Page 21 of Dark Love

“Bisnonna fell in love again. She married Ethan years ago and they’re so happy together.”

“Everyone is different. Love is a strange and mysterious thing.”

“It really is. Maybe it’s a good thing that Dad won’t ever let me date anyone.” She wrinkles her nose.

“I doubt you’ll be saying that when you’re twenty.”

“Dad isn’t the one I need to worry about when it comes to boys.”

“Oh?”

“Do you know how many cousins I have? Because I’ve lost count and they’re just as protective as my dad.”

Poor girl is going to have a few challenges, but always be surrounded by love. “I get it. My brother is the worst. He warned off every guy in high school to the point I was a pariah.”

“Exactly.” She smiles over at me.

Before we get too far off-topic, I need to have the responsible adult part of this conversation. “You know, if you’re worried about your dad, you should talk to him about it. He seems like a pretty reasonable guy.”

“He is. But sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger. Someone that won’t worry so much about me.”

If only that were true, but now it seems I’ve adopted a little girl to worry about in my heart. And she isn’t even mine. “My door is open anytime.”

“Will you still help me write that book even if you won’t marry my dad?”

“Absolutely.”

“I need to go tell Fire!” She hops up and rushes away.

Kids are peculiar. The ones around here seem pretty happy, though.

“Thank you.”

I turn to find Massimo striding towards me. “You were listening to our conversation the entire time.”

He nods.

“Being a good dad seems like a hard job.”

He sinks down into the wrought-iron chair next to me. “The hardest job in the world.”

“She loves you.”

“Hope is so much like her mother, full of love and kindness. Ivy filled the world with an indescribable joy.”

And that’s why Hope’s dream of finding her father a wife doesn’t have a chance of being fulfilled. He’s still in love with his dead wife.

“Do you have any kids of your own?”

“Nope.”

“You were really good with her.”

“Thanks.” Kids normally terrify me.

“It’s too bad we can’t pick who we love.” He leans back, stretching his legs and bending his arms, which flexes every one of his muscles.

“But we can pick our friends.”

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