You would say that now. You’re killing me.”
Tara kissed him lightly on the cheek and said, “Happy. How to make you happier. It wasn’t a big leap.”
Gio cleared his throat loudly. “Maybe we should have a triple wedding. I don’t think we should make Max and Tara wait to get married.”
Rena exclaimed, “A triple wedding? All of us?”
Julia walked over to stand beside Rena. “I would be okay with it if both of you are. Tara?”
Tara looked around the room with wide eyes. “A triple wedding?”
Max gave her a coaxing smile. “We could have it here.”
Waffle took out his phone. “I have a cousin who caters weddings. She lives right here on the island. Want me to call her?”
A grin spread across Tara’s face. “Maxwell Andrade, how long have you been considering this?”
“Is that a yes?” Max asked, sensing from Tara’s amused expression that it was.
For a moment he and Tara stood, smiling at each other, letting the rest of the world slide away. It was simply them and how good they felt when they were together. She kissed him soundly and said, “Yes. Yes to you. Yes to your whole damn crazy family. I hope this island is ready for an Andrade triple wedding.”
The group laughed and hugged. Then hugged more and laughed as they planned. Max caught Luke’s eyes across the table. It was the first time he’d ever seen Luke look uncomfortable. He crossed the room and stood behind his chair, putting his hands on his brother’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, Luke, we still need you.”
Luke stood and forced a smile. “It’s not that.”
Max wanted to ask Luke more, but the moment wasn’t right. He let the subject drop and went back to celebrating and planning what was sure to be an event the people of Slater Island wouldn’t soon forget.
Chapter Twenty
Maddy was in a robe and blow-drying her hair at the makeup station in her bathroom. When they’d bought the house, her husband, Richard, had laughed when she’d said she couldn’t function in a bathroom that wasn’t at least the size of a master bedroom. He’d come around, though. She let him plan the size of his own closet. Marriage was about compromise.
She was lost in a daydream about how much had changed since she and her friends had come up with a bet to find romantic partners for all four of her cousins. She knew some in her family considered her a meddler, but love had triumphed once again. She’d willingly sit through a hundred lectures on how sh
e had crossed a line when hiring a PI just to see Max and Tara holding hands and happy together.
Love heals all wounds, and the truth is always better when exposed. No one could convince her otherwise. Yes, Richard had said a few things to her in French she was glad she didn’t know how to translate. Her father had gone off on a similar tangent in Italian. There were perks to being monolingual: It meant fewer people in Maddy’s life had to apologize for what they said.
Her father still wouldn’t tell her what he knew about Aunt Patrice, but Maddy was confident he would soon. As her mother often said, Maddy and her father were two peas in a pod. She called both Alessandro and Maddy stubborn as mules.
Maddy smiled into the mirror and curled another long tendril around her hairbrush. There were worse things than being compared to a father she adored.
A flash of red hair caught her eye, and she opened her mouth to scream. A woman’s hand closed over her mouth, silencing her. Maddy met amused green eyes in the mirror and pushed the hand away with her free hand. She turned the blow-dryer off and spun on her seat. Her heart was thudding crazily in her chest even though she knew she was in no danger. “Alethea, what are you doing here? You almost scared the life out of me.”
One ginger eyebrow arched in skepticism. “Do you know how easy it was to bypass your security system? It looked like a system a twelve-year-old could have installed. You need to update it, especially now that you have children.”
Standing on shaky feet, Maddy said, “You have serious boundary issues.”
Alethea walked around the room, lifting, inspecting, then returning items from the counters. “It’s best for us to not start passing judgment on each other. I imagine we’d both have plenty to say.”
Maddy tightened the robe belt and squared her shoulders. Alethea was a friend of the family and therefore part of her life. “I’m sure you didn’t break into my home just to insult me. What do you want, Alethea?”
Alethea met her eyes in the mirror again. This time her eyes were serious. “I should have helped you when you asked me to. It shouldn’t have been necessary for you to hire a stranger to get you answers.”