Page 140 of Charity's Redemption

“Nico,” I spun to greet him, entwining my hands around his neck and bringing him in for a kiss. “Where the hell have you been? You missed all the fun today.”

“Sorry, beautiful. I was closing a case.”

“How’d it go?”

“I won, of course. What fun did I miss?” he smiled down at me, then placed kisses along my cheeks.

I pulled myself from his arms and placed the popcorn in the microwave, then set it and left it.

“Well, Luca taught me how to play chess. I won of course.” I smirked.

“No, you didn’t,” he said with disbelief.

“You’re right, I didn’t.” I laughed. “I lost every time. He made me think I would win, and then he checkmated me and knocked my king over.”

Nico chuckled. “That sounds better.”

My heart settled to a canter as the microwave beeped, and I pulled the piping hot bag down to the counter to let it rest.

“That was your exciting day?”

“No. I have all of my things moved in now, and I closed on the house, so I’m officially here forever.”

Nico leaned his butt against the kitchen island with his hand tucked into his suit slacks, his gaze downcast.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head.

Butter and popped corn permeated the air, making my stomach ache with anticipation.

“Are you sure?”

I tossed another bag in for them, then watched as something invaded his eyes, turning them an amber shade of brown.

“I’ve decided to sell my condo and move in.”

I squealed and bounced up and down, then threw my arms around him. “Are you shitting me? Like for real?”

He chuckled as he placed his hands on my hips and squeezed, stopping me from bouncing.

“I’ve given it a good long while to mull it over, and I think it would be a good move for us.”

I squealed again and clapped my hands quietly. “I’m so excited,” I said with a wide grin and blushing cheeks.

“I couldn’t tell.” He laughed.

The microwave beeped with the second bag. This day kept getting better and better. I wouldn’t ruin the moment with Nico, but Max told me today he had stopped looking at homes, and that meant he’d be staying… at least for the foreseeable future.

That gave me enough time to warm him up to the idea of us all living under the same roof, but I didn’t think I’d need to do much warming—he was already pretty content living here.

Nico grabbed two bowls from the cabinet below, and I dumped the bags in each one making sure to keep them even, then raced to the living room where I jumped onto the couch from behind, between Luca and Max, my popcorn spilling a few kernels.

“Guys. Guess what?”

I draped my legs over Luca’s lap, then leaned against Max.

“Oh, God. I don’t like when she’s excited like this,” Max said.

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