Page 65 of Under His Control

24

EVA

“She is just adorable,” Jenny, the swim instructor, said after another fun lesson with Olivia. Liam’s little girl had a knack for winning anyone and everyone over. Even during her tantrum-like moments. “You’re doing good, Mama.”

The older woman grinned at me and gave me a thumbs-up.

“Oh, but I’m not?—”

“Nah, Eva. Don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got a good balance between being a disciplinarian and giving encouragement. Not many first-time mothers can achieve that.”

I was about to correct her that I wasn’t Olivia’s mother, but she’d misinterpreted my rejection of praise as though I thought I wasn’t worthy of it. Every day, I struggled with the concept of not being the one to watch over Olivia. I was “only” Liam’s girlfriend, a quasi-live-in one at that. I was also a relative of his employer. It was complicated, yet not. We were making it work.

Over the last few weeks, though, as the holidays came and went, I had a hunch that Liam was eager to really settle down with me. We shelved talking about moving for a while. It just made sense at the big mansion with Dante and Nina, and sometimes with Romeo and Tessa. We relocated Liam andOlivia to my quarters of the house, so Olivia had her one small room to herself. It was a step up space-wise from the guest suite Liam had been staying in, but moving in the springtime would be ideal.

Later that afternoon, as I prepared to get dressed for a wedding, I sauntered up to Liam as he dressed for the occasion.

“Eva…” he drawled, watching my reflection in the mirror as I came up behind him. I ran my hand over his chest, then circled him until I could fall into his hug. His lips found my neck as he spun me to face him in the mirror. In nothing but my bra and thong, I’d hoped to entice him to a quickie, but it seemed now wasn’t the time for it.

He nuzzled up along my neck but didn’t let his hands stray toward my breasts or pussy.

“We’ll be late.”

“Hmm.” I smiled as he kissed away. “Are you coming as my plus-one? Or as Constella security?”

“Both.” He caught my chin and tipped my face up toward his for a deeper kiss. “There’s no way you’d be anyone else’s date.”

“Normally, Franco and I put each other as our plus-ones. Since I never wanted to bring dates to these things. Nor did he.” The wedding was for an older capo higher up in another family. They weren’t rivals or allies. Since they operated in another city, it was more of a general expectation that we’d show up to represent the family. All of us would be there, Dante with Nina, Romeo with Tessa, and now, me with Liam.

I couldn’t wait. It was exciting, exhilarating even, to come out as a couple at Nina’s baby shower. We’d shown all those closest to the Constella Family that we were a couple. Tonight, at this wedding, we could show the whole world. Many families would be there to see that I’d finally claimed a man as my own.

“Now you’ve got me,” he whispered before another long, tender kiss.

I did have him. Liam and Olivia had come to mean so much to me over such a short time, and I was excited each and every day to see what else could come. We were building toward something solid and lasting.

Leaving Olivia at home, we headed out with the others. Liam’s answer about being both my date and security was an accurate assessment. He was with me. And on guard. Although he wasn’t “working” and many Constella soldiers were with us all for security, I knew that Liam wouldn’t turn off his defensive personality. He was always on, always alert and watching, but I was pleased that he could loosen up enough to be with me at the reception.

“Would you believe it if I told you that I’m not a fan of big parties like this?” he asked as we danced.

“How come?” I nodded. “Ah. Too many people in one place to follow? Always watching out?”

“Well, that too.” He shrugged and slid his hand over my back to hold me closer. “I’ve never been enough of an extrovert to want to hang out like this. Too much small talk. Too many people to meet and remember.”

“I think you’re doing just fine.” He was. I wouldn’t have known that this wasn’t his idea of fun. All night long, he’d been with me and the rest of my family that we’d come with. If he wasn’t dancing with me or eating, we were together in a group. He chatted with Franco, Romeo, and Dante like he’d known them his whole life. Just the same, he smoothly slipped onto the dance floor with me to hold me and show me off.

I’d dressed to impress, and with the rate of him checking me out in this short gown, I’d captured his eye. It seemed like a constant struggle to keep our hands to ourselves.

“I’m doing fine because I’m with you,” he replied after a gentle kiss to my cheek. “I fit in because I’m with you.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” I teased.

“But it’s true. You’re drop-dead gorgeous. Absolutely stunning in this dress.” He playfully tugged at a curl that framed my face. “You’re perfect. The perfect Mafia princess at the big ball.”

I rolled my eyes at his silliness.

“But everyone who’s watching us has to be wondering why the beautiful princess is with someone like me. I’m no one royal.”

“You are to me.” I kissed him to put an action behind the claim.

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