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His tongue slid out to wet his lips and Mari’s pulse thudded

“I want to kiss you right now,” he murmured huskily, “but I need to tell you the rest first”

“Then hurry”

She breathed the response and again she felt the tug between theo

“I spoke to my father About Fiori, about my discontent, about you And we talked about my mother”

“You did?”

“A child’s wounds take a long tio But I never did I always carried this bitterness with me It made me jaded But I need to move past it If you can ive my mother”

Tears burned on her lashes “You’re not the only one, Luca I’ve been thinking aboutdecisions out of fear, when I did the sa for years?” Their hands were joined and she ran her thuain I’m pretty sure the police officer that sent the letter will help me”

They sat quietly for a es in both of theht on by the love from the other Finally Luca spoke

“When all was said and done, by the end of the conversation I’d resigned my position and had taken a new one As vice president and in charge of Fiori’s North A on this side of the Atlantic, from one main office”

“Hoonderful for you, Luca What a fabulous job!” She smiled yet wasn’t sure how to react or exactly what itcontinent

He sighed, pulling away and running a hand through his hair “Dio, you’re tough” He regarded her with sharp eyes before finally co out with it “Would you be happy anywhere else, Mari? Could you leave this place behind?”

Could she do it for Luca? She looked around her little cottage, the ho Could she leave it behind her? If itwith him, she knew she could

“Yes”

“But you wouldn’t want to You do love it here”

“Of course I do, but…I’ of me Or what exactly has happened”

“My priorities changed, that’s what happened Don’t you see, Mariella? It all fits now The Cascade, that we built together The new job and you I love you You give me roots I don’t want to be anywhere else Just with you You co else after that”

She had no words Never in a ed silence, he spoke again