Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
My eyes widened and filled with tears as I shook my head. He stalked towards me, pulling me tightly against his chest and claiming my mouth in a passionate kiss, uncaring who our audience was. By the time he let me up for air, my tears were gone and I was breathing heavily.
“Silly woman,” he murmured against my lips. “Of course I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I whispered back.
“Perfetto!” Allegra clapped.
“Indeed,” my mom sighed. “And perfectly timed, too, since brunch is ready to be served.”
And so the blending of our families began—with love, acceptance, and delicious food.
Chapter Sixteen
NIC
Ishook Salvatore’s hand and kissed Livy on the cheek, earning me a bit of a glare from Gianna’s dad. After brunch, we’d all attended mass together and were departing to go our separate ways from the church. Gianna hugged her parents goodbye, and I smiled when Sophia did the same. She’d taken to Salvatore and Livy, as though they’d been part of the family all of her life. In fact, we’d blended together almost seamlessly.
I was almost struck speechless when I realized I hadn’t told Gianna I loved her. I’d thought it so many times. It hadn’t occurred to me that she would question my love for her, and I hated the idea that she had. Heat shot through me as I thought about all the ways I planned to make it up to her.
We climbed into the black town car and took the short ride home, our bodyguards in the car behind us. After we arrived, my mother announced she was going to rest and would probably be in for the night.
“Daddy?” I didn’t think I would ever stop feeling the rush from hearing her call me that.
I lifted her into my arms and kissed her nose, making her giggle. “What, preziosa?”
“Can we go to the park?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say no, Sophia had only been home from the hospital a week, but Gianna chimed in. “Of course we can, sweetheart. As long as you promise to take it easy. No running, okay?”
Sophia’s head bobbed up and down as she squirmed, prompting me to set her on her feet. She started to run up the stairs, then stopped and threw us a quick glance. We pretended not to notice, and she continued up the stairs at a more sedate pace. I chuckled at my adorable baby girl, and Gianna held her hand over her mouth, clearly trying to stifle her laughter as well.
Grabbing her hand, I pulled her into the sitting room and backed her up against a wall. Letting go, I caged her between my arms with my palms on the wall.
“You are an amazing mother, mia dolce.” She blushed, but I wasn’t finished. “And I want you to feel free to make decisions in regards to Sophia. In this house, and in private, you may contradict me as much as you want.” Her eyebrows fell and she looked wary at the hardening of my voice. “But in public, or around those I work with, you are not to question my decisions.”
Her eyes darkened with anger and she looked away. I gripped her jaw with one hand, turning her eyes back to me. “I cannot be seen as weak, especially right now with all of the fucking trouble brewing between us and the O’Reillys. It puts you and our family in even more danger if they think I cannot protect you.”
Tears began to fill her eyes, and I softened my tone a little, hating the sight. “You are what makes me strong, mia dolce. But to the old fashioned and pigheaded men I work with, they won’t see it that way. All I’m asking is that you wait until we are alone to voice your opinions.”
“Fine,” she huffed with a nod. I kissed her lightly, satisfied to see some of the hurt leak out of her eyes.
“One more thing—” my fingers tightened a little more on her chin—“you will stay with your bodyguards at all times. Are we clear, Gianna? No giving them the slip or going anywhere they cannot follow you. If you do, I swear, your sweet little ass will be cherry red when I’m done spanking you.”
Her mossy-green eyes heated, and I swallowed a moan as I realized she was aroused by the comment. “Hmmm, seems my sweet little innocent wants to get dirty. Is that what you want, mia dolce? For me to smack your pretty little ass before I fuck you until you scream so loud they’ll hear you in Brooklyn?”
She sucked in a quick breath and her cheeks flushed, a mixture of shyness and desire. It was impossible not to kiss her, but I kept my lust at bay, mindful that Sophia would appear at any moment.
The thought must have conjured her up because she skipped into the room happily. When she saw me holding Gianna in my arms, she smiled widely and launched herself at us. “Group hug!” she squealed. I burst into laughter and held both my girls close, love spilling from my overly full heart.