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“I—” She couldn’t believe her mother was standing the lobby. “How—”
“Signor Amatucci flew me here. He wanted me to see what you’ve done. It’s wonderful, sweetheart.”
“Mom...” She couldn’t finish the sentence. Instead, she ran and threw her arms around the woman, holding on to her as tightly as she could. “I missed you so much,” she managed to choke out. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized just how much. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, sweetheart, I am. I let us grow apart, but I promise I won’t let that happen again.” Pulling away, her mother cupped her face like she used to do when Louisa was a little girl and had a bad dream. “Okay?”
Louisa nodded. This was the best surprise she could imagine. “Thank you,” she said when Nico joined them.
“My pleasure,” he replied before looking serious “You’re not angry I went behind your back?”
“Are you kidding? No way.” If anything, his kindness only made her love him more. A pretty amazing feat, since she already loved him more than seemed possible.
She saw the same love in Nico’s eyes. “Good. Because a woman should always be able to share her engagement with her mother.”
Her engagement? A warm frisson passed through her at the words. She’d be lying if the idea of spending the rest of her life with Nico hadn’t crossed her mind during these past few months. Trying to imagine life without him was... Well, it was like staring at a blank wall.
Still, she wasn’t about to let him know that. The man needed to be kept on his toes, after all. Arms folded, she lifted her chin and said in her most haughty voice, “There you go, taking charge again. What makes you think we’re getting married?”
“A man can hope, can’t he?” Nico said, reaching into his pocket. Louisa gasped when she saw the small velvet box.
Bending on one knee, he held it out to her with a shaking hand. “Louisa Harrison, my beautiful, haughty American princess, you are the only woman I will ever love. Will you marry me?”
There was only one answer she could give. Same as there could only be one man she would ever want to be with forever. “Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I will marry you, Nico Amatucci.”
He pulled her into another kiss, and this time Louisa didn’t care how wrinkled her dress got. As his lips slanted over hers and the crowd burst into applause, she felt the last ghosts of her life with Steven disappear forever. She’d found a new life, a new home, a new love, here, in the vineyards of Monte Calanetti.
And they were better than she’d ever dreamed possible.
