LITMIR.BIZ

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Vincenzo walked her to the table and sat down next to her, putting his hand on her thigh beneath the table. Heat coursed through her body.

      Dimi raised his glass. “To my cousin and his wife. To Mirella. None of you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to say that. I don’t know when I’ve ever been this happy.” His eyes were smiling. So were Filippa’s.

      Cosimo waited on them, bringing one delicious dish after another. Caponata...arancini...pasta with urchin sauce.

      When the meal concluded, Gemma got to her feet. “This is joy beyond measure to be surrounded by our friends and my beloved mother. What can I say about our bridal feast? The six-star award goes to Cesare for the best meal I’ve ever eaten in my life. Grazie with all my heart.”

      Cesare beamed. “Di niente.”

      Vincenzo stood up and put his arm around Gemma’s waist. “I can’t improve on anything my bride said. And now I must tell you we have a pressing engagement elsewhere and ask to be excused, but we know you will understand.”

      The men’s deep laughter filled the room while Filippa and Gemma exchanged a secret smile. With her friend planning to stay at the pensione for a few more days, everything was working out perfectly. On a whim, Gemma removed her garland of roses and tossed it to Filippa, then tossed her mother a kiss. She would be staying in the tower room of the principessa until after the hotel’s grand opening. Vincenzo couldn’t do enough for her.

      “Come with me,” her husband whispered.

      She needed no urging. Her desire for him had reached a flashpoint.

      Vincenzo rushed her through the hallways to the back of the castello. When they came to the winding steps, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the tower room. His strength astounded her. When they’d reached the bedroom, he wasn’t even out of breath.

      “I’ve dreamed of doing that for years. Help me, Gemma. I want you so much I’m shaking.”

      While he was helping her out of her dress, she was trying to take off his suit jacket. Somehow they managed and kissed their way to the bed. He lay down with her and crushed her in his arms, entwining his legs with hers. After suppressing their needs for the last two weeks, the freedom to love each other made her delirious with longing.

      Each touch and caress ignited their passion. Vincenzo had lit her on fire. The right to show her husband everything she felt and wanted was a heady experience too marvelous to contain. They drank deeply from each other’s mouths, thrilling in the wonder of being together like this.

      Far into the night, they gave and took pleasure with no thought but the happiness and joy they found in each other. Gemma hadn’t known the physical side of their lovemaking could be this overwhelming. Her rapture was so great that at times she cried afterward and clung to him.

      When morning came he began the age-old ritual all over again. They’d suffered for so long, they thoroughly enjoyed becoming one flesh, one heart.

      Toward noon, they lay side by side, awake again. Vincenzo smiled at her. “I feel like I’ve just been reborn.”

      “I know. I’ve had those same feelings.”

      He suddenly pulled her on top of him. “I’m too happy, Gemma.”

      “Can there be too much happiness?”

      “I don’t know. Promise me it will always be like this.”

      She searched his eyes. “My love for you just keeps growing.”

      Rolling her over, he kissed her fiercely. “I want to make love to you all over again, but I know you must be hungry. Are you?”

      “Yes. For you!”

      “I’m serious.”

      “So am I.”

      “Cesare told me yesterday he’d have food brought up to us. I’m pretty sure it’s outside the door now.”

      “Then we’d better eat it. I don’t want to hurt his feelings.” Her darling Vincenzo. He was starving, but he didn’t want to admit it. She loved this man beyond description. “Why don’t you go look and see?”

      He pressed a kiss to her throat. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go away.”

      “Where would I go?”

      “Never disappear on me, Gemma. I couldn’t take it.” Lines had darkened his face.

      She couldn’t understand it and pulled him back. “Someone once said, ‘Don’t give in to your fears. If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart.’”

      “That was Paulo Coelho.”

      Gemma caught his handsome face in her hands. “You’re disgustingly intelligent, my love, but you need to take his advice. Don’t you know I plan to cling to you forever?”

      “I’m besotted with you, Gemma.” He hurried to the door in his robe and came back with a tray of food that smelled divine. “Cesare has really outdone himself.”

      She took it from him and put it on the bed. “Let’s eat fast so I can love you all over again.”

      His smile melted her bones. “I’m planning to keep you locked up here forever.”

      She leaned across to kiss his jaw. He needed a shave. “That’s fine as long as you let me out in time for the grand opening. It’ll be here in a few days. I was hired to cook, remember?”

      Those silvery eyes blazed with fire for her. “Do you think I can ever forget anything since you came back into my life?”

      He ate his cheese-and-ham strata in record time, displaying the appetite she always associated with him. Then he put the tray on the floor. After taking her in his arms again, he buried his face in her neck.

      “We were meant to be together from the beginning. Love me, sposa squisita. I was hooked from the first time I saw the cutest little honey-blonde girl on earth come running out to the ruins to play hide and go seek. Her eyes were greener than the grass and her smile was like sunshine. My five-year-old heart quivered, and that has never changed.”

      “Vincenzo—”

       EPILOGUE

      THE MORNING OF the day before the grand opening, Gemma worked with her team as they prepared everything. While she was supervising the tiramisu desserts, Cesare walked in the kitchen and came over to her.

      “Per favore, will you stop what you’re doing and come out in the hall? This will only take a minute.”

      “Of course.” She washed her hands and wiped them on her apron as she hurried after him. Once through the doors she came to a full stop. Paolo!

      Cesare said, “I understand you two know each other.”

      “Yes. It’s good to see you, Paolo.”

      He gave her a slight nod. “I understand you’re Signora Gagliardi now. I get why it didn’t work out for us. The Duca di Lombardi was the man you could never forget.”

      “You’re right.”

      “Congratulations on your marriage.”

      “Thank you.”

      “Buon Appetito magazine has sent me out to cover the grand opening of the restaurant tomorrow and write up my opinion. Knowing that you’re the new executive pastry chef has blown me away. Signor Donati told me I could say hello to you if I waited out here. I realize how busy you must be, so I won’t keep you. Buona fortuna, Gemma.”

      She felt his sincerity, though that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be brutal if her food didn’t measure up to his idea of five-star dining. “To you, too, Paolo. Grazie.”

      Two mornings later

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