Page 48 of Captive Mafia Wife

We’re settled in the cozy living room, a fire in the stone fireplace warming us, sharing a thin-crust pizza between us. My parcels from Harrods are stacked on the floor next to the coffee table. I thank him for the hundredth time that day.

I give a happy sigh. “That was the most fantastic day. I still can’t believe you got us Harrods all to ourselves.”

“Anything to bring a smile to your face, princess.”

I blush under his attention. “Let’s try on our sweaters,” I say, pulling them from the tissue paper in their boxes.

He agrees. We laugh as we slip them over what we’re already wearing, testing them out. I feel like I’m hanging out with my hawt best friend.

They’re adorable. “Let’s take a selfie—whoops! I don’t have a phone,do I?”

“I bought you something to help with that. I know you miss your selfies.” He walks over to the rolltop desk in the corner of the room, taking a small, silver-wrapped package out. He hands it to me. It feels heavier than it looks.

“What could this be…” In the package is a sleek digital camera. It looks high-tech, nothing like the cheap one I had as a teen. “Wow! Thank you so much.”

Together, we take it out of the box and figure out how to work it. “Sit right there. You can be my first victim.”

“Model?” he corrects.

“Same difference.” I arrange him in a chair by the fire. The camera loves him. He’s even more photogenic than I assumed he would be.

I glance down at the screen. “You look like the dad from those ads.”

“Let me see.” I walk over to him, showing him the screen. He pulls me down, so I’m sitting in his lap. “Take one of us.”

I hold the camera out, facing the lens toward us. “Smile.” I click the button. Together, we stare at the image of ourselves in matching sweaters; the couple in the photo is perfect, happy, and meant to be.

Staring at the photo makes me wish Callum and Fiona were also here to have me take their pictures. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t processed the fact that I’ve been missing them. I don’t mean to get quiet, but I do.

He surprises me by reading my mind. “Let’s ask security if we could call Callum and Fiona.”

“Can we do that?” I ask.

“Not often, but if we use the landline to call the landline at Norse Garden, we could probably pull one off safely. Let me chat with some people, and I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. I’ll be here.” I pop up from his lap so he can go. “In my sweater.”

“Don’t move,” he says. I strike a silly pose, freezing in place. He chuckles, leaving me with a grin.

Nerves or excitement, I’m not sure which, flutter in my belly. It’s been so long since we’ve spoken. Will the conversation be awkward? I nibble on the corner of a slice of pizza. A few minutes later, he returns with one of those large cordless battery-operated phones in his hand.

“A landline phone and a digital camera. I feel like I popped out of a time machine.”

“All good. It’ll work.” He raises his brows. “Ready?”

My excitement turns to nerves. “I…think?”

He pulls me over to the sofa, sinking beside me. I watch as he presses the buttons on the phone, dialing a number I’ve never used, having no need to call the Norse Garden landline in the past.

“Am I doing this right?” he asks.

I peer over his shoulder. “I think you have to hit the button with the wee green phone on it after you dial.”

“That should do it. Declan said Callum and Fiona will be waiting for our call.” He pushes the speakerphone button. My heart is pounding by the second ring.

Fiona’s bright, singsong-y voice comes over the phone, greeting me in Gaelic. “Halò!"

I mean, greeting us. I never felt like a third wheel with Callum and Fiona, but it’s nice being a part of a couple. We’re on a double date with two of my favorite people. “Heya, you two! How are you?” I look at Fredrick; he smiles at me, saying hello to them as well.

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