At last Lizzie was home.
EPILOGUE
A month later
THE CLINK OF champagne flutes sounded in the empty dining room.
“To the most amazing man.” Lizzie stared into the eyes of the only man she’d ever loved. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Dante pressed a kiss to her lips that promised more to follow. And soon.
“Can you believe we were on television? Our grand premiere.” Lizzie couldn’t keep a silly grin from her face.
“And you were amazing.”
She waved off his over-the-top compliment. “I think those bubbles are going to your head.”
“Nope. It’s just you.”
“Can you be serious for just a minute?”
The truth was that she had never been this deliriously happy in her entire life. Even the evenings she’d spent sitting next to Dante on the couch watching soccer...erm, football made her smile. And she never thought she’d ever appreciate sports, but Dante was opening her eyes to football and so much more.
“I can be serious. As long as it doesn’t take too long.” His gaze dipped to her lips.
When he started to lean forward, Lizzie held out her hands. “Dante, do you think of anything else?”
A lazy smile pulled at his lips. “Not if I can help it.”
“Well, try for just a second.”
His tempting lips pursed together. “What’s on your mind?”
“What do you think about the television studio’s offer to give us our own show?” They’d just received the call and Lizzie was too excited to trust her own reactions.
“I can think of something I’d like better.”
She searched his face to see if his mind was still in the bedroom, but his expression was totally serious. “What is it?”
“How about you become my partner?”
“Well, of course I’ll be your partner. That’s what the studio is interested in. You and me working together—”
“No, I don’t mean that.” He took her hand in his and looked deep into her eyes, making her heart skip a beat. Then he dropped to his knee. “I mean I want you to be my family.”
The breath hitched in her throat as tears of joy obscured the view of the man she loved with all of her heart. She blinked and the tears splashed onto her cheeks. With effort she swallowed the lump of giddy emotion in her throat.
“I can’t think of anything I’d like better.”
He got to his feet and encased her face in his palms. “I’m sorry I’m unprepared but I hadn’t been planning to propose tonight. I’ve been playing it over and over in my mind. And I just couldn’t wait any longer.”
She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. Her heart thumped with excitement. She didn’t know how it was possible but she’d swear with every kiss it just kept getting better and better.
When Dante pulled away, she pouted. He smiled and shook his head. “I take it that was a yes?”
“Most definitely.”
“I have one more serious question.”