Page 181 of The Bonus

This is one of those moments where the planets align and you know that all the decisions and hard work that you put in years ago have paid off.

“I wanted to prepare them for your world as best as I could.”

“Our world, Gracie,” he whispers. “It’s our world.”

Oh…

His tears do break the dam this time, and he wipes them away as they roll down his cheeks.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen him like this, beautifully vulnerable.

“Why are you sad?” Lucia asks.

“I’m happy.” He stands and pulls me out of my chair and hugs me tight. “Thank you. Thank you,” he whispers as he holds me close. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

I let myself relax into his hug, and then, like clockwork, his large, strong body begins to talk to mine, and I feel the twinge of arousal surge between us. I pull out of his grip.

His eyes hold mine, and I know that he felt it too.

“Let’s get back to this game,” I announce to change the subject. “I’m about to kick your butt, Mr. Ferrara.”

“Yeah,” Dominic growls.

“Me too,” Lucia chimes in. “I’m winning this time.”

He sits back down and smiles through tears as he looks around the table, and for the first time in his life, he’s utterly speechless.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel proud of myself.

“Into bed.” I kiss Dominic’s head as he walks up the stairs. “I’ll be up in a moment to say good night.”

“Okay.”

“Buona notte,” Gabriel says from beside me.

“Buona notte,” Dom says as he walks up the stairs. “Night, Mom.”

I walk into the kitchen to straighten things up and Gabriel lingers by the door; it’s as if he wants to say something but is holding his tongue.

“Thank you for tonight,” I say. “It meant a lot to the kids.”

“It’s me who should be thanking you.” His eyes hold mine and like a tide in the ocean the mood changes, electricity crackles between us. “I can’t . . .”

“You take my bed tonight.” I cut him off, I don’t know what he’s going to say but I really don’t need to hear it.

“No, no.”

“I’m fine on the trundle, you are twice the length of the couch. Take my bed.”

“Gracie, I . . .”

“Let’s not ruin a good night, shall we?” I cut him off. “Whatever you are going to say…please don’t.”

His eyes hold mine and I know that deep down, he knows I’m right.

“Good night.”

A low and deep throb has been brewing between my legs, and damn it, I really need to get over this stupid attraction. Whatever my body thinks it needs, it isn’t happening…

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