“What would you like me to do with this delivery, Ms. Blackmore?” Hazel smiled at the broad-chested man in overalls standing on the front patio of the Roma.

“I’ve told you to please call me Hazel. And the same for Dean. You know he has Hollywood flashbacks when anyone calls him Mr. McLean. You can just leave it there. Dean will bring it in later.”

Mack carefully put down the box of tiles. It had been like a mirage when Mack had walked into their lives. Hazel and Dean had known how difficult this renovation would be from the start, so were delighted when another English speaking contractor appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Hazel didn’t like to pry, but got all the local gossip through Stella and Indigo. Mack, a native of Borgotaro, had returned from years in Scotland to look after his little niece who'd been left without a family when his sister had passed away. It was a sad story and Hazel sometimes felt guilty for being so happy he was with them.

As Mack walked away Hazel turned and admired the front of the building. The first thing they'd done when they started work only six weeks ago was to wash and repair the facade. It was like the old lady had only been waiting for a haircut. Her beauty shone through and had drawn hordes of locals to stop by and compliment them on the work so far.

“It’s ready, babe!” Dean’s voice called from inside the old hotel. Her heart skipped a beat as it always did when she thought of Dean and she turned to run inside and up the massive, main staircase.

At the top, she made a left and turned into the only room that was renovated. They'd decided to move in since they were doing the entire project themselves and wanted to get the feel of the hotel right away. Dean had motivated a team of surly Italians (miserable they were working during feraugusto, but happy for the pay) to finish one room and a bathroom. Since the day they'd finished it, this room had become their haven. Although it was only September and still warm, Dean had a fire burning in the fireplace, and the room danced with flickering shadows. He had drawn the curtains against the fading daylight and laid out a decadent picnic on their linen picnic cloth, which he’d spread on the floor. A bottle of Prosecco was sitting in the center, cooling in ice.

“We’ve been so busy we haven’t found time to get to the river in a while,” Dean said. He was on the blanket, lounging back against their big bed with his legs stretched toward the fire. “I figured I’d make a sexy picnic at home instead.”

“Well there is definitely some sexy in this room,” Hazel laughed. “But I don’t know if it’s the food.”

Dean patted the space next to him on the blanket. “Get over here so I can feed you grapes, you Goddess, you.”

Hazel smiled. Instead of sitting in his proffered spot she plunked herself into his lap, wrapping her legs around his back.

“I think I’d rather sit here.”

“Hmmm… good choice.” Dean leaned forward and put his hands behind her head, pulling her mouth into his forceful kiss.

Hazel broke the kiss and slipped from his lap into the space beside him. She knew if she didn’t move the dinner would be forgotten. It had happened before, and she was starving. It had been a long working day.

“Liz sent over the logo and graphics package today. It looks amazing! But she didn’t include an invoice,” she said as she picked at the cheese plate in front of her.

Dean reached for the Prosecco and poured two glasses, handing one to Hazel. “Well, you need to tell her we want to pay. I know she feels guilty for everything that happened to you but it’s not her fault. And now she’s starting her own company she needs all the revenue she can get. Plus, her work is amazing.”

“I know! I’m so grateful I didn’t need to do it myself. If I never do graphic design again, I’ll be thrilled with my life.”

Dean laughed. “I saw Stefano today. He’s happy that we signed over half the house to him. Ecstatic actually. But he’s still pissed at me about the cat.” As if she heard herself mentioned Marbles popped her head out from under the bed and climbed gracefully into Dean’s lap, settling down for an ear scratch. She started purring as if someone had flicked a switch on her back.

The day that Dean had saved her from the roof, just after he had pulled her through the window, Stefano had run down the hill with an extension ladder and pulled a quivering Marbles from the tree. Marbles had run into the house and straight to Dean, climbing up into his arms and staying there. By the end of the evening it was mutual true love. Marbles followed Dean everywhere. They'd tried to send her back up the hill every time she wandered down here but eventually gave up. She was Dean’s cat now. Stefano wasn't angry, really. Since Marble's defection he'd acquired two more cats and a brand new puppy. He'd discovered animals were his thing.

Hazel chuckled, “Did he show you the website? He’s got the booking system going before we even have any rooms to book. He’s like some computer wunderkind.”

“I didn’t see it. But I will. He’s a good kid. We were smart to add him to the team.”

Hazel reached out for a slice of focaccia and bit into it as she snuggled into Dean’s side. “He’s family, right?” she said. “This is a family business.”

“Is it really?” Dean said, sounding a little sad.

Hazel sat up so quickly she spooked the cat who took off running. She turned to frown at Dean, who wasn’t sad after all. He was smiling.

“Of course, it’s a family business. What would make you say that?”

“Well,” Dean said, reaching for a tiny velvet box she hadn't noticed sitting on the blanket “It’s just that a family business is usually owned by a husband and wife, isn’t it?”

Dean moved in front of her and onto a bended knee. Her heart pounded in her chest. Was this happening? Was it possible to be this happy without everything going wrong?

She put a panicked hand on Dean’s knee, “Dean…,” she said. She took his hand and pulled it to her breast, placing it over her pounding heart.

“I’m scared too, baby,” Dean whispered as he pulled his hand back and opened the box, revealing a simple, stunning, rose-colored diamond. “But let’s be scared together. You are the only woman in the world for me. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, hanging out with family, running this hotel, wandering the streets of Borgo and drinking Prosecco. Will you marry me?”

Hazel lifted her hand to Dean’s movie star face and looked into his movie star eyes, but all she saw was her Dean. Her Dean who was asking her to be with him forever. As though there were any doubt how she would respond. Her life had become a dream.

“Yes, Dean Mclean.” She leaned forward and kissed him gently. “Yes. I will marry you!”