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She had an adorable lisp that turned Amara intoAmawaand really intoweally, and extremely long lashes on her big doe eyes that she fluttered shyly. She was the cutest little baby, and I wished I wasn’t in the tub because I had an enormous urge to give her a cuddle.
“I’m sure they’re not fighting, really.”
She came over to the tub to scoop a handful of foam carefully and played with it.
“Yes, they are. Nonna said, ‘You’re not going to marry that girl.’ And Uncle Marco said, ‘Watch me.’ And Nonna said, ‘Over mydeadbody.’ And Uncle Marco said, ‘I hope not to live long enough to see your dead body!’ And Nonna started crying.”
“Oh no!”
“It’s okay. Uncle Marco gave her a hug to make her feel better. A big snuggle-bug in a rug hug.”
“That’s good.”
It was oddly touching to hear this tiny girl speak of Marco so adoringly. I had no idea he’d had a niece. I wondered which of his brothers was the father.
It was weird to think of Marco, who’d always seemed like an apex predator in the club, a man not to be messed with, being an uncle to little Amara, and hugging his mother in a big snuggle-bug in a rug hug.
I couldn’t help but chuckle, which made her giggle too, as if she wanted to be in on the joke.
I chubbed her under her chin. Her skin was baby soft, and she laughed and tucked her chin away from my fingers as if it tickled.
Unexpected tears sprang to my eyes. Oh, a little girl! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a little girl? My hand went to my stomach.
“You’re pretty,” she said.
“Thank you. So are you, but even better than that, you’re smart and brave and so funny!”
“Just like my mama!” she said, her eyes glowing.
“Does your mama know you’ve come up here?” I asked her.
“Uh uh. My mama’s not here. But Nonna doesn’t know I snuck away.” She chortled, delighted at herself.
“Wow. Will she be mad that you’ve come up here?”
Her eyes widened.
“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word,” I reassured her.
“There you are, my little bambolina,” said Marco’s voice from the doorway.
Amara jumped. Blew the foam off her hands, and giggled as she tried to scoot past him. He scooped her up, and she roared with laughter as he tickled her.
“You know you aren’t supposed to be up here,” he chided her.
“Sorry, Uncle Marco.”
She did not sound sorry. Not one bit.
Which made me laugh.
He looked at me in the bath. His eyes darkened, and my breath caught.
He set her down on her feet and she ran off, but he came to sit on the edge of the tub. He trailed a fingertip through the water.
My entire body reacted to him, nipples peaking, heat pooling between my legs, a thrill like electricity zinging through me. I let out a shaky breath.
He was watching my face. He knew exactly what I was feeling.
