Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“Thank you. I’d told myself family didn’t matter, that I was fine on my own, but I was lying to myself. Even when I thought I hated all of you in high school, I was still jealous of the way you loved each other. You were what a family should be. I love Angelo. I think part of me loved him even all those years ago.”
Angelo turned me to face him and brought his hands to the sides of my face. “I’m with you no matter what too.”
He kissed me there in front of his family, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to look up and find the ceiling gone and the sun shining right down on me. My world was brighter than it had ever been.
Epilogue
Cameron
I couldn’t believe it was finally time to reopen the bakery. Everything was as perfect as it could be. Nick had done an amazing job with the renovations. Our early morning bakes had gone well. The pastry case was filled with cookies, pastries, and cupcakes, including the cherry pistachio ones that were now filled with cherry icing and topped with chocolate ganache. The bread shelf held ciabatta, focaccia, Italian sourdough, and the Mediterranean bread I’d recreated. I was ready to turn the lock and open the door to an excitingly large crowd of customers waiting to get in.
Angelo was there. I’d known he’d show up, despite the early hour, but I hadn’t expected Devil, Lucien, Peter, and Sabrina to all be with him. They were crowded around a table together, sipping coffee and eating pastries. When I opened the door and the crowd started to come in, they all clapped. I had to brush away tears of joy as I hurried behind the counter.
This was it, the moment I’d been waiting for, and it was even better than I’d thought it would be because the man I loved and my new family were sharing it with me.
During the next hour, there was no lull in the stream of customers that poured in. Vinnie came in with his boyfriend who insisted they needed a whole box of cannoli, not just two. Vinnie didn’t seem to mind indulging him one bit.
I’d hired a few people Angelo recommended to help at the counter, and I was glad I had. Maria and I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with everything on our own. I took orders, and Six’s cousin Rachel boxed the pastries and poured coffee.
The people who stayed to eat their treats all seemed pleased, and I received numerous compliments from them as they tried their pastries.
A few people called in large orders that we had to scramble to fill. Maria stayed in the back, continuing to bake. I would need to join her soon if we were going to keep up.
When there was a bit of a slowdown after the initial rush, Angelo came to the end of the counter. “Break time.”
There were still several people in line. “I shouldn’t—”
He raised his brows, and I knew he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“I’ll be fine here,” Rachel said, giving Angelo a dreamy smile. She could look, but he was all mine.
“Just call me if you need something. I’ll be in the back.”
Angelo followed me through the swinging door, and I made sure Maria was doing all right before we stepped into the tiny office.
Angelo pulled me into his arms as soon as the door was shut, and I relaxed against him, tension leaving me for the first time that day.
“I’m so proud of you, Cam.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten here if it weren’t for you.”
“Yes, you would have. You would’ve figured this all out, even if I’d never set foot in here. This is all you, Cameron. All I did was send some good people your way.”
“And serve as my taste tester.”
Angelo grinned. “You are saving some cannoli for us, right?”
“Like you’re going to need them tonight.”
“I might. I have a surprise planned for after the celebration dinner.”
We were celebrating the bakery’s opening with Angelo’s family at Lucien’s restaurant, DiGiulio’s.
I imagined all the things Angelo might have thought up as part of our personal celebration. “What kind of surprise?”
“You’ll see. It’s probably not what you think.”
“So you’re not planning to torment me and call it a celebration?”
“Maybe, but that’s not the surprise I’m talking about.”
I loved this man so much. “Kiss me.”
He did, fiercely and thoroughly until we were humping each other, and I had to push him off so I could catch my breath. “I have to get back to work.”
“How about a quickie in here first?”
I stared at him. “Maria is right out there.”
He gave me a put-upon sigh. “All right. I’ll let you win since it’s opening day. But you have no idea how hot you are standing there behind the counter, telling everyone about your luscious goods. It makes me want to lick some cream off you.”