Page 61 of Under His Control

“What theheck,” Nina corrected.

Dante chuckled. “Nina, every baby in this house is going to hear things they shouldn’t.”

She pursed her lips. “That doesn’t mean we can’t try to tone it down.”

“What the heck!” Olivia exclaimed with a huge smile.

Nina gestured at her, triumphant. “See!”

“Heck hell,” Olivia added, thinking she was on a roll.

Nina deadpanned.

I leaned toward her. “Now saydang it, notdamn?—”

She laughed and elbowed my side. “Oh, stop.”

After lunch, without Liam or me making concrete plans to move anywhere, I walked Olivia back to his room to get her dressed for swimming. Uncle Dante found a swim instructor for her, and I only had ten minutes before the lesson would start. Liam was due to leave with Franco, but he caught up to me despite already having kissed us both good bye.

“Hey, wait up,” he said in the hallway. “Why was that such a bad question? When I asked Franco why he was single.”

I glanced at him, worried about being late. These swim lessons were Olivia’s favorite.

“It wasn’t a badquestion, per se. He prefers not to talk about it,” I replied.

“Talk aboutwhat, though?” He frowned, helping me with Olivia as I reached for her bathing suit and swim diaper. “I’d like to think that Franco and I are becoming good friends. We talk quite a bit. He’s more than a supervisor.”

I nodded, agreeing, because I noticed that too. “I can tell. He is opening up to you, but he doesn’t talk about Chloe with very many people.” I huffed. “I bet Romeo forgot her name.”

“Chloe? Who is she? Or was she?” He cringed. “Was she killed?”

“No.” I shrugged. “I’m guessing she’s still alive. Franco was really serious about her back when he was young, but she didn’t want to stay with him, and that heartbreak never healed.”

“Damn.” He shook his head. “So it’s a bitter topic I should avoid then, huh?”

I nodded. “Maybe. Or let him bring it up to you.” It’d been years since Franco and Chloe were a thing, but it seemed that he really struggled to let her go. “When and if he wants to talk about it.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” He kissed the top of Olivia’s head, then gave me a longer lip lock. “As much as I enjoy the job security and I like this new gig, I value his friendship too. Tell me if I ever put my foot in my mouth again.” He grinned, mischievous. “Or aim formyleg when you’re kicking it under the table next time.”

I laughed, watching him leave.

The swim lesson was another success, and throughout it, I was so busy watching and helping Olivia that the conversations from lunchtime fell to the back burner. Once we left, headed back up to Liam’s room so I could change Olivia, I realized that having a pool—or pools, one indoor and outdoor—would be a plus. Uncle Dante would always welcome us here, and he enjoyed swimming with Olivia too, when he had the time, but Liam was right. Privacy would be nice. Real privacy to solidify ourselves as a growing family.

Because if he ever thought about putting a ring on my finger…I sighed, smiling at Olivia toddling faster and faster ahead of me.

I hurried to catch up to her, distracted when the front door opened. Roberto, one of the house guards, furrowed his brow as he entered. “Miss Constella.”

I stopped, catching Olivia and holding her hand. “Yes?” I swung Olivia a little, the way she liked, just a back and forthswag of our joined hands. Then she leaped up to be held, and I carried her closer to the guard.

As he stepped inside, a woman appeared behind him. The tall redhead seemed so pale and thin that I wondered if she was ill, but she’d paid for some work to be done. Cosmetic beauty was nothing to shame, but my God, she could at least hirequalitywork.

“That’s my niece,” she accused, holding her head up high.

“Excuse me?”

I looked from this stranger to Roberto, trying to figure out why he’d let a stranger this far onto the property. He seemed confused but not intimidated. Diligent to his duties, he remained on alert and positioned himself between me and the woman.

“Who are you?” I demanded. Without an introduction coming from Roberto, I realized I’d need to demand answers myself.

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