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'Do not blame Maria,' Seb intervened. 'I am the one who needs to explain things to you. I was desperate enough to follow you here as soon as I could arrange it, and to appeal to your grandmother and your friends for their help.'

'Why?' she whispered.

'Will you listen to what I have to say?' Warm caramel-coloured eyes she had never expected to see again looked deeply into hers. 'Please, Gina?'

Racked with indecision, Gina hesitated. She was aware of her grandmother exiting the room, but when Seb tried to close the distance between them she backed up, keeping out of his reach. If he touched her
how
, all her defences and common sense would crumble. The front doorbell rang, startling her, and her eyes widened as her grandmother opened it and both Holly and Ruth stepped into the hall, conspiratorial smiles on their faces. Holly gave her a thumbs-up.

'What's going on?' Gina demanded.

'I'm staying the night with Ruth.' Smiling, her grandmother picked up a small overnight bag. 'You and Seb need to be alone. Supper is ready in the kitchen—it will keep until you want it.'

Gina's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe any of this. But before she could find her voice to protest, the girls had ushered her grandmother outside. The front door closed. She was, indeed, alone with Seb.

'What's going on? Why are you here?' Her hands were shaking badly, so she clasped them tightly together. Unable to help herself, she let her gaze drink in the sight of him, but the pain inside her couldn't be denied. Pent-up tears stung her eyes. 'You lied to me from the beginning. I wasn't good enough for you.'

'No!' Gina's accusations cut through him, and seeing the mistrust and tears bruising her dark eyes made him realise just how deeply he had hurt her, how badly he had misjudged everything. 'It was never that, Gina. It was
me,
not you.'

'I don't understand.'

He cursed the wobble in her voice, desperately needing to hold her, but knowing he had to give her space until he had explained. 'I know,
amore mia,
and that is my fault. I was ashamed. I so admired your passion, your goodness, your principles. I feared that when you found out how shallow my life and career had become you would be disappointed in me, reject me.'

For long moments she stared at him in silence, and he waited, hiding nothing from her. 'You're serious,' she whispered, confusion, disbelief and wonder all layered through her voice.

'I am. Will you allow me to explain from the beginning?' He held his breath, knowing how important her answer was, uncaring that he was begging. 'Please, Gina.'

She bit her lip, and desire flared inside him. He couldn't wait to taste her mouth again, to taste her all over, hold her, make love with her. Finally, when he thought he couldn't stand the wait another second, she nodded—although she remained too far away, regarding him with suspicion. Not that he could blame her. He had this one chance.. .he couldn't blow it.

Leaving nothing out, he told her all about Antonella, about the people who'd used him, the way he had been encouraged to change the direction of his career. He talked of the Linardis, even of how he had operated free of charge on Paolo's young daughter when she had been badly injured in an accident on Elba, and how he'd only felt fulfilled doing the
pro bono
work.

'I was attracted to you the second I saw you,' he continued, searching her face, hoping she understood and believed him. 'But I was wary—suspicious of your presence because of past press intrusion. At first I thought there was a possibility you were a journalist, looking for a clever way in.. .that's why I was cagey and didn't tell you who I was.' Her mouth opened in protest and he rushed on before she could interrupt. 'As soon as I got to know you it was clear you were totally genuine. By then my feelings for you were escalating and I was overwhelmed by how natural you were. I'd never met anyone like you, Gina. You treated me as a normal person. I liked it—liked that you saw
me.
The intention was never to trick you or deceive you—I just wanted some time, so you would know the real me, in the hope that the other things would no longer, matter when you knew.'

'Seb...'

Scared in case she stopped listening, he held up a hand. 'Wait—please. I need to tell you it all, to explain what you did for me.'

'What
I
did for
you?'
she repeated, a stunned expression in her eyes.

'Yes—in so many ways.' To resist the temptation of reaching for her, he sat on the edge of the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees. 'You've taught me so much about myself, Gina.'

Sitting opposite, she looked at him in confusion. 'How?'

'I've never told anyone else the things I told you about my past. Not even my cousin Rico. Talking to you, listening to you, I realised how much I have been unconsciously striving to prove myself worthy of the faith and love the Linardis showed me when they took me in. I never felt good enough—I needed to belong. I had some success in my surgical career, then I was guided down a road I should never have agreed to travel. But I did. And that responsibility rests with me,' he admitted, making no excuses. 'As I became known, all people saw was what I could do for them—and the money and the fame. You are the first person to see who I am on the inside, without all the trappings. You made me like myself. And hearing you speak of your work with such passion and dedication showed me how far I had come from my roots. I had forgotten why I had become a doctor in the first place.

'I feared you would hate what I did—would judge me for having wasted my surgical skills—' He broke off and looked at his hands. 'Having these injuries may have been a blessing in disguise. Without them I would never have gone to Elba and I would never have met you. Learning about your values, your down-to-earth goodness, made me reassess my life and find it wanting. I had taken that wrong turning for the wrong reasons. Now I want to believe in something again, to use my medical knowledge to do good. I don't care about the money. I never have. And I hate being recognised. Those things are not important. I want a second chance with my work—but most important of all I want you.

'In such a short time you have opened my eyes to what was wrong with my life. I was at a turning point, coming to terms with losing surgery. I didn't know who I was or what I wanted to be. For years I have been used for my name and my position. But for you, Gina, I was just Seb. I was myself with you. I know I should have told you everything from the first, but I was already in so deep and I cared so much that it became harder and harder to find the right moment. I was frightened it would change things between us— change how you saw me.' A wry, self-deprecating laugh escaped. 'I was right, no? It did make a difference. It opened that gulf and spoiled everything. You no longer saw
me.'

Seb looked up, and the sincerity tinged with fearful doubt in his eyes brought a lump to Gina's throat.

Yes, he should have told her about himself. But she had some understanding now of why he hadn't. She was also uncomfortably aware that he was right...at least in part. She
had
reacted to the news by forgetting all she knew him to be. Her attitude towards him
had
changed. She had seen only the differences between them, believing there to be an unbridgeable chasm. Would her reaction have been more measured had he told her when they had first met? She wasn't sure, but she feared that had she known at the start that Seb was a rich and famous surgeon she would have withdrawn, put up barriers, never become involved with him despite their attraction and sexual chemistry. She would have judged him—not harshly for the work he did, but believing she wasn't good enough for him.

'Seb...' She paused, struggling for the right words. 'I was frightened by the truth. Scared of everything I imagined came with you,' she admitted, knowing she had to be equally honest. 'But I would never have judged you about your work. And money means nothing to me.'

'No, but it came between us just the same. Instead of seeing what it would do for you, as others have done, you saw it as an obstacle, and it changed the way you saw me—us. You mistakenly decided that we couldn't fit. But we can—we
do.'

'What about all those women? They are beautiful, thin, sophisticated—'

Again he interrupted her, edging closer, his fingers on her lips silencing her protests and sending shivers of sensation zinging through her body. 'Gina, the truth is that I have
never
taken a women to my home, in Florence or in Elba, until you. The women I was seen out with were all using me to further their names and careers. They liked to be seen on my arm, to meet people who could help them, and I had convenient escorts to official functions. I wasn't "dating" them, I had no relationship with any of them, and there was no romance, no emotion—and ninety-nine times out of a hundred no sex. My career was everything to me. I wasn't interested in a relationship...until I met you.'

'But—'

'But nothing,' he chided softly, cupping her face in his hands. 'Those women are vain, artificial and uncaring, interested only in themselves. I am not attracted to any of them. You are so much more beautiful in every way, Gina. You are real and honest and generous, the most natural, giving person I've ever known.' The pad of one thumb brushed across her trembling lips and she couldn't look away from the raw expression in his eyes. 'You are the only woman who has ever stolen my heart, who I have ever needed, who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I've missed you so much. I love you, Gina. I don't want to live another day without you by my side, or another night without you in my arms.'

Tears escaped, squeezing between her lashes and trickling down her cheeks. Seb was a proud man, independent, unused to needing or trusting anyone, and yet here he was, vulnerable and open, laying his heart on the line—for her. There was much to talk about, and to understand, but she knew she wanted to face whatever life threw at her with him. She loved him beyond bearing. Stifling a sob, she melted into his embrace.

A shuddering breath of relief rushed out of him as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She absorbed his strength, breathed in his familiar scent, knowing she was truly home.. .at last.

'We'll work everything out,
amore mia
.' His voice was shaky, his breath warm against her skin as he whispered in her ear. 'I love you more than life itself. Never leave me again. Promise me.'

'I promise. I love you, too.'

He pulled back a few inches and for endless moments their gazes locked, silent messages and reassurances exchanged. Then he was kissing her with all the devastating skill and desire she had come to know so well and had missed so terribly these last lonely days. She took everything and gave it back with enthusiasm, swept along in a whirlwind of passion and love. Until, that was, they were interrupted by Monty, who pushed his way between them. Laughing, they tried to hold off the exuberant dog.

'I come as a package, Seb,' she reminded him, seriousness underlying the humour. 'Not just Monty, but Nonna, too.'

'I know that,
amata.
And I wouldn't have it any other way. Monty and I are already good friends, and Maria is very special to me,' he reassured her, one warm palm cupping her cheek. 'Her place will be with us—always.'

Closing her eyes, she rubbed her face against him, revelling in his touch. 'So what do you plan to do...for the future, I mean?'

'I've been making arrangements with Thorn. Today I looked round your wonderful centre,' he admitted, laughing at her gasp of shock.

'It was
you!'
That was why her boss had been behaving oddly, asking her those questions. 'Thorn knew all along!'

'He did. My cousin Rico and Nic di Angelis have also been helping me.'

Startled, she pulled back and looked at him. 'How do you know Nic?'

'I didn't...not until recently.' He smiled and ran the fingers of one hand through her hair. ‘The name Strathlochan struck a chord when you mentioned it, but I couldn't remember why. Rico reminded me. He worked with Nic for a time in Milan, and they have remained good friends. Rico came over here for his wedding. He put me in touch with Nic.'

'I see,' she murmured, feeling dazed.

'Everything is in order for me to come here. I want us to be together, Gina, and I'll be happy anywhere you are. We can live here in Strathlochan and have holidays on Elba. If you will have me, we can work side by side during the day... and love each other every night.'

It was a shock to realise how much organising and manoeuvring had gone on behind her back. Her grandmother, Holly, Ruth, Thorn, even Nic and Hannah, she discovered, had all joined forces to help Seb plan all this. She might have been disgruntled if she hadn't been so blissfully happy that Seb was here, that he loved her, wanted her, had followed her to Strathlochan. She loved the idea of working with him at the drop-in centre—loved even more his plans for their nights together.

'What about your family?' Doubts and insecurities assailed her. 'Maybe they won't approve of me.'

'Rico has demanded to meet you from the first day,' he told her, shocking her anew. 'He's been your champion, telling me I am an idiot for keeping things from you. He wanted to come straight over to Elba to see you and Maria, but I wouldn't let him.'

'Why not?' she queried, concerned despite his arguments to the contrary that he had been ashamed of her.

'Because Rico is charming and handsome and outgoing. I didn't want to risk you falling for him instead of me.'

The admission, so obviously sincere, revealing his vulnerability, stunned her. 'You shouldn't have worried. I would never have seen anyone but you...not from the instant I met you on the beach,' she vowed, laying her own
hand against his stubbled jaw, seeing his eyes heat and darken.

He gave her a hasty but delicious kiss before drawing back. 'As for Zio Roberto and Zia Sofia—they are equally enthusiastic,' he reassured her. 'They are eager to meet you. Eager, too, to meet Maria and hear her memories of Elba. They are fully supportive of what you came to the beach to do. Zio Roberto built the villa as a fifth anniversary present for Zia Sofia thirty years ago. It is a special place for all our combined family.'