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She squeezed his hand and grabbed her shopping bags He turned around and looked at the painting again, but for the life of hi heart

Mari took aout the tension There had been toodays in a row, she realized There had been no more kisses, and she had told herself that was for the best even as she felt the dull ache of disappointht herself staring at his perfect lips in s or when they met in his office or hers about the renovations

Once she walked in while he had Gina on speakerphone She’d paused, unsure of what to do, but Luca had waved her in His hair stood up in rohere his fingers had run through it and the scowl line was back between his brows They were speaking in Italian, but at the end, his voice softened “I love you, Gigi Ciao”

The line was disconnected

“You’re worried about her Is everything okay?”

His smile was thin “It will be She says hello, by the way”

Their obvious closenessLuca with his sister, teasing, arguing, and like today—always supportive— for it

For the first time, she felt free to be herself Luca had no expectations of her and that was liberating The way he smiled seemed as if it were just for her The way he’d held her hand felt like it had always been that way And his kisses had taken her breath away Even knowing it was iain

The clincher had been when the delivery

She’d carefully unwrapped the package, staring down at the painting she’d adallery The fact that he had spent so ive it to her said it all It didn’t require a note, but there was a brief one anyway, scrawled on a plain white card…

When it speaks to your heart, you know it’s the right one

No one had ever given her such a gift And it wasn’t theto Luca And it hadn’t been for appearances; if he’d wanted to iiven her jewelry This was more personal It was perfect