Riding Dirty: Luciotti Crime Family (A Bad Boy Mafia Romance) - Kara Hart Page 0,65

music played lightly before us and Lucas fell to his knee. “Before I met you, I was nothing. I was like a ghost, wandering from room to room. And then I came here.” Jen ran up to me and handed me a glass jar. Inside was a large piece of metal, flower petals, what looked like soil and coffee, and pieces of pine and leaves. “And then you made me wreck my car. As soon as I saw you, I knew you were trouble. I knew I needed to stay away.”

I looked at the piece of metal inside and realized it was a piece from his car, the day we first met.

“Lucas…” I whispered.

“But I couldn’t stay away. Deep down, I knew you were something special. Like a diamond in the rough, or a flower growing in the cracks of the sidewalk.” He gestured for me to open the big glass jar.

“Look inside, Mommy.” Jen smiled.

I reached inside the jar and dug around with my index finger. Finally, I hit something rigid in the center. I pulled it out and nearly collapsed.

“It doesn’t have to happen now if you don’t want it to,” he said. “But I’m going to fight for you until the end of my days. No matter what, I’m going to try and earn that rough spot in your heart. And, of course, Jen’s heart too.” Jen smiled wide, pressing her tongue against the gaps of her teeth.

“Do you see it, Mom?” she asked me.

I lifted my fingers out from the jar and held the small object in the candlelight. It was a ring, complete with a center diamond.

“It’s an antique. It belonged to my great grandmother. Before she died, she passed it onto me.” He moved closer toward me. “Look, I know it might be a huge jump in our relationship and I completely understand if you want to high-tail it out of here right now. If it’s too much, just give me the word and I’ll take it all back. But I was just hoping… Well, I was just hoping I could spend my life with you. Because you’re the coolest, most beautiful, and downright sassy girl I have ever met. And I love you. I just do. I fucking love you. Will you take this ring and marry me?” he said. I could’ve sworn his eyes were moist with tears.

I turned to Jen, laughing a little. “You didn’t just hear that word.” Of course, my eyes were like the Pacific Ocean and I could barely get a real word out. I wiped the tears from my face and sat down on one of the kitchen stools. “Yes! I will. I’ll marry you, dammit! I love you too. I think I’ve loved you from the moment you stepped foot into this town,” I said, letting the down the floodgates. Tears poured down my cheeks.

“I knew it! I knew you did!” he exclaimed. He bent down and grabbed ahold of my hand. “I’m with you now. Forever. If you ever need me, I’ll be there. If you’re ever pissed at me, I’ll be apologizing until the cows come home. If you ever need a friend, I’ll be that friend. I want to be everything I can for you, Dahlia. I don’t want to waste my life anymore. This is the only life for me now.” He bent forward and kissed me like he had never kissed me in his life. It was deep and perfect, the kind of kiss that touched something deep down and filled me with warmth.

“Gross!” Jen yelled, once again ruining my intimate moments with Lucas.

“Does this mean I have to meet the Don?” I laughed, pressing my forehead against his.

“Oh, you’ll meet the Don alright. He’s going to want to pour all of his money into a huge wedding,” he said, shaking his head at the thought. I imagined that opening scene from The Godfather. A hundred mobsters and politicians, a traditional band playing old Italian songs. For some reason, I imagined Carmelo there with a big smile on his face as I walked down the aisle. “Don’t worry. We can have a small wedding.”

“Thank God,” I laughed.

“On the beach. Just a few friends and family. My father will understand.”

I threw my arms around him. “I don’t care what kind of wedding we have, Lucas. I just want you.”

Jen applauded. “Beautiful,” she said. “Now can we go to the park and play already?”

Lucas laughed and jumped up on his feet. “I promised