JOY ROCKED VINCENZO’S WORLD, but he groaned aloud. “Gemma—what a time to tell me! I’m driving and can’t pull over right now. The summer traffic will be bumper to bumper like this all the way to Lake Como.”
“That’s where we’re going?”
“If we can ever get there. Everyone’s trying to leave Milan at the same time.”
An infectious giggle came out of her, a happy sound he hadn’t heard in years. “We’ve practiced self-control for the last few weeks. Another hour won’t kill us.”
“You mean two. It’s killing me, you beautiful witch.” He reached for her hand and clung to it.
“I want to marry you, Vincenzo. I’m crazy, madly, terrifyingly in love with you. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get my head on straight. Please—while you can’t touch me and I can’t make love to you—tell me where we’re going to live. I want to know everything. Will we fly back and forth from here to New York every few months? The suspense is killing me.”
“One answer at a time. We’re going to live here permanently.”
“You really mean it?” That was pure happiness he heard in her voice. “Where is here, exactly?”
“That’s what I want to show you.”
“You mean at Lake Como?”
“The first night in Greece, when we were on the beach, you said that to live surrounded by water would be paradise. I’ve always wanted to live by water, too. There’s a place I’ve had my eye on for the last six months, never dreaming I’d find you again. And it’s not too far from the castello.”
“I’ve never been to Lake Como. Have you already bought it?”
“No. The Realtor has been holding it for me, but my time is almost up.”
“What town is it in?”
“Cernobbio, in the foothills of the Alps, where the scenery truly is magnificent.”
“Is it as fantastic as I’m imagining it is?”
“You’ll have to wait and see. I’m sure your mother will love it. She’ll be living with us, wherever we are. When the traffic is light, it’s only a little over an hour’s drive from Milan. There’s a private dock on the lake, so we’ll have to buy a boat.”
“She doesn’t know about us yet.”
“I didn’t think she did. When will she be back from her trip?”
“Tomorrow.”
“That’s perfect. We’ll drive to Florence tomorrow and tell her we’re getting married. She loves you enough to want what you want. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving to her our marriage will work. But the ceremony has to happen before the grand opening, so we only have a few days left to plan it.”
“I’m so happy, I feel like I’m going burst!”
“Don’t do that while we’re still in this traffic.”
She grabbed onto his arm. “When we’re married, if the traffic is too horrible to drive home, we can always go upstairs to the tower room, and we’ll hibernate while I feed you sfogliatelli. No one will know where we are.”
Vincenzo didn’t know how much longer he could last without pulling Gemma onto his lap. “The one thing we won’t have at Lake Como is a beach. Almost no property has beachfront.”
“There’s only one beach I want. It’s in Greece. You’ve spoiled me. I know I’m dreaming. Do you care if I keep working?”
“I want you to be happy, whatever it takes.”
“Will you be happy living away from New York?”
“I have a confession to make. I was never happy there.”
“Honestly?”
“I’m an Italian. I was homesick.”
Gemma let out a cry. “Filippa said the same thing. That’s why she’s back.”
“Good for her. Where would you like to get married, bellissima?”
“I think that should be up to you.”
“Then I say we ask the priest to marry us in the castello chapel.”
“That would make me the happiest woman on earth.” Tears ran down her tanned cheeks. “It is so beautiful. I remember looking inside when your grandfather was in there. I thought it was the closest place to heaven.”
“Have you considered what he was trying to tell you that day out in the courtyard might have had a different meaning? My belief is that he knew you were my soul’s delight and saw you as the princess I would marry one day.”
“Do you really think that?”
“Yes. I’m going to tell your mother that. She’ll have to be happy for us.”
Gemma’s eyes filled with tears. “I’ll treasure what you’ve said all my life.”
“You’re my treasure, Gemma.”
“Oh, I can’t wait until we get there.”
Another few minutes and they passed through Como. Cernobbio was only a little farther up the lake. When they reached it, Gemma gasped. “I didn’t know scenery like this existed on earth. There are dozens of incredible villas!”
He wound around until they came to one that jutted out into the lake. At the sign—Villa Gagliardi—he slowed to a stop on the private road.
Gemma took it in with disbelieving eyes before she turned to Vincenzo. “This villa belonged to your family?”
He nodded. “Until my father gambled it away. I’ve negotiated to buy it back. It’s ours if you want it.”
“If I want it?” She launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his bronzed neck. “I want you forever, any way I can have you. I’ll take anything that comes with you.”
For the next little while, they tried without success to show each other how much they loved and wanted each other. It was impossible within the confines of his Maserati.
“How can you do this to me?” he whispered against her lips. “For nine days you held me off. Now you’re giving yourself to me and I can’t do a thing about it until we find a place to be alone.”
“I know. I’m sorry, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“Let’s get married the day after tomorrow. No man ever needed a wedding night more than I do.”
She buried her face in his neck. “How can we do that? Wouldn’t you have to get a special license?”
“Yes. But I’m the Duca di Lombardi. I’m the person who makes these things happen.” His smile melted her bones.
“I presume Father Janos will perform the ceremony whenever you say.”
He nodded.
“Won’t he think it’s too soon after the funeral?”
“Not at all. He’ll be happy we’re making a dream come true in the midst of so much sadness.”
She kissed every feature of his face. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“No.”
“Vincenzo—” She hugged him harder. “Be serious. You want to get married the day after tomorrow?”
“Don’t you? With your mother coming back tomorrow, there’s no reason to delay it a second longer.”
“I love you, il mio amore.”
“Then we need to drive back to Milan immediately