“You could always go gender neutral and use a soft yellow color palette.”

“I don’t want to be surprised. I’ve had enough surprises for one lifetime,” I mumble, then let out a long yawn.

She squeezes my shoulder. “I think we’ve had enough for one day, sweetheart. Let’s go home.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty wiped. I’d love a bath.”

“And we’ll order in some Chinese.”

“Perfect.”

We walk out of the store and turn the corner when something tall and broad bumps right into me.

“Hey, asshole—” I shout, and then just as quickly, my mouth drops.

“Hallo, Luciana.”

I look up into Tomas’s deep blue eyes now looking at me with concern, his hands holding my shoulders firmly. “I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”

I smile for a second, recalling this is how we first met. I shake like a nervous schoolgirl, so happy to see him. I want to reach out and grab him and kiss him, but I restrain myself to let him make the first move.

Patient. Just like Mom said. Be patient.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. What are you doing here?”

“I just had a meeting with Professor Waltz at the Conservatory. I needed his advice.” He turns to my mother. “Hallo, Mrs. Gibbons.”

She acknowledges him in a civil manner, short and succinct. “Tomas.”

“Luciana, could we talk?” he asks me carefully.

“Sweetheart, why don’t I go home and order our dinner? I think you and Tomas need some time together alone,” my mother offers.

I nod in gratitude, leaning in to peck her on the cheek. “I think that’d be good. I’ll see you in a bit.”

She gives Tomas a final “Don’t mess with my only child” look and walks toward the subway station entrance.

My feet are killing me. “Let’s go sit down.”

We cross the street into Union Square Park, his left hand on the small of my back, leading me, protecting me, and I find I like it.

He steers me toward the first empty bench. “How have you been? Are you still throwing up?”

I sigh, leaning back into the wood. “Not as much. My doctor gave me some anti-nausea meds that have helped.”

He gently takes my hand into his and takes a deep breath. “Luciana, I’m so sorry for how I behaved the last time I saw you, leaving you like that. I’m so embarrassed. It was just such a shock, you know.”

I nod, exhaling from relief at his words. “I can imagine. You weren’t expecting to hear that.”

“Not at all.”

I grip his hand tighter. “And I’m sorry for not being more sensitive about it, especially after what you told me about Petra and the baby. I wasn’t thinking clearly, just laying it on you.”

“It’s okay, my love. It was an odd day, seeing you again after I’d left like that. You had every right to your feelings.”

I want to cry at the sound of him calling me “my love” again after so long, but I keep myself in check. I move in closer to him until our thighs touch. He coils an arm around me, and I snuggle into his hard, strong body, the body of the man I’ve missed more than I realize.

I sigh contentedly. “Let’s just start over, baby. One day at a time.”

“I would like that very much,” he replies in a raw voice, choked with emotion.

We sit quietly for a few minutes. I need to gather my nerve to ask him the one question I need answered.

“Tomas?”

“Yes?”

I swallow in my throat. “Are you happy about the baby?”

I sense his head turning into me, his hot breath on my ear. “I can’t wait to meet our baby, darling. Does that help?”

Shifting toward him, I place my lips over his and kiss him ever so softly, just enough so he knows I never stopped loving him or wanting him. “More than you know.”

I lean my head back into the crook of his shoulder as his arm holds me tighter, savoring this quiet moment together while watching New Yorkers rush by going about their daily lives, the sounds of the city forming a cacophony around us. But we sit quietly together in our cocoon, reveling in the feel of each other, finally together, ready to start anew.

*  *  * Tomas

Tribeca

Two weeks later

Calm. Remain calm. Just breathe.

I couldn’t wait another day to do this. Luciana and I have talked every day since I saw her in Union Square, and I’ve gone with her to meet her doctor, who is very nice and friendly, which I like. And I probably came at the wrong time, judging by the look on Luciana’s father’s face when he opens the door.

“Tomas,” he sighs, “you’ve lived in New York City long enough to know that New Yorkers call ahead before they stop by someone’s home. We’re about to sit down to dinner.”

Shit. This is not starting out well.

“I apologize, sir. I promise to keep this short. I just need to see Luciana.”

He gives me another pointed look and exhales. “Fine. Come with me.”

I follow Mr. Gibbons to their dining area where Luciana is sitting at the table with her mother. She instantly jumps up from the table, rushes to me, and kisses me softly on the lips.

“Hi, baby. What’s going on?” she asks. I know she’s nervous because her eyebrows are narrowed and her hands hold tightly onto my forearms.

“May I speak to you privately?”

“Of course.”

She takes me by the hand and leads me to her room, shutting the door behind her.

“Please sit,” I ask of her, pointing to the bed.

Her lovely blue eyes look me over, trying to figure out what’s going on. “Okay,” she replies suspiciously.

She does as I ask. I move closer to her, looking her directly in the eyes.

“Luciana, I want you to know again how sorry I am for how I left you like that…”

She tilts her head at me curiously. “Tomas, it’s all right. We’re past that now.”

“And I know we’ve had our ups and downs.” I gesture with my hand resembling the thing that I don’t know the name of in English.

She laughs and smiles. “A roller coaster.”

“Yes, it’s been a roller coaster for us. But honestly, I think I would’ve been bored with anyone else. You have brought much joy to my life, and I know that you’re the one I want to be with always.”

I slowly lower myself to the floor, leaving one knee upright. I hear her gasp as I pull the ring box from my jacket pocket, the one my mother gave me.

Her hands are closed over her mouth, and tears are falling down her face. She’s never looked more beautiful.

“Oh my God,” I hear her say muffled by her hands.

“I love you, Luciana. Will you marry me?” I propose to her, not taking my eyes from her face.

“Yes!” she shouts, sinking to the floor to grab me, kissing me again and again.

She holds me closely to her. I can feel her luscious curves shaking in my grip as tears of my own escape my eyes. “Thank fucking God,” I hear her mumble into my neck, and I burst out laughing. I love my Luciana so much. My Luciana with the dirty mouth.

I laugh to myself because she just echoed my own thoughts. “I know. Finally. I’m so happy, darling.”

“Me too. Now, you need to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“You have to ask my father for my hand in marriage.”

Shit.

I gulp nervously. “Oh, yes, I forgot that part.”

I rise to my feet first, helping my fiancée and future mother of my child to hers. She takes my hand once more to lead me back to the dining area. “Daddy!” she calls out.

I hear him growl in reply. “What? I’m eating.”

“Tomas has a question for you.”

We reach the table, where Mr. Gibbons looks me over with narrowed eyes. “Does he now?”

She pats me on the back. “Good luck, Prague Boy.”

I watch as she sits back down at her place at the table, glancing back at me and giving me a quick wink and smile.

I love that fucking woman.

Oh my God, I caught it. And I love it.

CHAPTER SIX

Northern Italy