Out of the corner of her eye she saw a couple of tourists on the far perimeter of the garden watching, enthralled. One even held up a phone to get a shot of them. But Aurelio didn’t notice. His attention was all on her.
She swiped her tongue over her lip. ‘I wouldn’t really stop you from seeing our baby.’
‘I’m glad. I want to be part of its life. But that’s not enough.’ He raised her hand and pressed it to his mouth. ‘I love you, Amber. It sideswiped me because I didn’t believe it could happen to me again. And because it was so different from what I felt before. Valentina and I knew each other all our lives. We just grew into affection gradually. But when I met you it was like mountain lightning, striking in an instant, hard and inescapable. A force of nature.’
Stunned, Amber nodded. It had been like that for her too.
‘That day you gave your presentation in Rome I couldn’t believe what I felt. It was all too much, too soon. Then when we spent that week together I felt myself falling further and further under your spell. I kept telling myself I could break away. That it was just sex, not emotion, but I lied to myself.’ He shook his head, his expression stern. ‘I’ve discovered I’ve done a lot of lying to myself, and to you. I’m sorry for that, Amber. If I’d been more honest I could have avoided hurting you.’
Amber stared down at the gorgeous man before her wearing such a regretful expression. Desperately she tried to still her rioting senses. She wanted so much to believe him but some instinct for self-preservation made her hold back.
‘I don’t know what to say.’
For a second something flared in his eyes. It looked like desolation, and she felt the sudden judder through him as if rocked by an unseen blow. Then he nodded. ‘I understand. It will take far more than a simple apology to put right all the wrongs I’ve done you. But give me hope that you’ll let me stay in your life and try to win you.’
‘Win me?’
He nodded. ‘Of course. I love you, Amber. I want to spend my life with you. I’ll come to Australia to support you and our baby. But have no doubt my main aim is to convince you to love me too.’ He paused, his grip on her hand tightening. ‘One day I hope you’ll marry me, not for the sake of the baby,’ he said quickly, ‘but because you love me too.’
That did it. Amber had been strong and sensible so long but how could she withstand that?
‘Ah,tesoro, don’t cry!’ Aurelio surged to his feet and wrapped her close against him. Beneath her cheek she felt the quick sprint of his heart. ‘Please, don’t. It breaks my heart to see you unhappy.’
Amber snuffled into his shirt, inhaling the scent of warm male flesh and spice that was uniquely Aurelio’s. Her skittering pulse eased as she sank into him. Finally, when she found her voice she tilted her head back to meet his worried eyes.
‘I’m crying because I’m happy.’
‘Happy?’ His frown cleared. ‘My sister Lia does that too. It’s supposed to be a good thing.’ He said it carefully as if waiting to be corrected and Amber’s heart squeezed at the sight of him so unsure. She wasn’t used to Aurelio being hesitant.
‘I’m happy because you love me.’ She drew a deep breath. ‘I’ve been in love with you so long, Aurelio. I never thought—’
Her words died when his mouth covered hers, at first lightly, reverently, as if, like her, he’d feared they’d never kiss again. Then, as their bodies clung closer, his hand lifted to her hair, his spread fingers holding her so he could feast on her.
Joy and love and something like triumph, or maybe relief, filled Amber as she kissed him back. Her arms crept to his shoulders, her own hands welding to the back of his head, tugging him down to her level as she strained up towards him on tiptoe.
When, finally, they drew apart enough to breathe, Amber became aware of an unfamiliar noise. Not the birds in the pine trees or the distant hum of traffic, but applause from the large tourist group watching from the other side of the garden.
Amber caught smiles and the glint of cameras.
‘Do you mind?’ Aurelio’s voice rumbled up to wrap around her like an embrace.
‘I don’t care one bit.’ She tilted her head back to see him smiling down at her. He looked so different from the brooding man she’d first met.
‘You really love me?’ Was that anxiety she heard still in his deep voice?
‘I really do.’ Her mouth curved up as the darkness that had clung so long faded away, banished by happiness.
‘I’ll devote my life to making sure that never changes.’ This time his kiss was a gentle salute that stole her breath with its tenderness.
When he finally lifted his head Amber was dizzy with happiness. She wasn’t even surprised when Aurelio scooped her up against his solid chest.
‘I could get used to this.’ She curled her hands around his neck.
‘That suits me down to the ground. Now,’ he turned towards the path, ‘let’s go somewhere private and book our flights to Australia.’
Amber didn’t bother to protest that he couldn’t carry her all the way down off the Palatine Hill. She’d stay in his arms forever if she could. ‘I’ve changed my mind. I want to stay in Italy.’
The look he gave her told her just how much that meant to him. Now he didn’t bother to guard his emotions, the love she read in his expression was so strong, so open, Amber felt it surround her, warmer than sunshine. Happiness bubbled inside, even her bloodstream felt effervescent.