Page 128 of Sinner's Vows

I laugh as I slump back into my seat. “This early in the morning? We have so many things to do today.”

“Yep, nevertheless.” He hitches his eyebrows at me as he gets up and saunters over to the adjacent open-concept kitchen, heading straight for the wine fridge.

Oh, hell. He’s serious.

Bruno’s eyes follow Dominic’s every move, brows twitching up or down as he registers his ‘Dad’s’ intentions, now that he has his eyesight back. After two eye operations, Bruno is like a new dog. Well, it wasn’t only the cataract operations; we’ve been working on his diet, too. It’s been touch and go trying to figure out what Bruno can have and should steer clear from, but at least, he’s no longer on a diet of only raw bison. Puppuccinos are on the menu with a few other delectable treats.

I suspect it all has to do with the amount of exercise the dog’s getting; the fresh ocean air was the last tonic Bruno needed to get a spring back in his step. It seems he was slowly dying of boredom at the old Don’s house. He loves it here and seems to have grown younger in the time we’ve been together, and I get it. I totally do because I feel the same.

Dominic returns, two flutes and a bottle of chilled champagne in his hands. I’m not sure what, but something’s been up for a while now. We don’t have secrets from each other, but something’s brewing, and it’s more than just a culmination of months of work to take down the two corrupt DIA directors.

“I’ve waited long for this moment, sweetheart,” Dominic says as he settles next to me again.

“For what moment?”

“For the moment we put the DIA behind us.”

“It’s been behind me for a while,” I murmur.

I’ve done my best to move on, and Dominic has been a key player in that process, but somehow, it isn’t enough for him. He looks after me in every way possible, and if he could serve me bykilling my enemies one by one, he would. As he has. I’ve never felt safer in my life before.

“It couldn’t have come soon enough. I promised…I promised myself that only once I’ve seen this through, once I’ve made certain those fuckers are dead, would I ask you—” He breaks off.

“Ask me what?” I murmur, my pulse suddenly gathering in a riot.

It’s got to do with this coming weekend and the family gathering we’re having with everybody getting together for Easter. Steph and Gigi arrived last night from Italy, even though Gigi loathed to leave Carla and her newborn behind. It could be about the puppy he wants to get—a Belgian Malinois, no less—as extra security for me, as if I need extra security with everything else he has in place.

He says nothing, and the love in his eyes as he studies my face is all-consuming.

“Dominic?” He’s going to pull a puppy out of a hat, isn’t he?

He pops the champagne and pours two glasses, taking his sweet time, seeming to gather his courage. I don’t mind another puppy. I’d love to have one…but my heart’s desire is to have more than just puppies. Lately, my mind has been drifting to babies, so often, it’s become a quiet obsession I haven’t had the courage to raise with him yet.

“What is it, Dominic?” I’m getting impatient now he’s held out a champagne glass to me. “We’ve got so much to do today with the drive to town and the day I’m spending with Tasha and Gigi and dinner tonight and—” I glance down to his light blue button down where my make-up has smeared on the collar as he let me cry it out. “And now, I’ve ruined your shirt…” I’ve run out of steam.

“Already, she’s ruined my shirt,” he says, a tender tease in his voice.

He takes a deep breath and tilts my chin up from where I’ve been staring at his open collar and the delectable smooth skin peeking out. I want to lick it.

“Ariana, you know, when we first came back to Boston after everything that happened here and in Italy, I was smitten.” His gaze jumps between my eyes as he takes me in. “Now I’m so much more, sweetheart. I’m this weird and wonderful combination of in love and loved and loving you, and it still feels as if I still fall in love with you every day. I didn’t even know all these feelings were possible.”

He is so open and sincere, my heart squeezes.

”Do you feel the same?” he asks then, and I bite my lip to contain my emotions.

God, this man. If he carries on like this, I’ll be in tears again. Sometimes, he just comes at me with words, and I melt. “Of course I do. You know I do.”

“Sweetheart,” he murmurs as a thumb brushes along my cheek where a lone tear already slipped free. “I don’t think that’s ever going to stop.”

No. I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so either.”

“Then let’s make this official,” he whispers. “Marry me, my love, and be mine forever.”

My heart stalls. My blood seems to pause in my veins and then rush through as if all sluices have been opened. This is so…so out of left field, but it’s as if he’s been peering into my mind, knowing exactly my deepest wish. Months ago, Dominic had said he won’t rush me, that he’d give me time. And this man is all about taking time when he cares for a woman…and I am his. I never want to be with anybody else.

“Yes,” I whisper on a choke, my heart suddenly stuck in my throat. “Yes and yes again.”

He smiles and kisses me tenderly as his hand slides down my back to my butt, where he nudges me to straddle him. I’m onhis lap, giggling as he fidgets in his pocket, rolling his eyes as he struggles what with the champagne flute in his hand so I take it from him.

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