Saved by the CEO(35)

"I missed you," Nico whispered before releasing her.

"Down, boy. This dress isn't made for manhandling." She smoothed the  wrinkles from the pink chiffon skirt before whispering in return, "I  missed you, too.

"Is that why you wanted to see me?" she asked. Not that she would ever  turn down a kiss, but again, even for Nico, the behavior seemed extreme.

"The kiss was merely a bonus. I was looking for you because I have a surprise."

"For me?"

"No, for my brother, Angelo. Cover your eyes."

Louisa did what she was told and seconds later, she felt Nico's breath  tickling her ear. "I wanted to do something to congratulate you for  everything you've done with the palazzo. Carlos, he would be proud. I  know I am."

Warmth filled her from head to toe. She didn't need a surprise. Nico's  respect meant everything. "Okay," he whispered. "Open them."

"Nico, I don't need-Mom?"

The silver-haired woman standing at the foot of the stairs offered her a watery smile. "Hello, Louisa."                       
       
           



       

"I-" She couldn't believe her mother was standing the lobby. "How-"

"Signor Amatucci flew me here. He wanted me to see what you've done. It's wonderful, sweetheart."

"Mom..." She couldn't finish the sentence. Instead, she ran and threw  her arms around the woman, holding on to her as tightly as she could. "I  missed you so much," she managed to choke out. Until this moment, she  hadn't realized just how much. "I'm so sorry."

"No, sweetheart, I am. I let us grow apart, but I promise I won't let  that happen again." Pulling away, her mother cupped her face like she  used to do when Louisa was a little girl and had a bad dream. "Okay?"

Louisa nodded. This was the best surprise she could imagine. "Thank you," she said when Nico joined them.

"My pleasure," he replied before looking serious "You're not angry I went behind your back?"

"Are you kidding? No way." If anything, his kindness only made her love  him more. A pretty amazing feat, since she already loved him more than  seemed possible.

She saw the same love in Nico's eyes. "Good. Because a woman should always be able to share her engagement with her mother."

Her engagement? A warm frisson passed through her at the words. She'd be  lying if the idea of spending the rest of her life with Nico hadn't  crossed her mind during these past few months. Trying to imagine life  without him was... Well, it was like staring at a blank wall.

Still, she wasn't about to let him know that. The man needed to be kept  on his toes, after all. Arms folded, she lifted her chin and said in her  most haughty voice, "There you go, taking charge again. What makes you  think we're getting married?"

"A man can hope, can't he?" Nico said, reaching into his pocket. Louisa gasped when she saw the small velvet box.

Bending on one knee, he held it out to her with a shaking hand. "Louisa  Harrison, my beautiful, haughty American princess, you are the only  woman I will ever love. Will you marry me?"

There was only one answer she could give. Same as there could only be  one man she would ever want to be with forever. "Yes," she breathed.  "Yes, I will marry you, Nico Amatucci."

He pulled her into another kiss, and this time Louisa didn't care how  wrinkled her dress got. As his lips slanted over hers and the crowd  burst into applause, she felt the last ghosts of her life with Steven  disappear forever. She'd found a new life, a new home, a new love, here,  in the vineyards of Monte Calanetti.

And they were better than she'd ever dreamed possible.