She blinked. “What?”

He let out a disgusted groan. “Ridiculous Sinatra- isms. Okay, I’ll do this my way. Because I love you.”

Shaking his head, he reached into his jean pocket and pulled out a black box. “I’m such an ass. I did this all wrong.

Damn Brando.

I had dinner, and champagne, and roses all set up. I was going to put the ring in that chocolate truffle dessert you love. Now I screwed the whole thing up. Ah, crap, here we go.”

He dropped to his knee in front of her. Snapped open the lid. And looked up at her, blinking in the rays of light. “I love you. I want to wake up with you every morning and make love to you every night. I want to grow old with you, and when we finally part this life, I want to spend my next one doing it all over again. Just with you.” He hesitated, then clenched his jaw in determination. “I want you to marry me, Miranda. I want you to be my wife.”

Her heart split wide open, filled with joy and love and deep-seated knowledge that Gavin Luciano was the man she’d spend the rest of her life with. A tear escaped her lashes and ran down her cheek. As if the tear had been her answer, he rose from the ground and closed the distance between them. Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he kissed her, sweetly, thoroughly.

Her lips trembled beneath his, and when he pulled away, her voice broke on a whisper.

“Yes.”

He slipped the ring over her finger. “I understand why you ran from me. But there will never be another reason for either of us to run again. If you try, I’ll find you every time.”

She laughed as his familiar arrogance shimmered beneath his statements.

Miranda wrapped her arms around him and snuggled deep into his arms. “Yes, oh Lord and Master. Will you keep me barefoot and pregnant, too?”

“Not a bad idea.” He buried his face in her mane of curls and breathed in.

She held him close as her world suddenly righted and became whole.

Epilogue

Miranda gasped and shook the paper in front of her.

“That bitch!”

Gavin glanced at Brando in worry. His brother took one look at his wife’s furious face and slowly backed away toward the kitchen. “Sorry, dude, you are so on your own. I told you she’d be pissed.”

Gavin ignored the funny pitch in his gut and reminded himself not to be a wuss. He needed to make a decision for the good of Mia Casa. He had no choice.

And he was about to pay the extreme penalty.

He signaled for Dominick to pour him a glass of Chianti and slid it as a peace offering across the table. “Here, baby, what’s upset you?”

She grabbed the wine glass and pushed it back at him. Gavin winced.

“Did you know about this?” she shrieked. One finger jabbed at the black- and-white print of The Gazette, where the column Allison Speaks highlighted the headline. “She gave the restaurant four stars! Four! She never, ever gives four—for God’s sakes, even Chef Pierre got three-and-a-half stars.

When was she here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Gavin kept on his feet in case he needed to make a quick exit. “I wasn’t exactly positive she was going to write it up, but she did call me to ask some questions about the menu. I’ve seen her in here a few times, but figured she was only eating here to piss you off.”

Miranda glowered and tapped her nail against the table. “Oh, this means war.

She only rated Mia Casa so high because I trashed it. How dare she? You were doing just fine on your own without her stupid compliments.”

He choked back laughter.

“Umm, sweetheart, shouldn’t you be happy for us? I mean, yes, we’ve been doing well, but a review by Allison can make a huge difference.

Bring in a bigger crowd. “ That lower lip stuck out and imitated Brando’s famous pout. Except on his wife, it was so damn hot he wanted to grab her and kiss her senseless.

Already, he grew to monstrous proportions at the idea of getting his hands on her naked body.

His life revved up from black and white to Technicolor, and he loved every damn second of it.

Even the fights.

“I’m happy for you,” she grumbled. “I just wish you had let me be the one to do the Hotspot Feature.”

He grinned. “Sorry, your reputation as a hard-ass food critic must be upheld.

How would it look if you suddenly praised your new husband’s restaurant? Pretty fishy.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t care. She put me in a bad mood. And she stole my thunder.”

Brando appeared at the table with a basket of warm bread.

Melted mozzarella and fresh tomatoes dripped from the edges of the crust.

Immediately, his wife perked up. “Here, Miranda, this will make you feel better.” Gavin scowled at his brother, who always seemed to come out the good guy. It was so unfair.

“Thanks, Brando. What would I do without you?”

His brother shot him a haughty look.

“Family takes care of family.”

Tony peeked his head out of the kitchen. “Hey, Miranda, do you want to try the Chilean Sea bass? I made it in a way that’s a bit controversial and want your opinion.”

“Sure, Tony, bring it out.”

Brando took a peek at the paper and shook his head. “Everyone knows Allison’s column isn’t half as good as yours, Miranda. It probably won’t make a difference.”

Gavin turned a stunned look toward his brother.

Tony came out with a plate of fish simmered in herbs.

“Brando’s right. It is a silly column and no one reads it.”

The celebration he had planned for a four-star review shriveled in front of him. “Guys, this is a big deal. A four-star review is huge news for us.”

Tony and Brando shrugged.

Pop trudged in. “What is all this fuss about?”

Gavin reached over and handed him the paper.

“Allison Speaks gave us a four-star review, Pop. We finally did it!”

His father glanced through the article and snorted with disgust. “No one reads The Gazette any longer, Giovanni. Who cares what that critic says? Miranda Eats is so much better.”

Miranda beamed.

Gavin slid into the chair, completely defeated.

“Forget it. I thought we’d have a reason to celebrate and pop the champagne, but what the hell? Who cares about a four-star review from a prestigious paper?” When he glanced at his wife, a tiny smile curved her lips. “Think this is funny, huh?”

“No. I just think I have better news than that review.”

“What?”

“I’m pregnant.”

The men stopped.

Gaped.

A big grin transformed his wife’s features, and his heart halted.

A baby.

She sniffed with pride.

“See. Told you I can always top Allison.”

His father blinked back tears and wrapped his hands around her.

“Congratulations, my darling. A baby. As Sinatra would say, The Best is Yet To Come.”

Gavin gave a roar and shot out of the chair. In moments, he grabbed his wife and spun her around.

“We’re going to have a baby?”

“Looks like it.”

He stopped and tipped up her chin. His worry seemed palatable, and she caressed his cheek in a soothing gesture.

“It’s going to be okay this time,”

she whispered. “I just feel it. But whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

Gavin buried his face in her hair and held her close. Amazing all of his dreams finally came true.

It took him a long time to get on this road, but he must have done something really wonderful in his past life to deserve her. To deserve everything.

As if she knew his thoughts, Miranda smiled.

“Because it’s our karma.”

He lowered his head and kissed his wife in agreement.