“Gio, we have business tonight with the boys. I’ve arranged it.” Dominic said. Mira pretended at not listening.
Giovanni waved the comment off with the flick of his wrist. “Ripianificare.”
Dominic blinked surprised. “Reschedule? I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Giovanni’s gaze lifted and narrowed on Dominic. The young consigliere cleared his throat to explain himself. “It’s about that situation we need to attend to.”
The tension between the men could not be missed, least of all by Lorenzo. He stared in the direction of Dominic, and Giovanni intensely focused on the hushed conversation.
“We can arrange it for first thing in the morning, I have plans tonight.” His gaze shot up, and he caught her staring. Mira looked away. Dominic stared at her, too. If Mira could, blush she would. She knew what Giovanni wanted. Part of her craved the closeness they once shared in their short time together. But her stomach clenched with nervous energy at the thought of making love to him. Once they crossed that line, she would be hopelessly his again. She needed to keep her head about her and stay alert. Until the matter of Angelo Calderone was brought to a close, she was in danger.
After lunch Eve allowed herself to be carried away by Catalina. Of course, Mira had shared with Catalina her daughter’s love for cookies. The setup allowed her to escape to the room she and Giovanni once shared. It was just as she remembered it, especially the bed.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“For?” She turned to see him enter the room. Tall and uncompromisingly handsome, his gaze went from her to the bed. She however couldn’t take her eyes off him. Besides the beard, he was as she remembered night after night in her dreams. The rich outlines of his shoulders strained against his black linen, collared shirt. In fact his slacks, shoes, belt, all were black, leaving the only trace of color to the silver gleam of his belt buckle. Giovanni stood taller than the average man. She missed how he would throw her over his shoulders and carry her to bed when they played sexy games for each other.
“My surprise for you.”
Mira crossed her arms. “More surprises?” She walked toward him. Since her arrival she’d had no chance to pretty herself for him. But she could see the desire in his eyes when he watched her. She looped her arms around his neck. “I love surprises. So does Eve.”
His large palms ran down her backside and cupped her ass. “This is a big girl surprise. She and Catalina need to bond. Don’t you think?”
Mira’s smile froze. “I’ve never been without her next to me, Giovanni. Never.”
“We aren’t going far or for long. She’s safe here.”
She shook her head, lowering her arms. She tried to push out of his embrace, but he brought her firm up against his chest, cupping her ass. She braced against his arms. “Sorry sweetheart but I’m not leaving my baby.”
“Bella?”
“No!”
“If I thought there was any danger here I wouldn’t have brought you here. I swear to you on my life she’s safe with us. Trust me. Please.”
“It’s hard. She’s too little to defend herself, to even tell me if something’s wrong. I wouldn’t be comfortable. Let’s take her with us. I can put her to sleep early. She’s a good baby.”
“Bella? I love her too. It’s not about leaving her behind. If you want her to come then I understand. I just want to do something for us, for you.” He kissed her brow.