Page 79 of And Everything In Between

He found her stirring something on the stove, barefoot in one of his t-shirts, hair wrapped in a silk scarf. The sight of her made him grow bashful. No matter what the day brought, coming home to this, to her, made everything worth it.

“Hey, bae.”

“I don’t know why you won’t move in. How you beat me here?”

“I dropped Perry off, got him settled, and burned rubber. And you know why I won’t move in. I don’t condone live inboyfriends. No shade. But buy the whole muthafuckin cow or get out of the auction,” She finished giving him a wink.

“Heard. What you cooking?” he asked, moving behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. He pressed a kiss to the spot where her neck met her shoulder. And he had heard her loud and clear, which would make the next conversation a lot easier.

“Just some Dirty rice. Nothing fancy.” She rested back into his chest. “How was the rest of your day?”

“Good. Got that Camaro sold. I was sick of looking at it. But the whole time I kept thinking about your daddy.”

She turned in his arms, wooden spoon still in hand. “Yeah? And speaking of, thank you again for today. I appreciate you for picking him up, hanging with him, and making his day.”

Giovanni took the spoon, set it down, and pulled her closer. “He reminds me of my pops in some ways. It was my pleasure.”

“That’s high praise, coming from you.” She gave him a small smile.

“He said something that stuck with me, though.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, waiting.

“He asked if I loved you. Straight up no chaser.”

“And what’d you say?” She tried to keep her voice light, but her eyes gave her away. She knew he loved her he’d made that more than clear but hearing what he told her father mattered.

“What do you think I said?” Giovanni’s thumb traced the outline of her jaw. “I told him the truth. That I do.”

She nodded, swallowing. “And?”

“And he told me he could tell I’d be his son-in-law.”

Paige’s cheeks flushed. “He mentioned that to me, too. Sorry. He was being extra today. He had me crying in the car.”

Giovanni’s laugh was low. “You think that bothered me? I like how he thinks.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t elaborate, kissed her forehead and reached around her to turn down the heat on the stove. “Food’s about to burn.”

As she turned back to the pot, he rested his weight against the counter, watching her move with the ease of someone who belonged there. Her mailing address hadn’t caught up yet—but her energy had. This was their home now.

“How would you feel about that?” he asked finally, voice casual but eyes saying what his intent was. “Being my wife someday?”

Paige peeked over her shoulder, a small smile playing at her lips. “I’d feel like the luckiest woman alive. Why?”

Giovanni nodded once, satisfaction settling in his bones. He didn’t need to say more. The seed was planted. When the time came, and it would come, she’d be ready to make him the happiest man alive. They both would.

“Let me set the table.” He kissed her temple as he passed, reaching for the plates.

“No, not so fast. I owe you something, remember.” Paige turned the stove off and dropped to her knees, her movements natural. This wasn’t for show; this was them. She never had to be perfect in front of him. She never had to try hard. He was easy to love and take care of. His line of questioning wasn’t off. She’d thought about it after her father mentioned it. But she left it there, when the moment was right, they’d know. They were tethered like that.

“What did I say I was going to do?”

Giovanni stilled. Plate in one hand, napkins in the other, but his body went stiff. No matter how many times they’d been together, she still hit him like the first time. Every damn time.

“You don’t ow-”

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