Page 28 of Effortless

Tom scoffed. “So we’re going to pretend like the Cubs don’t have the best fans in the fucking world, huh?”

Camilla pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “Lower crime rate here.”

“Dirtier politicians here, too.”

Goddamn him.

Then, Tommaso added, “We get to be The City by the Lake. You get to be The City by New Jersey.”

Camilla fake glared. “A polluted lake, thank you.”

Tom shrugged. “Didn’t say I swam in it, did I? I just said we have a better view.”

“You’re such an ass.”

“You started this,” he shot back.

Camilla stopped their walk by moving in front of him, and putting a finger to his chest. “New Yorkers stay up all night, and this is where all the big players come to have fun. We’ve got Fifth Avenue, historic churches, and—”

“Cheaper to live in Chicago,” Tom interrupted, never budging, “people know how to put garbage in the trash, our rats aren’t the size of cats, and people might actually say hello to you in our city. Don’t even try to have this fight with me, donna. You will lose all over this park.”

“You’re … impossible.”

“Bet you like it, though.”

Camilla couldn’t help but laugh. “And arrogant, apparently.”

“I mean, if it works, let it work, babe.” He flashed her a sinful smile. “But hey, you got the biggest mob family here, so take that as a win.”

She knew he didn’t mean her family, particularly, but …

“I’ll take it,” Camilla said, huffing as she spun around on her suede heeled boots.

Tom didn’t let her take a single step. He caught her wrist with his hand, and then yanked her back around fast enough to make her vision swim.

Camilla barely got the chance to catch her breath before Tom was kissing her. His kiss was still new enough to her that it made her heart race as she fisted his jacket, and dragged him closer. Yet, somehow, it felt familiar enough that all she wanted to do was sink into him, and slow down the world for a minute.

That was kind of terrifying …

And wonderful.

People blew past them in the park; headed for rides, games, or food. Camilla suddenly didn’t care because she was far more interested in the way Tommaso’s tongue flicked against hers as though he wanted to tease her.

Or promise something …

She wondered if she could get him to put that tongue of his to use again. She liked the way his facial hair scratched and tickled her skin, and she bet it would feel really good somewhere else, too.

Like between my fucking thighs.

Far too soon for her liking, Tommaso pulled away. His hand skimmed over her throat and jaw before his thumb stroked along her sensitive lips. “Just say it, Cam.”

Dazed, and damn near ready to drop to her knees right then and there for him, Camilla peered up at Tommaso. “Say what?”

“Chicago is better.”

“Blasphemy, Tom. All lies.”

“It can’t be a lie when it’s the truth. Just say it, babe.”