Grumpy Goalie- Bonus Scene

Hillary… Six Months Later

I was in love. With life, with Stephano, and now, with Italy!

"This is incredible!" I'd uttered these words at least forty times a day since stepping off the airplane, but as I held Stephano's hand and gazed at the third waterfall we'd seen on our walk through Parco della Cascate, the words fell from my lips again. The park was verdant and alive, and though we were not the only tourists making our way down the path, across the bridges and past the pools, it felt like we were in our own version of paradise.

"I can't believe you grew up here," I told him as we strolled back to the car to return to the house to get ready for the winery opening event.

"I didn't appreciate it then," he said, helping me in and then walking around to drive.

"Thanks for taking me," I said, watching the village scroll past our windows as Stephano navigated the roads like a native.

He smiled over at me, meeting my eyes, and the same hot zing that always warmed me when our gazes locked had me shifting in my seat.

When we pulled around the side of the new winery building, we were met with organized chaos. The grand opening was going to be just that, a grand event, and the family anticipated that most of the village and people from much farther afield would turn out, thanks to the promotional efforts Stephano's brother had engaged in since signing the investor's deal.

"There you are," Cristiano cried, stepping out of the winery building. "How did you enjoy the park?" he asked me coming near and kissing my cheek. Cristiano was a slimmer, taller version of Stephano, more polished and refined in appearance than my goalie, but clearly related.

"It was beautiful," I told him. "But we're happy to help set up. What can we do?"

"I'm sure Alessia could use help inside," he said with a smile.

I kissed Stephano and headed into the grand building, which was a light stone building with a red roof, built to resemble the original structure, and rebuilt directly over the cellar. The grounds were sprawling and green, and from the winery's location on the top of a sweeping hill, the vineyards could be seen marching out in all directions across the landscape. My favorite part of it all was the enormous back patio situated at the rear of the building with a view of the whole valley. This was where I found Alessia now, polishing glasses and setting them out on the tasting counter.

"Hello," I said. "Cristiano suggested I come see if I can help."

"Hillary," Alessia said, her voice warm and low. "There is so much to do, of course you can help."

A harsh string of rapid-fire Italian came from within, preceding the small figure of Lucia Mizzoni onto the patio. She was looking behind her as she appeared, clearly giving directions to someone inside. But when she turned to see Alessia and me standing before her, she paused, and a smile warmed up her face.

"There they are," she said. "My beautiful daughters."

From the moment Stephano and I had arrived a week ago, Lucia had been nothing but warm to me. In fact, she'd been so gracious and welcoming, I had spent the first few days waiting for the other shoe to drop, thinking I was missing something. But it seemed that back in her natural environment, with her family where they belonged, she was actually a happy person. Still demanding and forceful, but happy.

"You have done such a wonderful job with everything," she told Alessia. "I am so happy to have the winery back, and today will be the official start of everything we've dreamed of."

"It will be incredible," Alessia assured her. "Shall we go change? We have only an hour before everyone arrives."

Lucia looked around once more and seemed satisfied with what she saw, nodding her head. "Yes, a bit of a rest and then we'll greet our guests. Come, Hillary. I have something to give you."

Alessia and I exchanged a surprised look—I'd shared a lot of the details of the first time Stephano's mother and I had met with the down-to-earth princess.

"I'll see you in a bit," Alessia said, turning to head the other direction.

Lucia guided me out of the winery and along the path to the family's house, which was close to the new structure.

"It is a tradition in our family," she said, guiding me into the master bedroom where she slept, "for the wife of the oldest son to wear this ring. Since you and Stephano are getting married next year, this is yours." She held out a beautiful gold ring with a large pink stone set in delicate metalwork in the center. The ring looked old, and impressive, and clearly bore the history of the family it represented.

"I remember this ring on my mother-in-law's hand when I met my husband," Lucia told me, slipping the ring onto her own finger and admiring it. "And when she gave it to me, I understood the importance it represented. The responsibility to the family."

I nodded, unsure what response would be appropriate.

"So I give it to you," she said, taking the ring off and reaching for my hand. She slid the ring onto the ring finger of my right hand and we both admired it for a moment. "Welcome to the Mizzoni family, Hillary. Please do not take the position you play here lightly, and guard my son's heart well."

"I will, Lucia. Thank you."

She nodded and made a little clucking sound. "I think I will rest for a moment."

That was my cue to leave. I hugged her quickly, and then turned, heading down the hall to the room I shared with Stephano to get dressed. It was strange, but I felt at home here. Like I had been accepted, welcomed, and I fit in perfectly. 

* * *

An hour later, I was back in the winery, Stephano in a suit at my side looking handsome and proud as we greeted guest after guest. Photographers and journalists from all over Europe had turned up, along with seemingly every resident of northern Italy.

The winery was filled with people laughing, dancing, tasting wine, and the Mizzoni family buzzed with excitement.

Julius had come the day prior to help Lucia run the event and to represent the family, and even Luca had been put to work, greeting people out front with his adorable girlfriend, Vittoria.

For two hours, none of us had a moment to breathe, as people enjoyed the wine and the incredible views.

And when the last guest departed as the twinkling lights strung overhead danced in the cool evening air, we found ourselves at the long table on the patio together.

"If my brother could see this," Julius said, raising a glass from the head of the table, "he would be proud, I think."

"Proud and happy," Lucia added. "To see his sons gathered together, at home, with the women they love . . . " she trailed off and acknowledged me, Alessia, and even young Vittoria at Luca's side. "His heart would be full, just as mine is tonight."

We all toasted and sipped our wine, but Lucia continued.

"I know you will not all stay here, at home," she said. "I know that the world is wide and I realize now that you boys are just like your father. Curious and adventurous. There is so much for you to see out there. But I hope that wherever your journeys take you, that you will always make time to come home, to reconnect with your family."

I swallowed down the threat of tears.

Another toast went up and Lucia sat down, exchanging a soft look with Julius.

Later, Stephano and I got ready for bed, back in our room. As we slid beneath the sheets together, each of us exhausted, he pulled me into his arms.

I let my eyes fall shut, enjoying the solid warmth of him, the manly scent of him, the quiet of the house around us.

"I was thinking," he said softly. "And you can say no . . . "

I opened my eyes and gazed up at him, losing myself in the dark depths of his gaze in the dark.

"Would you be willing to get married here? Bring your family to Italy? Do the whole thing at the winery?"

I could already imagine it. "Absolutely. I'd love that."

He squeezed me tighter. "When should we do it?"

I sighed into his chest. "Goalie, I'd marry you tomorrow if you wanted me to."

He chuckled. "I'd love that. But your family wouldn't be here. Maybe we should wait for them."

"What's the most beautiful month here?" I asked him.

"If you are here, they're all perfect. But September is beautiful. And hockey season starts in October, so the team could probably come out."

"September then. That's only a few months away, think we can really do it?"

"With you, I can do anything," he said softly.

I hugged him tightly and nestled into his chest, feeling everything in my world align. "I love you, Stephano."

"I love you too."

And we went to sleep just like that, snuggled together on a hilltop in Italy, our whole lives stretching out before us like the vineyards sprawling under the Italian sun.