I narrow my eyes suspiciously as I wrap the towel around myself and throw open the door. “Has he canceled because I’m in a little pain? Because if he has, I swear I’ll?—”
Sasquatch’s voice comes through the door of the suite from the hall beyond. “Just get dressed,Coniglietta. Lunch is being served, and I’m famished.”
Me and Maria exchange an amused look before she excuses herself, and I quickly throw on the simple blush pink sundress and matching sandals she’d laid out for me.
I check myself in the bathroom mirror, noting the natural color in my cheeks that wasn’t there when I first arrived at the compound. The light tan on my shoulders from my time spent in the glorious sunshine. My smile is wide when I walk into the hall and playfully nudge the waiting Sasquatch with my shoulder.
“You don’t need to wait for me every time I plan on leaving my room, you know.”
“Just call me your human shield.” His green eyes soften when he looks down at me. “Your stress baking was the way to my heart,Coniglietta. You’re stuck with me now.”
As we reach the top of the stairs, he shoots me a wink. “Besides, Rafe would put my nuts in a vise grip if you got so much as a paper cut on my watch.”
“Don’t you fucking know it,Fratello.”
My body freezes in place, and white noise fills my ears as my eyes slowly shift down to take in the man at the base of the stairs.
He’s dressed like he was that first day in Lazise in a casual collarless white shirt that opens halfway down his chest with dark beige chinos and bare feet. His black hair is messy, falling across his forehead to give him an almost boyish look, and when his lips part in a bright smile that’s just for me, my feet jump into action as his name leaves my lips on a breathless whisper.
“Rafe.”
I race down the stairs, and before I know what I’m doing, I’ve launched myself forward into his arms. Rafe enfolds me against his chest, and I close my eyes as a contented sigh leaves my lips, soaking up the security of his embrace.
His signature masculine scent fills my senses, soothing the ache I’ve been unable to subdue. The ache of missing his presence.
“She’s safe,Stellina.” The tension I’ve been carrying suddenly lifts, and I press my cheek even harder against his broad chest. “And my parents let you take her?”
He sighs heavily. “That’s a long story. And one I will tell you very soon.” His arms tighten around me. “But first, I need to hold you.”
His soft admission sees a flicker of hope swelling within my chest, and we stand for long moments, just existing in our own bubble.
“Grazie, Signor…” I sigh, pouting as I try to think of the words I’ve learned for tall, dark, and handsome before pronouncing them very carefully.“Alto, Scuro, e Bello.”
A low chuckle rumbles beneath my ear, making me smile as he whispers, “Brava ragazza.”
Someone clears their throat at Rafe’s back, and I push away, suddenly mindful of how inappropriately I’ve just behaved. As Rafe turns to face the interruption, he slips his arm across my shoulder and holds me tight to his side.
I look up at him, eyes full of questions, but he keeps his trained straight ahead. “ZioAntonio.”
His uncle inclines his head slightly, darting a suspicious look at me before refocusing on Rafe. “Rafael. We need to talk?—”
“We’re not currently at war,corretto?”
Antonio shakes his head as he opens his mouth to speak, only for Rafe to cut him off sharply. “And there has been no further correspondence from Conti regarding the exchange,si?”
“Si, Rafael, but I?—”
“Va bene.Everything else can wait. There’s been a slight change of plan regarding our terms.” My eyes shoot up to his face again, but Rafe’s hard eyes remain focused straight ahead. “I will confer with you once I have eaten,si?”
Then, without waiting for an answer, Rafe moves us both toward the door and away from his seething uncle. I chance a look back over my shoulder as we leave, finding his angry eyes plastered to our departing backs.
I don’t have time to dwell as Rafe leads me through the house and up another set of stairs, leading me outside onto aterrazzathat’s set up for lunch.
He escorts me to my seat, helping me get settled before taking his own opposite me. His eyes move across every inch of my face, and I can feel my cheeks heat under the force of his gaze.
Something has shifted between us in the time he’s been gone. The dynamics feel different now that I’ve given him my trust. His eyes are like a physical touch on my skin, and I glow under his silent praise.
“Lessons are going well with Emiliano,si?”
