Zan put a hand on his chest. ‘But we’re so different. I haven’t got money.’
Carlo looked amused. ‘But I have more than enough for both of us.’
‘Aren’t you worried I’d be a threat to your bank balance?’
‘Fortunately my bank balance is big.’ He laughed. ‘It would take quite a lot to threaten it.’
Zan looked at him, her eyes twinkling. ‘So, if I marry you, do I get to spend your money?’
‘You do indeed, tesoro.’ He was still smiling. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Nothing. I was just teasing.’ She looked at him and smiled shyly. ‘I don’t care about the money. All I want is you.’
‘You’re sure?’ He sucked in a breath and his arms tightened around her. ‘I thought what we had was special but then, after last night, I wasn’t sure you felt the same way. I thought I’d blown it totally.’
‘I was so angry with you.’ She bit her lip guiltily. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be.’ His voice was gentle. ‘You had every right to be angry and, believe me, I felt very bad about not telling you the truth. But everything else about us was real.’
‘I know.’ She stared into his eyes. ‘I realised that when those journalists started spouting lies about you. I suddenly realised just how well I knew you.’
He stroked a thumb over her cheek. ‘Do you think what you feel for me is strong enough to withstand the dirt that journalists throw at me?’
‘Yes.’
He took a deep breath. ‘And how do you feel about living in Italy with me?’
‘Excited.’
She couldn’t believe that it was really happening. That he really wanted to marry her.
He lowered his head and took her mouth, his kiss hot and demanding, and when they finally broke apart she was flushed and breathless.
‘When you were shouting at me last night, you said you didn’t want my babies and that you weren’t going to punch the woman I married. Frankly, I had trouble keeping up. What did you mean?’
‘Oh…’ Zan went pink and rubbed her toe on the wooden floor. ‘It was a conversation I had with Kim.’
‘Which was?’
He wasn’t letting her be evasive and she gave a sigh. ‘She asked how I’d feel if you married someone else and I said I’d want to punch her on the nose.’
Carlo threw back his head and laughed. ‘Good job I’m marrying you, then.’ He hesitated slightly and there was an odd gleam in his eye. ‘And the baby bit?’
She blushed shyly. ‘I looked at you on Christmas Eve when you were Father Christmas and I knew I wanted to have your children.’
His smile faded. ‘And do you still feel that way?’ His voice was hoarse. ‘Do you still want my babies, tesoro?’
She sucked in a breath. ‘More than anything.’
‘And you’ve forgiven me for keeping my identity a secret?’
‘Providing you never keep a secret from me again.’ She reached up to kiss him. ‘Otherwise I might just give you a black eye.’
He hugged her close. ‘No more secrets. I promise you that. From now on we share everything. And you need to stop doing the Lottery. It would be embarrassing if we won.’
Zan smiled. ‘I’ve already won,’ she said softly, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. ‘I found you.’
* * * * *