The Playboy of Rome

“We need to talk.”

She frowned. She wasn’t up for another battle of words. She was bruised and wounded from their last go-round. All she wanted was to be alone to lick her wounds. “There’s nothing left to say.”

“I’m sorry.”

His words caused the breath to catch in her throat. This time she was certain about what she heard. But whether he was talking about how he’d dumped her or whether he was referring to dismissing the taxi, she wasn’t sure.

“About what?”

“Let’s go inside and talk.” He moved to the restaurant door and unlocked it. When he held it open for her, she didn’t move. “I promise that if you hear me out and you don’t like what I have to say that I’ll drive you to the airport myself.”

She glanced at her wristwatch. “You’ve got five minutes.”

“Fair enough.”

She must be losing her grip on reality. What other reason would there be for her to agree to put herself through more heartache and pain?

Her feet felt as though they were weighed down as she walked inside the oh-so-familiar restaurant. She really was going to miss this place and the amazing people that she’d gotten to know here—most of all, she’d miss Dante.

She stopped by the hostess desk and turned to him. “What is it you want?”

“You.”

“What?” Her lack of sleep was not helping her make sense of what he was telling her.

“I want you, Lizzie. I love you.”

Her heart tripped over itself. She’d been waiting for so long to hear those words, but before she went flying into his arms, she needed to understand. “But what about yesterday?”

“I panicked. When I got a phone call telling me that you’d been in an accident, I overreacted. It seems like the DeFiore men are destined to grow old alone and I thought— Well, it doesn’t matter. All I could think about is that if I lost you I’d be devastated and unable to go on.”

Really? No one had ever cared about her that much.

“But if you felt that way, how were you able to just dump me?”

“I thought that by protecting myself that I wouldn’t be hurt. But my father pointed out the fallacy of my logic—”

“Your father? You two were discussing me?” She wasn’t so sure how she felt about that detail.

“Thanks to you, we had a talk that was long overdue.” He looked around at the restaurant and then back at her. “You opened my eyes to a lot of things including how much I love this place...especially with you by my side.”

Her heart tap-danced in her chest. “Do you really mean that?”

He peered deep into her eyes. “I love you with all my heart. And I would be honored if you’d consider staying here and running Massimo’s with me.”

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d like more.”

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her. “I promise no more panic attacks as long as you promise not to take up skydiving.”

“Now that’s a promise I can readily make.” She smiled up at him as she slipped her arms up over his shoulders. “I’m scared of heights.”

“So we’re partners?”

She nodded. “But I think we should kiss to make it official.”

“I think you’re right.”

His head dipped. Their lips met and the rest of the world slipped away.