Epilogue

Ten days later

“Mommy, can we give Max his present now?” Izzy was vibrating with excitement. Emily looked at Max across the dining-room table where they’d just finished eating Christmas dinner. Happiness fluttered inside her at his presence in this room, when just ten days ago she’d thought she’d never see him again.

He raised his eyebrows at Izzy. “Wouldn’t you like your gifts first?”

“No, I want to give you yours.”

“Your generosity does you credit,” he said.

“You’re draggin’ it,” Izzy said with a grin.

“Izzy!” Emily had to squelch her smile.

“Translation?” Max asked.

“You’re exaggerating,” Izzy said. “Diego says it all the time. Well, probably not now, since he’s living with Violet. She’s like Mommy and doesn’t let him use slang.”

More happiness glowed through Emily as she pictured Diego sitting at the table with Violet, eating a hearty, homemade Christmas dinner with one of her famous pies for dessert. Somehow the woman who never raised her voice had induced Diego’s vicious, violent father to grant her guardianship of the boy.

“Okay, we’ll give Max his present,” Emily said, pushing her chair back to go with Izzy. She was nervous about her choice of gift. It was a little over the top.

Izzy already had the box closed up and was sticking the big bow on. “You better carry it,” she said. “I don’t want to drop it.”

Emily lifted the carton carefully and carried it into the living room. Max had started to clear the table, so she called him in as she put his gift down in front of a chair.

He came in, looking so delicious as he strode across the room in his dark red shirt and black trousers that she had to stand on her toes and kiss him.

His eyes lit up. “What was that for? I haven’t even given you your present yet.”

“It’s for being here and not in Chicago.”

He put his arms around her and held her for a long moment. “I can’t imagine being anyplace else.”

“Guys, the present!” Izzy said, her voice loud with impatience.

Max let her go and sat down where Izzy pointed. Emily was relieved to see that he gave Windy a pat when she came over to sniff at his gift.

“I hope this is okay,” Emily said.

“If you chose it, it will be perfect.” His voice was a caress.

Max leaned over and pulled off the bow. Then he flipped open the top of the box.

Up popped a small, furry brown-and-white head with one ear standing up and the other flopped over.

“A puppy?” Max’s face was a study in astonishment. The little dog licked Max’s hand where he still held the box. “You got me a puppy.” He reached for the dog, bringing the small creature up to cradle it against his chest. The puppy licked his chin.

“If you don’t want to take care of him, he can be a K-9 Angel at the center, but . . .”

Max just shook his head while he stroked the puppy, who was now chewing on the red bow tied around his neck. When Max finally looked up at Emily, his gaze was filled with amazed wonder. “You’ve given me a gift that I would have never given myself.”

She smiled. “Now you’re part of the K-9 Angelz project, too.”

Max laughed, but his attention had returned to the puppy. He kept touching the little creature as though he couldn’t quite believe it was his.

“His name’s Rocco, but he doesn’t really know it yet. So you could change it, if you want to,” Izzy explained. “He’s from the shelter. Mommy and I picked him out. His stuff is in my bedroom.”

Holding the puppy up in front of his face, Max said, “He looks like a Rocco to me.” The puppy licked his nose, and Max laughed and lowered the dog to his lap. “Does that mean he agrees?”

“Can I open my presents now?” Izzy bounced up and down on her knees.

Max was engrossed in the puppy, but he looked up. “By all means. I might have a vested interest in them.”

“What does that mean?” Izzy asked as she jumped to her feet and headed for the largest of the boxes Max had placed under the tree.

“That he will get something he wants because he gave you the gift,” Emily explained.

“That’s dope.” Izzy was ripping the paper off at high speed. She tore off one large piece and gasped. “It’s a sewing machine for kids! I can make my own clothes. This is the best gift ever!” A guilt-stricken look crossed her face. “I mean, except for my new cell phone. That’s the best gift ever, too.”

Emily laughed. “It’s okay, sweetie. You asked for the cell phone. This was a surprise.”

Izzy launched herself off the floor and over to Max, winding her arms around his neck from the side so she didn’t squash Rocco. “Thank you so much. Once I practice, I’m going to make you the most rad chemist outfit ever.”

Max freed one hand to touch Izzy’s cheek while pure happiness glowed on his face. “I’m counting on it. Now open the other big box.”

Izzy charged back to the tree and shredded the beautiful paper from the next box, lifting off the lid to spill bolts of brightly colored fabric across the rug. Her eyes and mouth went round with excitement as she riffled through the treasures. “This is poppin’.”

“Izzy!” Emily had reached her limit on the slang.

Her daughter just giggled as she held up a piece of cloth with blue-and-yellow swirls.

“One more,” Max said. “Then it’s your mom’s turn.”

Emily was about to protest that Max had already given her a present until she remembered that it wasn’t something Izzy should know about. In the privacy of her bedroom, he’d presented her with a silver box tied up with a huge taffeta bow. Inside were at least two dozen pairs of thigh-high stockings, which had made her laugh. Under those was a selection of filmy silk and lace lingerie, all exquisitely beautiful and highly improper.

“The Chemistry of Baking,” Izzy said, reading the title of the thick book she’d unwrapped. She flipped it open. “It’s a cookbook! For pies! And other stuff.” She turned to Max. “I thought it was going to be all sciencey, but this is do—great.”

He laughed. “I couldn’t help myself when I saw the title.”

“’Cause you’re a chemist. I get it,” Izzy said.

Max met Emily’s gaze. “I’d present you with your gift, but I have an impediment.” Rocco was sprawled over Max’s lap like a rag doll, sound asleep.

“I’ll get it,” Izzy said, snatching up the flat package and bringing it to where Emily sat.

Emily looked at Max, who gave her a smile that held a nervous tightness. She untied the burgundy silk bow and peeled away the velvet-flocked paper. Flipping open the top, she folded back a layer of gold tissue paper.

It was a photograph of Max standing in front of a sleek white private jet and holding a hand-lettered sign in one hand while gesturing to the jet with the other.

“What does the sign say?” Izzy asked, leaning over her mother’s shoulder.

Emily lifted out the photo to read it. “‘Wherever you and Izzy want to go. (Except Chicago.)’”

“Why can’t we go to Chicago?” Izzy asked.

“Because I’ve developed a strong dislike of the city,” Max said, his tone dry. However, his eyes were locked on Emily.

She hugged the photo to her chest, beaming at him. “This is the best gift ever. Adventures together.” She held the picture out to examine it again. “And you look really handsome in front of a jet.”

“I’m very glad that you like the gift, because the jet is all fueled up and ready to leave.” He gently shook Rocco awake. The puppy yawned widely and jumped off Max’s lap.

“Now?” Emily stared at him. “But Windy . . . and Rocco. And the center.”

Max held up his phone. “The house sitter–slash–dog sitter is awaiting my call. And your second in command at the center has already met and approved two temporary helpers to take up the slack in your absence.”

“You mean we’re going somewhere right this second?” Izzy asked. “Like right now?”

“Well, I can allow you time to pack,” Max said.

Izzy began capering around the room. “We’re going on vacation!” She stopped. “Wait, do we pack winter or summer clothes?”

“That’s up to your mother,” Max said. “Although I have a couple of suggestions.”

Emily’s mind was still spinning in frantic circles. “Can we really just leave?” she murmured.

“Why not?” Max stood and walked over to bring her to her feet. Framing her face with his hands, he smiled down at her. “It’s very hard to find a gift for the woman who already has everything.”

“Me? I’m not the rich one.” She leaned into the solid, sexy warmth of him.

“You have everything that’s important,” he said. “A smart, beautiful daughter. The admiration and respect of those you work with. A job that makes the world a better place. A home that warmly embraces all visitors.”

“That list is missing one very important element,” Emily said, her heart aching at the truth of his words.

Max looked surprised. “What did I forget?”

“You!”

*

After Max had kissed Emily thoroughly for saying exactly what he wanted to hear, he sent her and Izzy off to pack for a beach vacation on a private Caribbean island. As he waited by the crackling fire, he pulled a small velvet pouch out of his pocket. Untying the bag’s silk cords, he shook a ring onto the palm of his hand. He held up the large oval diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds and set in a graceful antique platinum band, turning it so the stones sparked in the firelight.

Rocco ambled over and plunked down on top of Max’s shoe. Max knelt down to show the ring to the puppy. “Do you think she’ll like it, little fellow?”

Rocco sniffed the ring before he gave the diamond an enthusiastic slurp.

“I think you’re right, although I’ll have to get it cleaned again now,” Max said, returning the ring to its pouch. “My plan is to take Emily and Izzy for a walk on the beach right before sunset. There’s a place where a tidal pool reflects all the colors in the sky. I’ll tell them how important they are to me and how much I want to spend the rest of my life with them.”

He rubbed his fingers over the shape of the ring in the pouch. “I know without a doubt that Emily is the only woman for me, but is it too soon to expect her to feel the same way?”

Rocco shook not only his head but his entire body, nearly falling over.

“Okay, buddy, I’m going to trust you on this,” Max said, picking up the puppy and holding him in front of his face. “But if she says no, you’re going to be in the doghouse.”