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Working from home, she spent so much time in leggings or sweatpants and baggy sweaters that it was fascinating for me to see this polished, professional version of her. It showed me why she was so successful with her work. It also made me feel proud to have her by my side.
Once the formal part of the evening was over, the band started playing and everyone got up to dance. I held Lucy close, letting her intoxicating scent tease my senses. Another couple who’d been sitting at our table, Jed and Marlene, moved closer to us. It was clear that Marlene had indulged in a little too much wine, judging by the glassy-eyed gaze she was levelling at Lucy. Stumbling a little, Marlene reached over and patted my shoulder. “Your wife is so lovely, and you two are just the cutest!” She turned to her husband and patted his cheek. “Isn’t their love the cutest, Jed?”
“Sure is, sweetheart,” Jed replied, smiling indulgently at his wife.
“You kids make sure you hold onto that. Don’t take it for granted. That’s the secret to a happy marriage. Don’t take each other for granted. You know?”
“I do,” Lucy replied smoothly.
“Good. You get it. Good for you.”
“Sorry, she’s a happy drunk. Think I might take her home. Good night.”
“Good night.” I waited until Jed helped Marlene off the dance floor. “Sorry about that.”
“No problem.”
She smiled but I could see tension in her eyes, so I said, “We can go, if you like.”
“Yeah, I’m a little tired, that would be great.”
We drove back to Lucy’s pretty much in total silence. I wanted to ask her what she was thinking about, if what Marlene had said upset her, or freaked her out, or if she just thought it was the amusing ramblings of someone who’d had a little too much to drink. But I was too scared of what the answer would be, so I stayed quiet.
The minute I closed the front door behind us, however, Lucy surprised me by throwing herself at me, pressing her lips to mine in a hungry kiss. There seemed to be an edge of desperation to it as she dragged me down the hall, into her bedroom. “Hey, what’s the rush?” I asked gently.
“Well, you know, you told me to hold that thought, and I’ve been holding it all night, so…”
“Okay, but still. We’ve got all night,cara.” Wanting to soothe her tension, I kissed her softly, endlessly, until she was melting against me. We undressed each other slowly until we were naked stretched out on the bed together, where I could kiss every inch of her. Go down on her until her body convulsed in orgasm. Move over her and push inside, lose myself in her soft sighs and the feel of her body tightening around me before it exploded in her release. Pull her into my arms afterwards and press a kiss to her hair as she drifted off to sleep.
I lay awake for a long time. Lucy was funny, sweet, smart, gorgeous and…not mine.
With each passing day, it was getting harder and harder to remember that.
CHAPTER32
Lucy
Iput my hand over my stomach, desperately willing it to settle down. We’d been in the restaurant less than five minutes and my body was violently opposed to being there. The nausea had been so well managed recently. that I’d forgotten how utterly shitty it could be when it got out of control.
Everyone was chatting and laughing around the big round table in the center of Alfredo’s that we’d booked for Zara’s birthday. Normally I loved the smell of Alfredo’s. Not tonight. I probably should have bailed earlier, since I knew at home that I wasn’t really up to it, but I hated to miss family get-togethers and thought I could just push through. Nope.
Dante rubbed my back. “I’ll get you some sparkling water. Maybe a bread roll?”
I hadn’t said a word, but he knew. He always knew. “Thanks.” It made me feel ridiculously emotional.
“And if that doesn’t do the trick, I’m taking you right home.”
So sweet. “Okay.” I watched him go over to the server, talking and pointing to me, his gestures a little urgent. It made me feel that rush of intense emotion that seemed to be hitting me harder and coming more frequently lately, sometimes so hard I had to blink back tears. Like right now.
“You okay, darling?”
“Yeah, just a bit of nausea, but I’m sure I’ll be good once I’ve had something to eat. Thanks, Mom.”
Dante came back and sat down, putting his arm around me and kissing my temple. I wanted to curl into him, close my eyes and just breathe him in.
The server came with my roll and water. I took a tentative bite, waiting to see if my body liked it or not. The nausea eased slightly, so I took another, then another, letting out a sigh of relief when my stomach finally settled. The water also helped. I thought there was a good chance I’d be able to stay and enjoy the night.
“Better?”
