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 and make all the arrangements. Besides your mother, I want Dimi and my partners there.”
“I’ll tell Filippa she can’t leave for Florence until after the ceremony. She can stay at the pensione until then.”
“Kiss me one more time, Gemma, so I know I’m not hallucinating.”
“I plan to kiss the daylights out of you after we say ‘I do.’ But since I shouldn’t be bothering you while you’re driving, I’m going to call Mamma right now and tell her everything. She can think about it on her flight back to Florence.”
He squeezed her arm. “I’ll talk to her, too, and tell her we’ve just come from the home where we want her to live with us.”
Gemma was euphoric as she pulled out her phone to reach her mother. No matter her parent’s first reaction, Gemma would talk her down, because there was no one like Vincenzo. She planned to be his wife, and her mother had to understand that.
The phone rang a few times until Mirella picked up. “Oh, Gemma—I’m so glad it’s you. I’m tired of traveling around and am anxious to come home.”
“I can’t wait for you to get here, but please don’t be too tired, Mamma.”
“Ah? What’s wrong?”
“Everything is so right, I don’t know where to start.”
“You must have gotten a wonderful job.”
“Oh, I did!”
After a pause, her mother said, “I haven’t heard you this happy since...”
“Since we once lived at the castello?” she answered for her.
“Gemma? What’s going on?”
“Vincenzo is back in my life! That’s what’s going on.” She smiled into his eyes of molten silver. “You’re not going to believe why he really disappeared or why he’s back now. We’re going to be married the day after tomorrow.”
“But he’s a duca!”
She smiled at Vincenzo through her happy tears. “Yes, and I’m going to be his duchessa. That’s why you can’t be too tired. Tomorrow we have to buy me a wedding dress and a beautiful dress for you. Filippa will need one, too. The ceremony is going to take place in the castello chapel by Father Janos. You remember him?”
“Lentamente, mia bambina—”
“I’m too excited to slow down. Tomorrow I’ll tell you all the details while we’re looking for dresses.”
Vincenzo took the phone from her. “Mirella? We want your blessing. No one knows better than you how much I love your daughter. The day you made that little lemon ricotta cheesecake for me when I was eight was the day I fell in love with you, too. Here’s Gemma back.”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she took the phone from him. “Mamma? Did you hear what Vincenzo said?”
“I did,” she answered in a croaky voice. “Tell him that if I hadn’t loved him, too, I wouldn’t have made it for him.”
Gemma could hardly breathe. “I’ll tell him. I love you, Mamma. See you tomorrow. Fly home safe.”
The minute she heard the click, she told him what her mother had said. His eyes filled with tears before she broke down sobbing for joy.
* * *
When Dimi arrived at the pensione in the ducal
