Page 61 of Finn

“I haven’t done anything.”

“You bandaged me up.” He raises his hand to show me the proof.

“I just didn’t want you getting blood on the furniture,” I reply, shrugging my damp shoulder.

“You drew a bath for me.”

“That’s because you stink. You needed the wash.”

Finn barks out a laugh, the tension in his face melting a smidge.

“You can deny it all you want, Alessia. I know you like taking care of me just as much as I enjoy taking care of you.”

I don’t answer him, but he’s right. I love being here and doing these little things for Finn. Not that I’ll ever tell him that.

“We’re going to your parents tomorrow for dinner. I need to update your father on what’s been going on.”

“Are you going to let me in on your little meeting? It is my family, too, you know.”

“Actually, yes, that is my plan. I’d appreciate you and your father’s perspectives on some leads we’ve had.”

“Why don’t we talk about it now?”

Finn sets his glass on the side of the bathtub and prowls toward me.

“Because you're naked in here with me, so I’ve formulated a few plans of my own that don’t involve talking unless the words falling from your lips are yes, please, more, and just like that.”

I could argue and insist that figuring out the Cataldi situation is more important, or I can give my husband the stress relief he needs and earn myself a couple orgasms in the process. I think about it for a moment then brush my lips against his, whispering, “Tomorrow it is, then.”

“Piccola demone,” my father greets me with open arms. Finn and I make our way up the stairs, his hand resting on my lower back as he walks beside me. I fall into my father’s embrace with a wide smile. “Hi, Papa.”

My mother stands in the doorway, and I walk over to her, kissing her cheeks. “So good to see you, Mama.”

Her smile is bright as she glances between me and my husband.

“Something has changed, sweetheart. I can see it in the way your husband looks at you.”

“We’ve been getting along,” I say with a light smile, but my mother continues to stare at me, studying my face.

“Oh, I think it’s more than that.” She leans in for another hug and whispers in my ear, “It looks like love.”

My brows are furrowed when we separate, and she turns to greet Finn.

Love? There’s respect and admiration between us, absolutely. There’s an unquenchable desire and a fierce passion, no doubt. But I’ve never considered love until this moment. Sure, there was attraction from the first time we met, that much we’ve admitted, but we weren’t exactly compatible personality-wise. Nearly every word that came out of his mouth irritated the hell out of me, and I doubt he would disagree that I worked hard on getting on his last nerve. What would it take for two people who started the way Finn and I did to fall in love?

My parents walk into the house while I’m left standing on the front porch, still thinking about the words my mother whispered.

Finn catches my gaze with a concerned one of his own. “You okay?”

I stare at him for a brief moment, trying to find in his eyes what my mother saw. I see concern for my momentary lack of ability to form words, but other than that, I have no idea what she’s talking about. He’s looking at me like he always does.

Shaking my head, I let out a quiet chuckle. “Fine.” I tilt my head up for a kiss and he doesn’t leave me waiting, softly brushing his lips against mine.

We turn toward the front door, my arm looped in his when he asks, “What does piccola demone mean?”

“Little demon,” I reply with a fond smile. “My father’s been calling me that since I was little.”

Finn chuckles then bends to kiss the top of my head. “Fitting.”

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