“Then it doesn’t matter. Twenty-four hours ago, you didn’t know how I felt. Twenty-four hours ago, I was mortal. Twenty-four hours ago, I thought I had another eight years before I could finally tell you the truth. And twenty-four hours ago, I was prepared to wait those eight years, but I don’t have to wait any longer. We don’t have to wait any longer.”

“Damn it, Lisa. There is no we,” Bennett said, walking away. “And if you would just give it a few bloody days, the…the urges you’re feeling right now will wear off.”

Lisa rushed around the desk and grabbed Bennett by the arm. “Bennett, haven’t you heard a single thing I’ve said? This isn’t about sex. It’s about love. I’ll admit, over the past twelve years, I’ve had lots of dreams that weren’t exactly G-rated, but I’ve had a whole lot of others, too. Dreams about being by your side as we tour the world, about holding your hand in the Sistine Chapel while we treasure the genius of Michelangelo, and by the way, I’ll be blubbering like a fool, so brings lots of Kleenex. And dreams about visiting the Louvre and spending endless months surrounded by the perfection inside those walls. We’ll exchange views on the tragedy displayed in The Raft of the Medusa and then lose our ability to speak as we behold the simple yet exquisite excellence of a woman named Mona Lisa. We’ll be held spellbound by sculptures like Venus de Milo or The Horse Tamers, and as we stand in front of Gabrielle d’Estrées and One of Her Sisters, we’ll have a long discussion over whether or not it’s erotic.”

Bennett tried to pull her arm away, but Lisa tightened her grip. “And dreams about going to Florence, and we will go to Florence,” Lisa said, playfully narrowing her eyes. “I want to sit at David’s feet, and while I memorize every perfectly sculpted piece of that marble, you’ll be drying my tears because I’ll cry there, too. And in case you’re wondering, I promise I won’t pay too much attention to his penis.”

The faintest of smiles broke through Bennett’s stern features, and Lisa’s belly fluttered. Bennett was finally listening to her, so Lisa jumped at the chance to continue. “I dreamt that we’ll swim in the Aegean under the moon and explore the ruins in Greece and Rome. We’ll stroll down beaches covered in sand, stone, and shells with a million stars above our heads. And every night when we go to sleep, Bennett, every night when you’re exhausted and grumpy because I’ve dragged you to another museum or beach or both, I’ll show you how much I love you again…because I do love you, Bennett. I do.”