I only hoped she wouldn’t come straight out and tell me she was already dating someone else. Even if that were the case, though, this time I was ready to fight for her. This time I would let her see I was the only one she could trust with her heart.

  CHAPTER 21

  MAGGIE

  Seeing Harrison had been a shock. I hoped the dark sunglasses had hidden the surprise, but I knew my initial stammering had probably given me away. It was funny—I’d just been thinking of him at that very moment by the Trevi Fountain, and for a second I thought I’d somehow dreamed him into life. Then I’d thought I might have stood too long in the sun and my eyes were playing tricks. But there he was—in the flesh—tall and beautiful, with a smile that had made my knees go weak.

  I hadn’t been able to keep myself from admitting I’d been following him online. I didn’t care if he thought I was pathetic—he was a talented photographer and his photos and articles made me dream of a life in which we could be together, seeing all those breathtaking views in each other’s arms, discovering the world bit by bit, just the two of us.

  And seeing him standing in front of me had made me wonder if Declan might be behind this. After all, what were the odds we would find ourselves in the same city after a year of radio silence?

  I might have known much of what he’d been up to, at least as far as his work life was concerned, but I wanted to know more—namely if he was seeing someone. Yes, I still had feelings for him, and, judging by the way my heart had leapt with joy upon seeing him, they were just as strong—maybe even stronger.

  After my disastrous trip to Montreal, I’d done my best to forget him and focus on myself. I was determined to find my own happiness without anyone’s help, and I’d done it. I loved my Italian life, my job, my friends. Despite my accomplishments, though, I felt something was missing. My family, yes—but also someone to spend my days with. There was no point in accomplishing goals if you had nobody to share the happiness with.

  And just when I had been thinking about this, Harrison had shown up. I knew this was a sign—I no longer believed in lucky coincidences. And, after I saw the small rainbow in the fountain, I knew Declan was telling me something I wasn’t going to ignore.

  “How can I book a tour with you?” Harrison asked me, his head tilted to the side and a lovely smile on his face. “I need an expert to help me get a real feel for the city.”

  There was nothing I wanted more than to spend time with him. There was no question in my mind that he was the one I was meant to be with. Nobody would convince me otherwise, by now.

  “You should call the office and book a tour,” I replied in a nonchalant tone I hoped would hide my nervousness. “They’ll tell you who’s available, depending on the dates you need.” Yes, I wanted to be with him, but I was also scared things would be different between us. However, the fact that he had specifically asked how to book a tour with me made me hope he wanted to be with me, not just to hire someone who would show him around the city.

  His face grew serious, and he bent and put his empty paper cup on the ground. He then stepped closer and took mine from my hands, placing it on the ground next to his. Before I could say anything, he took my hands and squeezed my fingers as if he were afraid I would run away.

  “I don’t want a tour guide, Maggie. I want you.”

  I swallowed hard and my hands started to sweat. Those three words could mean anything—though judging by the way he stared at me as if he could see through my dark sunglasses and hold my gaze made me believe we were no longer talking about tours.

  “Sure, having someone who could show me around and help me get to experience the city as a local would definitely help me create a perfect piece for the magazine. And if that’s the only way I can spend time with you, then I’ll call your boss and specifically ask for you.” He gave my hands another soft squeeze, and that beautiful smile reappeared on his face. “But I want to be honest with you. It can’t be a coincidence we got to meet again. I’ve never really stopped thinking about you, even when I told myself I should. You stole my heart that very first day on the bus to Rossaveal, and it’s always been yours, no matter how far apart we were. I’m sorry I chose my job over you back then. I thought you deserved more—you deserved someone who would always be there for you, every day. I’d been through it all before and it hadn’t ended well. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

  The giant lump in my throat made it hard for me to speak, but I was determined to open my heart to him now that we’d been given a second chance. So, I took a deep breath, removed one of my hands from his, and pushed my sunglasses to the top of my head. I wanted him to see the truth in my eyes when I spoke the words.

  “I’ve thought long and hard about those days, about us, and what I should have done differently, and I realized the time just wasn’t right back then. We both needed to pursue our goals, to live our own dreams. In order to be together, one of us would have had to give them up, and eventually it would have torn us apart.” I brought my free hand to his face and brushed his cheek. “I needed to find myself, to understand who I was and what I wanted. I needed to prove to myself that I could be more than just the baby of the family. As a child, I used to love my privileged status that helped me get away with anything, but after Declan died, I wanted to be considered more than just a daddy’s girl. And you helped me achieve that.”

  He frowned. “I did?”

  I smiled and nodded. “First, when you asked me to accompany you on your trip around Ireland, then when I flew across the Atlantic just to see you—though that didn’t quite turn out how I’d hoped. And now this, my new life in Rome. What happened in Montreal made me think better about what my brother had been trying to tell me in a dream, and I realized maybe he’d been suggesting I should pursue my dream of living in Italy.”

  He took one step closer. “I know you haven’t made plans for the future yet, but there’s something I need to say.” Our toes were touching. If I leaned in, I could kiss him. The thought made blood rush to my brain, and I felt suddenly lightheaded. I lowered my hand, which had still been resting against his cheek. He took it in his and gave a gentle tug, pulling me closer to him so that our bodies were only inches apart. I wasn’t sure if we were alone or if we had an audience—in all honesty, I didn’t care. “The time wasn’t right for us back then,” he said, “but it could be now. A year apart hasn’t changed my feelings for you—it only made them stronger. All I want to ask of you is, whatever your plans turn out to be, I’d like to be part of them. If you’ll let me.”

  I frowned. Was the heat causing me to hear things? Or was I misunderstanding his words?

  The expression on my face must have mirrored my confusion because he chuckled. “In other words, I don’t care where you’re going to live—in Italy, in Ireland, or in Tibet. I want to be with you wherever the place you’ll call home will end up being.” He squeezed my hands and leaned in closer, stopping just before our noses could meet. I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh, light scent of his aftershave. “I don’t want to lose you again, Maggie. And unless I read the signs all wrong, I know you feel something for me too. It’s time to put all our cards on the table.”

  “Harrison, I…” As much as I wanted to let my heart do all the talking, my brain couldn’t stop conjuring all the different ways in which things could go wrong. I knew if they did, this time I would be truly heartbroken. “I don’t think I need to make up excuses. I wouldn’t have crossed the ocean for someone I didn’t care for. But this doesn’t change the reality: you’re constantly away to some faraway place, even more so now that you work for National Geographic. I don’t want a long-distance relationship.”

  “It wouldn’t be,” he said, his breath caressing my face. “I’ve proven I’m talented enough for National Geographic and I’ve enjoyed my time with them. I have other plans now—and they revolve around you.”

  I pulled slightly away, unsure whether I was doing it because I needed space or if I was afraid of giving in to the temptation of kissing him.

  “Maggie, nothing matters more to me than being with you. And if you feel the same, then just say it and let me be the one to worry about how to make things work.”

  “I don’t want you to leave your dream job for me,” I said, knowing it wouldn’t do either of us any good in the end. At some point he would regret it and blame me for it.

  He smiled. “It used to be my dream job before I lost you and realized I wasn’t as happy as I should have been. More than once, I found myself wishing you were with me. After those three weeks we spent touring Ireland together, traveling by myself was no longer fun. And when I saw you standing by the fountain, as if I had dreamed you into life, I just knew this was my chance to make up for my mistakes.” He let go of my left hand and put a finger under my chin to make sure I would look at him. His chocolate-brown eyes were warm and gentle, and a spark of some strong emotion seemed to shimmer in their depths. “I love you, Maggie. I knew it after I left Ireland. I just didn’t want to admit it because I was aware I would have to let you go. Now that you’re here with me again I’m sure of my feelings. No other girl has ever made me feel like this before, and I know all the signs your brother has been giving you must be true. I didn’t believe something like this was possible, but I believe in you and I know all that’s been happening has been guiding us toward each other because we’re meant to be together. Because you’re my soul mate and I’m yours.”

  My vision blurred, and I wished I’d kept my sunglasses on. At least I wouldn’t feel so vulnerable now. His eyes searched mine; I felt them boring into me, reaching down into my soul, as if they could pull the answer from my lips.

  And apparently they did, because, without realizing I’d even opened my mouth, the words tumbled out. “I was heartbroken when you left Ireland, and even more when my plans went awry in Montreal. I kept telling myself it was for the best that nothing happened between us, that I would get over you and I would focus on myself. I did my best to push back the memories that haunted me, and I thought one day I’d find someone who’d make my heart beat just as wildly as you did.” I shrugged, smiling. “I’ve met lots of interesting people here in Rome—some of my Italian friends are handsome guys, and it’s not like I haven’t had more than a chance to be more than just friends with them. Yet, whenever I looked at a dark-haired man, all I saw was your face. When I heard someone speaking in French behind me, I couldn’t help turning around, wishing it was you. I knew there was a reason why our paths had crossed, and I was sure at some point my brother would show me what it was.”

  A tear rolled down my cheek and I hastily wiped it away with the back of my hand. I felt like a real eejit crying in front of him, but I had waited so long for this moment—all the emotions I’d kept inside were overwhelming.

  “And now you know, don’t you? Do you believe this is proof we should find a way to be together?”

  I nodded and, leaning into his hand as he placed it on my cheek, I closed my eyes for a moment. His touch was warm and gentle, just like I’d always known it would be. When I opened my eyes again, I looked up and held his gaze. “I love you, Harrison. I don’t know where I’ll be in six months or in six years, but if you’re as determined to make this work as I am, I’d go anywhere just to be with you. I never want to lose you again.”

  A smile lit his beautiful face as he moved in even closer, our lips only a breath away now. “You won’t, my beautiful Galway girl. You hold my heart, and I want to win yours.”

  “You already have. It’s always been yours. And it will be, forever.”

  And with one last, slow smile, he closed the distance between us and brushed my lips in a feather-soft kiss.

  “Forever,” he whispered against my mouth, just before claiming it with the most amazing, breathtaking, toe-curling kiss I had ever experienced. I looped my arms around his neck, my legs no longer able to support me, and he pulled me into his chest. His arms held the promise he would always catch me if I should fall, and always keep me safe and warm. That he would be there for me every day, as long as we lived. And I silently promised that would do just the same, every day of my life.

  CHAPTER 22

  HARRISON

  The days that followed our reunion were a whirlwind. When I woke up in the morning, I still had a hard time believing I wasn’t dreaming, but when Maggie showed up at my hotel and kissed my lips, I knew it was all real. True to my word, I called the tour company and asked to hire Maggie for a three-day tour of the city and the Vatican. I didn’t care how much it cost me and that National Geographic wouldn’t pay for it—she had already lost a job because of me once, and I wasn’t going to cause her to lose what was clearly the career of her dreams. Besides, it was the best way for us to be together from morning till late at night—because, as much as I wanted to spend the night with her, I wasn’t going to rush things.

  “That’s called Bocca della verità—the mouth of truth,” Maggie said, pointing at the mask of a bearded face with a hole in its mouth and eyes, carved in the marble on a wall. “Legend has it, it will bite the hand of a liar who sticks it inside its mouth. It was in a scene of the movie Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn. Want to try it?” She had a challenging glint in her eyes as she stared at me. I wasn’t going to back down.

  “Sure, why not. I’ve got nothing to hide.” I got closer to the sculpture and reached out my hand.

  “Hang on, I want to take a picture.” She pulled out her phone and I waited until she was ready. “Go ahead now, if you dare.”

  “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, chérie—the only one I want to love for the rest of my life,” I said, holding her gaze while I let my hand slide inside the hole in the wall. Her eyes sparkled with an emotion I knew too well, since it was the same that warmed my heart every time I thought of her—pure love. “See? You now have proof of what I feel for you.”

  She closed the distance between us and stood on her tiptoes to capture my lips in a sweet kiss that told me she felt the same way. After fantasizing over her for a year, I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that all I had to do was reach out my hand to pull her to me, that I could steal a kiss whenever I wanted. That she was all mine.

  “I hope you don’t go around kissing all the tourists you bring here,” I said with a mock grumble as she pulled back.

  She shrugged. “Only those with the sexy French accent.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest, squeezing her so tight she couldn’t move a single muscle—then claimed her lips again.

  When a group of tourists approached, Maggie broke the kiss and took my hand, giggling as she pulled me away, like a teenager who’d been caught by her parents.

  We walked hand-in-hand on the streets of Rome like a couple of sweethearts on vacation, and whenever I had to let go of hers to take a picture of something, it almost felt as if I had been deprived of a part of myself. I never thought it would be possible to be so happy and in love, and I knew now that leaving her side wasn’t an option. My time in Rome was limited, and I had to find a way to make sure I wouldn’t lose her again. After opening our hearts to each other, we’d been too focused on living in the present to think about our future, as if, deep down, we both realized making things work so that we both wouldn’t have regrets in a few years’ time wasn’t as easy as it sounded in our heads.

  Time was ticking, though, and if I wanted for us to have a chance, I needed to come up with a solution that would work for both of us.

  We reached a trattoria and stopped for lunch. I loved Italian food and even more so now that I could share it with Maggie. While we waited for our order to be served, we made idle small talk. We still had a lot to catch up on, though it felt like we’d done nothing but talk the past couple of days we’d been together.

  “You’re even more beautiful than I remembered,” I blurted out, twisting my fork in the plate to pick up spaghetti. “You look happy. This Italian life truly brought a glow to your face.”

  She smiled self-consciously and fidgeted with her own fork. “I love this life, though it’s hard to be away from my family, especially after my niece was born.” She brought up the fork to her mouth, then chewed slowly without meeting my eyes. “I’ve managed to go back a couple of days for Christmas, and a couple more days in March, but it’s not the same.”

  “I get how you feel. My sister lives in Australia, remember? If I get to see them all once a year, I’m lucky. And when I do get to be with them, I’m almost like a stranger to my niece and nephew. I feel jealous that my brother-in-law’s family gets to spend time with my niece and nephew while I’m just ‘the uncle on the other side of the world’ who sees them via a computer screen.” I shrugged and picked up another forkful of pasta. “It will probably be different when they grow up and understand how life works, but by then I will have lost the best part. You know, playing with them, being the uncle who spoils them, who takes them to the playground, that kind of stuff.”

  She nodded, a sad look in her eyes. “My thoughts exactly. I never would have thought I’d feel this way. I’ve wanted this life for so long and I love it—don’t get me wrong—yet there’s something nagging at me, spoiling the fun.”

  “Maybe you’re just homesick. This is the first time you’ve been away from your family for such a long time, isn’t it?”

  She shrugged, twisting up her spaghetti and staring at it as if she could find all the answers in that forkful of pasta. “I don’t know. If I have to be honest, I’ve been second-guessing my decision lately.”

 

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