Page 55 of Hard Lessons

But I don’t want to be with him, not while he’s working with Giovanni Bianchi. Not while he’s Cosa Nostra. While Mafioso is part of his life it will be part of mine.

How had she landed in this situation? Her addiction to bad boys, that’s why. But it seemed a year alone had forced her to reevaluate that corner of her psyche. Maybe she’d grown up. Perhaps she’d finally tapped into her common sense.

She glanced at the bedroom. All was quiet.

Was he taking a post-orgasm nap? He’d had two in the space of an hour after all—Luca always did fall asleep quickly after sex.

She glanced at the door. For the briefest moment she considered running again. But the rain attacking the window and a flash that filled the room for a full second soon put paid to that idea.

With a sigh she sat back, her attention on the fire. It was too warm and cozy in this small living room to go outside again. Even if a dominant brute was lazing nearby.

She finished her coffee then set it down. A newspaper caught her eye, theApplegate Post, and she picked it up. The headline was about fishing rights in the Irish channel. Another line told of a surfer who’d been lucky to survive when he’d been blown out to sea. She read further. Applegate—which appeared to be the local town—had a new mayor who was promising to scrap parking charges on High Street.

Serena kept reading, filling her mind up with information that was of no relevance to her.

Until one small advert near the back caught her attention.

Outer Hebridon Needs You.

Our small isolated island in the north of the Hebrides is looking for new residents to join our community. With the population dwindling the school and shop are in jeopardy. So if a peaceful place to raise your family with no crime, neighbors who are also friends, and a beauty that simply can’t be described until you see it, email [email protected]

*Financial help considered on an individual basis.

Serena reread it.

A peaceful place to raise a family.

No crime.

Friends.

Beauty.

Could Outer Hebridon be the solution she was searching for? Was it, in this lifetime, a possibility for her and Luca?

No, he’ll never give up his dubious career.

She carefully folded the paper then stood and put it on a dusty bookshelf beside a stopped clock, a half bottle of Scotch whiskey, and a pack of tissues in a flowery box. If the opportunity arose she’d bring it up with Luca.

“What are you doing?”

She turned. “Nothing.”

He raised his eyebrows and placed a small washbag on the arm of the sofa.

“The clock isn’t working.” She pointed at the brass face that showed ten minutes past three.

“Time is of no relevance to us, Serena. Not here.”

She reached for the brush and pulled it through her hair. “Of course it is.”

“No. We’ll eat when we’re hungry, sleep when tired, and you will take your punishments when I say.”

She set the brush aside and placed her hands on her hips.

“Why do you have to be so bossy all the time?”

“Because.” He stepped close. “I’m in charge around here.” He set his hands on her shoulders and studied her face. “But you know that really, in your heart.”

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