This was so much easier to talk about that the relief made her feel wobbly. “There were a couple places I wanted to see just because I’m over here—Rome, Paris, Barcelona—but there’s only one place left on my list. Verona.”

He was silent for a few seconds. “Because…”

Right. She’d told him the reasons behind the other places. Alexis looked out the window, knowing that he could see her blush. “Juliet’s Wall is there. I know the whole Romeo and Juliet thing is more tragedy than romance, but the wall itself has become something more. People write the name of the ones they love, and legend has it that doing so makes the love stronger.” Her face was so hot, it was a wonder she didn’t set fire to her skin. “And I’m sure you’ve heard of the letters people write to their lost loves.”

“There was a movie a few years back.” When she shot him a look, he shrugged. “I didn’t see it, but Aunt Rose is a huge chick flick fan.”

“Oh.”

Luke sat back, his eyes intense despite his relaxed posture. “So you’re going to go write a letter to that piece of shit ex of yours.”

“What?” She burst out laughing. “God, no. Maybe I wasn’t clear before, but that wasn’t exactly an epic love worth writing home about.” Which is why she shouldn’t have been surprised by Eric’s reaction to her barrenness. They’d never shared half the connection she felt with Luke.

Dangerous territory, Alexis.

She looked back out the window, trying to ignore the tension in the cab and how the scenery was flying by at a truly terrifying rate. “No, it’s nothing like that. I might not have been head over heels in love with Eric, but how things fell out between us… It made me bitter. I want to let that go, and I want to open myself up to loving again.”

Though she was starting to think that she didn’t need a trip to Italy to accomplish that.

“Well, let’s see what the train station has to offer, and then we’ll see about getting you to Verona.” There was a warmth in his voice that she was rapidly becoming used to. She liked grouchy Luke despite herself. A Luke who was protective and empathetic?

She more than liked him.

Alexis shut that thought down real fast. “Sounds great.”

He pulled her back against him and tucked her against his side, his expression becoming what could only be described as mischievous. “And if you’re in the mood for more new experiences, I have something in mind.”

“Oh yeah?” She let herself relax against him, letting the feel of him uncoil the stress that had every muscle in her body strung tight. It felt so damn good to not have to be the strong one for once, better than she could have imagined.

He leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. She tensed, waiting for the inevitable outpouring of filthy suggestions that would get her so hot, he’d be lucky if she didn’t drag him into a bathroom at the train station. But he surprised her. “You’ll have to wait and see, darlin’.”

“I’m not really one for surprises.” Very few in her life had been good ones up to this point.

“That’s a crying shame, because you’re going to get one soon.” He squeezed her thigh, the heat of his hand soaking through her jeans and right to her center. The bastard knew it, too, because he grinned as he sat back. “A little waiting never killed anyone.” He was being downright playful.

“It might kill you.” She tried to fight a grin and failed.

He laughed, the sound surprising her just as much now as it did every time it came out of his mouth. It was so at odds with the personality he presented the rest of the world, so full of joy. It made her wonder yet again what kind of man he’d been before the injury to his knee. Had he been happy? Or just another variation of the grouch she first met? The puzzle pulled at Alexis, demanding she ask him the same probing questions he’d subjected her to.

But then she looked at his face, the grin that made her want to smile right back, the mischief lighting up his green eyes, and realized it didn’t matter. She wasn’t the same person she’d been before the cancer, and for the first time, she was really okay with that. She was stronger now, more in charge of her own life. It didn’t matter what Luke was before his injury, because it was part of the journey that had made him into the man he was today. That was all that mattered.

The cab screeched to a halt in front of the train station, and Luke paid before she had a chance to go for her wallet. “You don’t have to do that. I’m not exactly short on money.” One of the benefits of working as a nurse and basically being a shut-in the rest of the time was that her savings account wasn’t hurting in the least.

“It has nothing to do with what I have to do and everything to do with what I want to do.” He climbed out and held the door open for her. “You’re so damn strong, darlin’. Let me take care of you in this one little way.”

He kept staying that. She knew she was stronger than she used to be, but stronger didn’t mean strong. She hadn’t felt very strong a few hours ago when she was sobbing her heart out, but she wasn’t about to argue with him. “Just don’t get used to it.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

The train station was nearly deserted, but there were small groups here and there who seemed either to be waiting for a train or to have just gotten off one. She spotted a bathroom and touched his arm. “I’m going to change into something more comfortable.” If they were taking a night train, her jeans weren’t the best option for lounging.

And frankly, she wanted to give Luke as easy access as she could for whatever he had planned. If she managed to drive him a little crazy in the process… Well, she was okay with that, too.

Luke scanned the destinations. There were two trains leaving in the next hour, one to Frankfurt and one to Venice. Easy choice. He bought the tickets, paying extra to make sure they were in a sleeper car by themselves. He had a promise to keep, after all. When he turned around, he stumbled to a stop at the sight of Alexis. She’d changed in the bathroom, and now wore a long dress that was made of some bright print that defied explanation. As she drew closer, she raised her eyebrows and held her jacket apart, and he realized two things simultaneously.

With the light coming in behind her, the damn thing was nearly sheer.

And she wasn’t wearing a fucking thing underneath it.

He glanced around, but no one seemed to be paying them a bit of attention. Thank God, because he wasn’t about to get arrested for murdering some idiot who caught an eyeful of her. He stalked over. “You’re going to pay for that little stunt, darlin’.”

“It’s worth it.” She eyed the tickets in his hand. “Where are we going?”

“Surprise.” He said it mostly to push at her, to make her pay for the way she made him feel knowing there was only a thin layer of cloth between her skin and the rest of the world. It didn’t matter that her jacket covered her from the tops of her thighs to her neck. All he cared was that she’d intentionally teased him.

Two could play that game.

Alexis trailed after him as he made his way to the train marked on the tickets. “Have I mentioned how little I like surprises?”

“At least once.” He handed the man in uniform the tickets and motioned for her to precede him through the door. “After you.”

She didn’t look particularly happy with him, but that was okay. They had plenty of time for him to get her back in the right state of mind. And Luke knew exactly how to start.

As they made their way deeper into the car, he picked up his pace until he was damn near pressed against her back. “I like that dress.”

“Hmm? This old thing?”

“I like it so much, I’m going to rip the damn thing off with my teeth later. But not before I push it up your thighs and stroke that sweet pussy of yours until you’re begging for me.”