Page 59 of Forced Vows

I ignore my brother's taunt and put my hand out to Róise. "Happy birthday."

"Are you kidding me? You're going to shake her hand?" Catalina demands, disbelief pitching her voice an octave higher than usual.

"You'll have to do better than that if you want people to believe you two are dating," my brother offers. "At least kiss her on the cheek."

Róise looks horrified and takes a step back. "Not necessary."

She didn't mind kissing me in Portland.

"I don't agree." I step right into her personal space and cup her cheeks with both hands, preventing her an avenue of retreat. "Happy birthday, Róise."

She melted in my arms that night in Portland, her passion a fiery match for my own desire. No way has that combustible chemistry just disappeared.

No matter what she wants to believe.

Intent on proving a point, I lean down and press my lips to hers.

Her mouth is sweeter than the cotton candy pink décor and I can't hold back from sliding my tongue between her lips to chase that taste.

Róise moans, her hands gripping my wrists. Not to pull my hands from her face, but to hold them in place.

Triumph mixes with instant sexual urgency.

"It looks like the lovebirds are getting along," booms a voice from near the elevators.

Brogan Shaughnessy has arrived.

Like we would, and had, his people brought him and his family up the secure elevator in shifts.

Róise goes stiff at the sound of her uncle's voice and rips herself away from me, wiping at her lips. Shiny pink gloss smears on her hands.

Fucking candy cotton pink lip gloss.

Knowing it will be all over my lips too, I grab my handkerchief out of my pocket and hand it to her. "Do you mind?"

I'm pushing, rubbing in what we just did. The sparks of temper in her emerald eyes says she knows it too.

Chapter 20: RÓISE

Okay, one point to Miceli.

That kiss about knocked me off my feet. And he knows it too.

I take the handkerchief. "Thank you." After wiping off my lip gloss, I hand it back. "You might want to…" I let my voice trail off and point to my own lips and then nod to his.

He rubs it off, removing the evidence of our kiss and my body relaxes.

"Don De Luca, may I introduce my grandmother, Maeve Shaughnessy. Mamo, this is Severu, Aria and Catalina you already know, and Miceli De Luca." Introducing my intended last is deliberate.

Instead of looking mad, there's a glint of amusement in Miceli's eyes as he steps forward. "A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Shaughnessy."

"Call me Maeve, young man. According to my son, we will be family soon enough."

Miceli agrees with an inclination of his head. "I would be honored to."

Why doesn't his charm come off smarmy? It should, but he sounds so darn sincere. Mamo is canny though and the smile she gives him doesn't reach her eyes.

She could navigate life at the Whitehouse if a mob boss ever got elected to president. It won't happen though. Not because it's impossible, but because the role is too public.

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