“This is you acting intimidated? I can’t wait until you’re comfortable. You’ll be hell on wheels once you trust me, won’t you? Pushing back on me at every turn.”
A pang of remorse hit her. “I should have trusted you and told you about Avery.”
“It’s a difficult subject. I understand.”
“It wasn’t just that,” she admitted. “I was afraid of how you’d react. Afraid you would push me away and I would never have a chance to get to know you better. Then I was afraid you’d judge me. That I’d lose you.” Her eyes dampened. “And then I did lose you.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m right here.” A smile ghosted across his lips. “We had a fight, and we’ll have others because we’re both headstrong and used to thinking independently. But we’ll always come back to each other. Wear my ring and I’ll prove that to you.”
“You really think we could make this work?”
“There’s only one way to know.”
“Okay.” Nerves had her hand shooting out between them as though they were finalizing a deal. “I’ll live with you here and—”
He yanked her close and swooped a deep kiss onto her lips, one that sent her arms twining around his neck in joy. One of her feet came off the floor.
He used the leverage of taking her weight to pivot her toward the bedroom door, then broke their kiss to walk her backward.
“Wait. I need more of that first.” He paused and drew her properly against him, squeezing out all the shadows and filling her with a golden light while his mouth sweetly and lazily got reacquainted with hers.
They both groaned and she whispered, “I missed you.”
She might have cringed then because it had only been a few days. They’d been dark ones, though. The beginning of eternity without him.
But here he was murmuring, “Me too,” before sweeping his mouth across hers with more heat and passion and craving.
“Luca,” she gasped as need sank its talons into her.
“Sì. I need you, too,” he said in a rough voice and picked her up to carry her through to the bedroom in long strides. When he set her on the bed, he came down with her and framed her face. “I need you, Amy. You. Never leave me again.”
“Stay and fight?” she suggested on a shaken laugh.
“Sì.” He pressed his smile to hers and they didn’t talk again for a long time.
“Amy,” Bea murmured. She and Clare widened their eyes with awe as they entered Luca’s home several weeks later. Hers too, he kept insisting, but she was taking things slowish.
Not so slow that she didn’t introduce Luca by his new title as she drew her friends into the lounge.
“This is Luca. My fiancé.” She gave an exaggerated wave of her wrist to show off the ring. It was an oval ruby with a halo of diamonds on a simple gold band, not extravagant, but invaluable for its sentimental and historical significance. He had proposed properly the day she officially moved in with him. She’d been staying with him since he’d come to London so, even though it all happened very quickly, it felt right to make it official. She was beyond honored to be his future wife.
“Oh, my God! Congratulations.” Bea and Clare hugged her nearly to death and grew flustered when Luca accepted their congratulations by brushing away an offer to shake hands and embraced each of them.
“I’m delighted to meet you both. And I look forward to getting to know you better, but Amy’s been missing you. I’ll let you catch up.” He touched Amy’s arm. “I’ll tell my sister she can release the statement on our engagement.”
“Thank you.” Amy wrinkled her nose. She had asked him to wait on announcing it until she’d had the chance to tell her two best friends in person. “You spoil me.”
“Nothing less than you deserve, mi amore.” He set a kiss on her lips, nodded at the other two women and disappeared up the stairs.
Clare and Bea stood there with their mouths open.
“You’ve been busy,” Clare accused.
“Oh, please. You both have plenty of explaining to do about your own whereabouts these last weeks. Come.” Amy led them to where the wine and glasses were waiting. “Dish.”
EPILOGUE
“AND THE WINNER for Most Innovative Integrated Media Messaging goes to London Connection, for their Consent to Solar Power campaign on behalf of AR Green Solutions.”
Bea and Clare shot to their feet in excitement while Luca said a smug, “I knew it,” beside Amy. He rose to help her out of her chair.
Amy needed help. She was eight months pregnant going on eleven. She had been on the fence about attending this ceremony, but it was her last chance for a night out and a rare opportunity to catch up with her best friends.
Of course, when they had planned it, Amy hadn’t known she was pregnant again. It had been thrilling news to learn she was expecting their second child, but a surprise, considering it happened a mere twelve weeks after their daughter Zabrina had been born.
Despite how busy she was as a mother, Amy was keeping her hand in with London Connection. She had personally supervised the team who had come up with this promotion for the solar tiles Luca was producing with his partner Emiliano.
They were heading straight to Vallia in the morning, though. Sofia was not even engaged, let alone showing signs of producing the next ruler. This baby would be third in line for the throne after Luca and Zabrina. Everyone wanted this babyto be born there.
For the most part, Amy had been feeling good. Tired, but Luca was a hands-on father, and they had a nanny along with other staff who were always willing to cuddle a princess.
Even so, Amy leaned on Bea and Clare as they all went onto the dais. “Can you believe
