The Magnate's Holiday Proposal. Rebecca Winters

this exciting man. “I thought he’d like it.”

      “You’ve made his day. Are you sure you weren’t a schoolteacher instead of an employee working at a boring bank job in another life?”

      Gabi laughed gently. “I’m going to have to be careful around Dino. He doesn’t miss a trick.”

      “I figure I’ve heard about your whole life story already. At least the parts you chose to share with him. I guess you know you’ve made a big impression on him.”

      She smiled. “He’s a very sweet boy. You’re so lucky to have him.”

      “He’s my life.” The tone in his voice spoke volumes about the love he had for his son.

      “Of course he is.” But before she could say more, the lights went on because the show was over and Dino expressed a desire to visit the bookstore.

      He wanted the big two-feet-by-two-feet colored picture book on insects. Who wouldn’t? But Luca walked him around to look at other books just to make certain it was the best one so he wouldn’t change his mind. Gabi admired his patience and thoughtful concern.

      After they went out to the car, he climbed in back and started poring through the book that would give him hours of pleasure.

      She glanced at his father. “See that gelateria on the corner? Let’s stop and get one, shall we? I’d like to pay for it.”

      “You’re reading my mind, but it will be my treat. For you to have come up with an outing like this means more to me than you know.” Once again his voice penetrated to her insides. So did his words that touched her on a deeper level. He parked outside the shop. “Do you have a preference?”

      “Any fruit gelato with panna.” She loved whipping cream.

      “I like fondente with panna, Papà.”

      Gabi grinned and looked over her shoulder at him. “You like chocolate, eh?”

      “Si.” He was still concentrating on the pictures.

      She eyed his father, who smiled at her before he said, “I’ll be right back.”

      “I wish we didn’t have to go home,” Dino admitted after Luca left the car. “I wish—” he began, then stopped.

      “You wish what, piccolo?”

      “That you could be with me when I have my operation.”

      With those heartfelt words, Gabi had trouble not falling apart. “It’s funny about wishes. Sometimes they come true. When I was young, I had a group of friends and we wished on a star for a friend who was very sick. And guess what? She got well. You never know.”

      “How do you do that?”

      “At night you look up in the sky, find a star and make a wish.”