Page 146 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“You just what?” She turns to face me, and I bring her close so that our legs are intertwined. She runs her fingers down my arms and then across my back. I thread my fingers through her hair.

“I'm just wondering if you'd ever consider having a child with me.”

“What do you mean?” She looks absolutely shocked. Almost as shocked as I am, but I know the words to be true. If I want children, I want her to be the mother.

“I don't know. I mean, this isn't a real thought, but maybe one day, if things work out, you will be the mother of my children.”

“Are you telling me that you are thinking about kids, Liam Gallagher? I never would've thought it.”

“I never would've thought it, either. Daisy and Harriet will be shocked.” I grin happily.

“I can't wait to meet them,” she says with a smile. “They sound absolutely lovely.”

“And I know they can't wait to meet you, as well.” I smile, but my heart doesn't feel the same happiness because I don't know if she will feel the same in a few days. I've decided the truth will have to come out before I can go any further. Elisabetta deserves better from me. She deserves the world, and if I really and truly love her, then I have to think about her more than myself, no matter the cost.

“I think I've fallen so deep in love with you that I am sinking,” I murmur as I run my fingers across her ass. “I think that you're perfect for me.”

“And I think that you're perfect for me. I guess we're both perfectly imperfect,” she says, nestling against me. She rests her head against to my chest. “This is the most comfortable and happiest I think I've ever been in my life.”

Her eyes flutter closed. “I don't think I've ever felt this warm and safe before, so loved and happy.”

“I'm glad I make you feel that way.” I kiss her forehead. “I have something to tell you, Elisabetta.”

“Mm-hmm?” she says sleepily.

I don't want to ruin this moment. I want to pretend that I know nothing. I want to just continue in the moment. I wantto touch her and feel her and cement this moment in my brain forever, but I know I can't.

“You know what I was thinking?” she says suddenly.

“What's that?” I asked.

“I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool if I took opera lessons?”

“Opera?” My voice is loud, and her eyes fly open. She's laughing.

“Why do you say it like that?”

“I just don't understand why you would want to take opera classes.”

“Maybe because it would make me feel closer to my mom, you know?” She smiles at me sweetly. “I mean, I never knew her, but I didn't know she liked opera, and maybe if I take classes, I'll feel like there's a connection there. It's like it's a sign from the gods above telling me to do the right thing.”

“You really wish that you had a connection with your mom, right?” She nods slowly. “What exactly happened to her again?”

“I'm not sure of the details, but I think she died in a car crash.” She shrugs.

“I'm sorry.”

“The story has changed several times, and I don't really know why. I don't know if my dad is trying to shield me from the truth, like if her death was just absolutely horrific, you know?” She makes a face. “And up until tonight, he never really spoke about her. I guess it hurts so much, and I don't want to make him feel more pain. Maybe he felt guilty about hooking me up with you, so he wanted to give me something special about my mom.

“Perhaps,” I say, and take a deep breath. “Elisabetta, there's something you should know.”

“Yes?” she says, grinning.

I can tell by the look on her face that she thinks I'm going to tell her that I love her again, or that I want to make love to her, that I want to impregnate her right now, but that's notwhat I have to say. I pull back slightly and take a deep breath. “Elisabetta, this might be extremely difficult to hear, and I didn't know if I should tell you, but –”

“But what? You are not married, are you?”

“No, I'm not married, but your mom… your mom is not dead.”

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