EPILOGUE
Three nights later, Lara was standing in the campanile of the Piazza San Marco, gazing over the moonlit rooftops of Venice. She leaned back against Jack's sturdy chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.
"It's so beautiful, so peaceful," she whispered.
He rubbed his chin against her hair. "This is where I first told you that I love you."
"Mmm. It was very romantic." She jumped when music started below. "What's that?" She peered down from the bell tower and laughed when she saw Lorenzo playing his accordion. The strains of "Bella Notte" drifted up to her.
"Oh Jack." She touched his face. "You're so sweet."
"I wanted everything to be perfect."
She gave him a wry look. "Are you trying to recreate that first date?"
He winced. "Not really. You left me at the end of that date."
"Well, yes. But you did make me scream. I'm afraid I permanently traumatized the pigeons."
He held up his hands. "I learned my lesson. Tonight, we will teleport to my bedroom at the palazzo, and there, I will make love to you all night long. I promise to do my best, but the screaming will be left to your discretion."
She laughed. "You rascal. You always make me scream."
He grinned. "And then tomorrow, while I'm totally useless in my death-sleep, you will be taken on a tour of Venezia. Gianetta's niece works at a museum, and shell spend the day as your personal guide."
"Oh, that's wonderful. Thank you, Jack."
His eyes sparkled. "And I have another surprise for you. You won't be sightseeing alone. I gave LaToya a first-class ticket to Venice. She'll be arriving in the morning."
Lara gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. "Jack, that's the most wonderful gift ever."
"She's been a good friend to you. I don't want you to lose her just because you're with me."
Lara's eyes filled with tears. She hadn't told LaToya everything yet, but it shouldn't be difficult to convince her best friend that Jack was the most wonderful man in the world. Because he simply was.
She leaned from the bell tower window. "I love Giacomo di Venezia!"
The pigeons, startled from their roosts, flapped wildly around the tower and piazza.
Jack laughed. "There you go, scaring the poor pigeons again."
She flung her arms around his neck. "I do love you, Jack. I will always love you."
He held her tight. "You are my angel, Lara. I have another surprise for you in my pants."
She snorted.
He placed her hand on the bulge.
She glanced down. "I seem to remember you being a lot bigger than that." She moved her hand to the center. "Oh yeah, now we're talking."
He chuckled and removed the smaller bulge from his pocket. "I think you'll like this, too. At least I hope so." He opened the small black box.
Lara gasped. It was a beautiful sapphire surrounded by glittering diamonds.
"I know it's not exactly traditional, but the sapphire reminded me of your lovely blue eyes."
She stepped back. Her skin prickled with goose flesh. She knew this was a moment she would cherish for as long as she lived. She would remember the cool night air blowing through the campanile and the sound of "Bella Notte" drifting up from the piazza. And she would remember Jack, standing there with a ring and so much love glimmering in his golden brown eyes.
He knelt before her. "Lara Boucher, will you marry me?"
She fell to her knees in front of him. "Yes, yes, I will." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He held her tight. "Well, that's a relief."
She leaned back. "I do have one condition, though."
He looked worried. "What is it?"
She smiled and caressed his cheek. "You have to stop saying 'nine circles of hell.?
"Oh." He looked surprised. "I can do that." He stood, then pulled her into his arms with a grin. "You are right, cara mia. You have brought love into my life, and we have found our way to Paradiso."