Page 31 of Ti Amo

“Ooooo, I can’t wait!” Catalina touched Eve’s foot. Eve peeked at her, then turned her head around abruptly. Everyone laughed. “Wait untilZiasees her, Gio. Oh a baby in the family. I can’t believe it."

“Here they are!”

Mira’s gaze sought out the man who spoke. Dominic and Lorenzo approached from the far end of the hall.

“Welcome home.” Dominic said.

“Grazie.” Mira answered. “This is where we belong.” She glanced to Giovanni who winked at her. He thrived on her support. Gone was the grumpy meanness. And Eve being in his arms softened him as well. With so many around her she kept her face lowered to his shoulder and her arm around his neck.

The men both walked over to Mira and kissed her cheeks as the others brought in the luggage. Lorenzo gave her a polite hug. “Yes, this is where we all belong,” he said confidently.

Catalina turned to everyone. “Lunch is ready. Let’s go to the terrace. I want it served out there. It’s a celebration!”

Chapter Six

Kei sat at his desk in his office staring at the phone. He flew back on his private jet after returning to the cottage and finding she’d packed hers and his daughter’s things then left with that bastard. He waited two painful nights for her to call him, and she never did. His stomach was in knots with worry. Kei reached for his water and swallowed down the clear liquid in his glass. His phone rang, and he reached for it immediately. “Yes! Yes?”

“Sir, a man is here. He doesn’t have an appointment. He says you are expecting him. I’m sorry sir. He won’t give a name.”

Relief washed over him and finally his racing heart stabilized. Kei cleared his throat. “Send him in.”

The door opened and Cheung Bojing walked inside. “Long time no see cousin.”

Kei rose. He hadn’t spoken to Bojing in years. He tried to keep himself separated from the days when they were truly family. As members of the Triad, a multifaceted Chinese crime syndicate, one could never wash their hands clean of the affiliation. The men embraced.

“If you called me, there must be trouble.” Cheung said. “Of course, I would come.”

“Is there any other kind?” Kei asked.

Cheung gave a wicked smile. “I certainly hope not.”

****

During the early dinner Eve loosened up. She refused to sit at the table in a chair stacked with books. And because they had no highchair to confine her she made a point to walk around, under, and sometimes passed over the table where everyone dined. Mira observed her with Catalina, Dominic, Lorenzo and then of course Giovanni, who managed to coax her pacifier out of her mouth to feed her from his plate. No one mentioned the whys and hows of Mira’s disappearance from their lives. The joy of her return felt genuine. And the smoldering look of desire and love in Giovanni’s blue eyes each time she caught him staring, gave her confidence to trust in the feeling.

“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?”

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