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“You’re the best doctor I’ve ever met. As long as you don’t fall for another patient again, I think we’re good.”

“Shut up.”

“But I don’t think you’ll ever meet another patient as sexy and irresistible as me.” Leaning down, I whisper in her ear, “Rex-a-Million, a million orgasms for the only woman I love.”

She shivers in my hold and heat courses through my body. I cup her face, my thumbs grazing her cheeks, needing to taste her lips again.

I’ve been deprived, and I intend to claim.

But then, I remember my last surprise for her.

Using all my remaining willpower, I disentangle from her and pick up the last bag a few feet away.

“One last present for you.”

“What? Really? I’m already the happiest woman on earth right now,” she says as she takes the bag from me and looks inside.

The smile freezes on her lips and her head whips up.

“Ni chi fan le ma?Have you eaten yet, dear Olive?”

Her lips part as recognition sparks inside them. She told me her family used to say this instead of I love you, and I want to take part in the tradition.

I want to be part of everything that is her.

“Pappardelle al Cinghiale, your favorite dish. Took me ten tries to get it right. Damn Valenti was so smug when I called him after the fifth failed batch. Who knew boar was so difficult to marinate?”

Olivia presses her hand to her chest.

“I’m sure it’s the best pasta in the world,” she murmurs, her voice thick, as I close the distance between us.

“Damn right it is. Even better than Valenti’s, and you know why?”

She cocks her head, and I smile.

“Because it has my love in it.”

Olivia grins, then her eyes take on a saucy light. “But what if I tell you pasta’s no longer my thing and my new favorite food is the meat lover’s pizza?”

I freeze, then throw my head back and laugh when I think about how she bluffed me on the cruise.

“Just kidding,” she says. “I still love thepappardelle.”

“And you’ll only get your meat from me now.” I growl and pull her against me.

Then I finally kiss her. Kiss the woman who’s taught me to be brave and to choose love not because it’s safe, but because it’s worth the risk. The woman who’s shown me healing is messy, and it’s okay. The woman who’s accepted me, flaws and all, and made me face my fears.

The woman who’s taught me the meaning of true love.

As she melts into my embrace, our lips tangling, our kiss quickly spinning out of control, a scorching heat flows through my body, searing into my muscles and bones.

Love.So much love.

And I’m finally home.

Epilogue Part One—Olivia

Six Months Later