Page 89 of Hard Lessons

She smiled, her cheek bunching on his flesh.

He carefully released her leg. The cool air seemed to burn against her right butt cheek.

“Serena.” He cupped her face.

She was forced to look up into his eyes. They were dark and stormy, passion floating in them. “What happened in London, Luca?”

“I made my decision.”

Her heart fluttered, hope grew from the tiniest seed into a sapling. Was he talking about Hebridon? Yes, he had to be. Was he going to swap guns and prison for a small farm and the sound of waves?

“Luca?” she whispered, hardly daring to let that hope continue to grow. “Tell me, is it yes or no?”

“Do you really want the dream, Serena? The life on the island?”

She nodded.

He bit on his bottom lip, his nostrils flared. “So do I, Serena, so do I.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I want you. I want you to be happy... and I’ll be fucked if I’ll be at Giovanni’s beck and call for the sake of my soul.” He paused. “I have my pride, you know, and I won’t go against the Morretti principles.”

“And that pride is one of the many reasons I love you.” She touched his lips, knowing there were words unspoken. “What did Giovanni want?”

“He wanted me to do something I vowed I’d never do.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t do it.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “But what it does mean is we go today, to Hebridon, or at least start making our way there.”

“Yes. Okay.”

She set her elbows on the table and pushed up. He withdrew and helped her to standing. She was giddy from her climax, but also high on Luca’s decision to ditch their old life. Her dream was going to be their reality.

Quickly she wriggled her clothing straight and glanced around.

No one in sight. Just the way she’d come to like it.

Luca tucked himself away then marched into the cottage, an air of efficiency suddenly coming over him.

After a moment he reappeared. “Where the fuck is your bag?”

“You mean the money?”

“Of course I mean the money.”

She smiled. “Don’t panic.”

She headed into the cottage, then stooped into the hearth. She twisted once more to reach the small space, then dragged the bag free.

When she reappeared he was smiling.

“What?” she asked.

“You are the most inventive person I know when it comes to hiding places.”

She nodded at the window. “Which is why I’ve picked Hebridon. Who the hell would think to look for us there? Perfect hiding place.”

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