Donna’s heart skipped a beat as she glanced at Blackwell studying the choices in the ice cream parlor. He was sculpted like a body builder, his hands were slightly rough and she knew he took care of himself, but he was way more handsome than any other man she’d ever seen. His dark hair, dark eyes and muscular build was somehow at odds with his being a duke.

He turned toward her in question. She held up her peppermint ice cream cone and smiled. “Blackwell, this one is delicious. You should try it.” She pried her gaze from his full lips, imagining them on her.

He spoke to the ice cream scooper in Italian before he said, “I want lemon instead.”

He had no idea how carnal her thoughts were. She’d never expected to find a man half as sexy in her bed, and, somehow, she had him. She licked her ice cream while he paid for their cones. “You’re missing out on this deliciousness.”

He held his ice cream cone and walked beside her, away from Royal Gardens as they continued along the canal. The green trees with the water of the Grand Canal in the background made a picturesque atmosphere as they finished their ice creams. Once they were done, he leaned closer. “I’ve never had a bad ice cream in Venice.” He stepped back and his lips thinned. “Oh look, your Harry is here too.”

Outside another church, they once again almost walked right into Harry. She held back and hoped she’d not be seen, but Harry said, “Blackwell, Donna. I am surprised to see you both still together.”

Drat. This wasn’t what she’d planned. Today was supposed to be only Blackwell and her, getting to know one another. Blackwell said, “It’s only been an hour since you saw us last.”

Goodness, she should have said that. She needed to grow her backbone. The entire trip was about finding herself and taking charge of her life.

Harry stared right at her like she was an alien he’d never seen before. “How did you two even meet?”

“I was having a beer.” She lifted her chin. For years people met in bars, and there was nothing wrong with being in one, especially while on her vacation.

Harry blinked and his body jolted back in shock. “You hate beer.”

Blackwell went to say something, but she placed her hand on his arm and shrugged her shoulders toward Harry. “That was the old me. I’m trying new things and Blackwell has been kind enough to guide me in some European dream experiences.”

Blackwell pressed on her elbow and she turned toward him. “Come,” he rumbled. “Let’s get to our next appointment.”

Harry asked as they turned to leave, “Donna, can I call you when we get back to Miami?”

Her ears rang. Seriously? Had Harry just asked that? She whipped around and stared at him as her heart skipped a beat. Was he jealous of Blackwell? “I don’t know when that will be—Blackwell and I have a few plans.” She lifted her chin as she refused to ever be the other woman. “Besides, you and Tiffany were ring shopping already and I don’t want to interfere with true love.”

Harry put his hands in his pockets and looked down. “Tiffany and I broke up before my trip. She knew I wasn’t over you. I’m sorry for what happened.”

The words replayed in her mind. It was what she’d wanted to hear, but nothing stirred in her heart. She wasn’t happy or angry. She felt nothing for Harry. But when she stepped close to Blackwell? Her skin warmed and her heart felt softer. She brushed her hand next to his and held Harry’s gaze. “That was the past. Bye, Harry.”

Blackwell took her hand and they walked further down the boardwalk next to the water. Once they were away Blackwell squeezed her fingers and quietly said, “If you want to go with Harry now, I won’t stand in your way.”

Her body went cold at the thought. No. If Harry could dump her like that she couldn’t ever go back to him. It must not have been love if she could get over what happened so fast. She turned toward him and liked sharing Blackwell’s warm breath in the fall air. “I didn’t expect an apology from him, but honestly, I can’t imagine being with Harry—it’s over. Let’s go to the Gallerie dell'Accademia and then get lunch before we drive to Florence. We shouldn’t run into him there so we can forget this.”

Her mind instantly swirled the truth that it wasn’t Florence she wanted to visit anymore. There was a hint of something else but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

Blackwell stopped walking and stepped in front of her. “I can forget him easily, Donna. Can you?”

Her gaze narrowed as he took both of her hands and stared at her while the gentle waves of the Grand Canal echoed behind her. “What are you asking?”

He pressed his forehead on hers and she could feel that his heart was beating fast. “Are you ready for a new relationship if we decide to become more serious?”

Her adrenalin raced as she held his sexy, brown eyes. “Are you ready to be serious with me Blackwell? Truly?”

He tugged her closer and put her hand on his chest. “I’d marry you now if I thought you’d accept.”

Marry? She wasn’t made to be a duchess. She was way too simple and she’d be a complete disaster in a palace or great hall. “You can’t be serious. This has to be more flirting.”

He let go of one hand and reached into his pocket. She watched him with apprehension as he pulled out a ring box, opening it to reveal a diamond, and tears formed in her eyes. This was too much. She hadn’t done anything to find her backbone. She couldn’t even tell Harry to get lost just a few minutes ago. This was way too soon.

He was everything she wanted and everything she didn’t all rolled into one. He was so handsome and her cheeks were wet while he went down on one knee. “I’ve been carrying this ring in my back pocket waiting for the right time to ask you.”

People stopped and watched them. She wiped her face but accepted the ring to take a closer look as she pulled him to his feet. “I can’t get married. You’re tempting me… You make me believe in true love and anything being possible, but we don’t have anything in common. Blackwell, you must see we don’t fit for eternity. I said yes to a few days of just us.”

They were in a busy section of Venice, with tourists watching in fascination. Oh goodness, this should have been in their room, not outside.

He adjusted his shirt and she instantly met his gaze while he took her free hand in his. “I must marry Donna. I want it to be with you.”

Say yes! Blackwell was the best man she’d ever find, but they had nothing in common. What happened when the lust ended and they were left to just talk? She couldn’t trust his motives, even if part of her heart begged her to change her mind. She clutched the ring in her hand. “Can I think about this?”

He took a deep breath and she waited for his words. He smelled like oak and was just as strong—he’d be a great husband and father. Her heart raced in the silence, but he kept her hand. Finally, he took a step to go beside her and motioned with his head to continue walking. “Yes. Of course. Let’s go. Giovanni Bellini is my favorite artist in this next museum on the list.”

The museum wasn’t what she wanted anymore. She squeezed the ring in the palm of her hand. Her heart still screamed she needed to say yes, but she walked into the building with him as if the scene minutes before hadn’t happened. “I want to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.” She swallowed as he bought them tickets. What she really wanted to do was figure out if they’d fit well together so could accept his proposal. But for now, she said, “Thank you, Blackwell.”

He walked her inside and toward the rather small and unassuming portrait of a man in motion that Leonardo had created centuries before. Perhaps it was her mood, but she wasn’t that impressed.

As they walked away from the portrait, Blackwell said, “If you want to stay in Venice and drive in the morning, it’s fine. This trip is entirely your choice.”

Her heart skipped again as she still held the ring. She was tempted to put it on and forget her fears racing through her mind. “My choice?”

“Absolutely.” They walked into a room filled with Bellini portraits.

She understood why Blackwell said he was a favorite. The artist caught human expressions in a way that brought them to life, but she ignored the images and stared at Blackwell’s profile. He’d be a perfect muscled gladiator or a medieval knight with that shiny dark hair, dark eyes and strong emotions or even that cowboy on the range if he wore the right hat. He’d grown up in Colorado and his sense of independence was instilled in his every breath.

She held the ring to her heart, inhaled and said quietly so only he heard, “I’d like to see your home and then possibly fly to Paris. It’s hard to think about saying yes when I don’t know where you live or what your life is like.”

Twin dimples appeared as he winked at her. “Always thinking. It’s part of your charm.”

He thought her charming? A thrill raced through her body, lighting up every cell. She wanted him, but pointed toward a picture of a couple not looking at each other. “I can see why you like Bellini.”

“He’s good at human expressions.” He blocked her from moving on. “My car is fueled and ready to go, whenever you are.”

A huge smile grew when she let her heart believe she might say yes. “Good. Oh, and ask me with this ring again when we’re in Paris, perhaps in Versailles.” She handed it back to him and closed his fingers around the ring. “I’ve always thought the palace must be so romantic.”

He kissed her cheek and put the ring back in his pocket. “Done. I’m yours.”

She laughed and joy grew in her heart. Perhaps she’d found true love this trip. Who knew? For now, she gripped his hands. “Irresistible. It’s part of your charm.”

Neither moved and his lips lowered to meet hers, not caring that they were in the middle of the crowd. His hand traced her arm. “Let’s head back to our room before we check out, Donna. Then we’ll work up our appetite for dinner.”

She wanted him too. She closed her eyes and lifted her face and lips though she said, “We did leave early this morning. I’m game. Lead the way.”

Then his mouth covered hers and she forgot about anything else except the two of them.