Page 169 of The Bonus

“What’s not to like about this house?” he whispers angrily.

“I’m just saying… Maybe we should hang at our house for a while until he comes around.”

“So you’re going home just like that? I’ve been looking forward to this night all fucking week.”

“Then come with us,” I whisper.

“I’m not kicking you out of your bed for one more night.”

“Then you can sleep on the couch.”

“There are seven bedrooms here,” he gasps.

“Not yet,” I whisper. “This is a lot to take on for a little boy, put yourself in his shoes for a minute.”

He exhales heavily.

“Let’s finish dinner and then go back to my place.”

A trace of a smile crosses his face.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He twists his lips. “I just like the sound of you saying that.”

“Gabriel…”

“Yes, Gracie?” He smiles sweetly.

“Stop playing games, I’m telling you right now that this is for their sake only, I have no interest in you whatsoever and you are sleeping on the couch.”

“Of course I am.” He smirks as if knowing a secret.

Damn it, playful Gabriel Ferrara is very attractive.

“I mean it.” I widen my eyes to accentuate my point.

“You’re the boss, Gracie.” He holds his two hands up in surrender.

Gracie.

“Let’s go back to our house,” I call out to the kids.

“Oh no,” Lucia calls.

“I’m coming too,” Gabriel calls back. “We’re bringing the Nutella pizzas for dessert.”

“Yay,” Lucia calls back.

No reply from Dom.

“How long are we going to pander to King Dominic?” He curls his lip, unimpressed.

“Until you get him to like you.”

“And if that day never comes?”

“It better.” I stand and start packing up the pizza. “He’s not like Lucia, he won’t just like you. You started off on the wrong foot when you upset me, that’s all. He will come around when he sees me and you getting on.”

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