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“You want to touch me,” he echoes, his voice lowering to a sexy register that has my core pulsing.

“Your face, yes. And your hair. That’s what I was thinking about while you ordered. Don’t get too ahead of yourself.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Oh wait, yes, I would.” He smirks.

I missed when he ordered a bottle of wine because of my little fantasy, and once my glass is poured, I’m grateful for the distraction and take a small sip.

“You do realize I’m not even 21 yet, right? That doesn’t bother you?” I inquire, half joking.

“If it did, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Does it bother you?”

“That you’re older? No.” I shake my head. “Of course, I’ve spent a while wondering why you’d want me when you could have anyone, but I have a feeling any girl who’s with you would wonder that.”

Santino’s lips lift, fighting a grin, and I realize what I just admitted. “Mia,” he says smoothly, “I don’t care what any otherwoman feels but you. And to put your mind at ease, I haven’t even looked at another woman since I saw you at Leo’s wedding. And before that… Well, let’s just say it’s been a long time since any woman has captured my attention, and none ever have like you have.”

“How many serious relationships have you been in?” I need to know. I need to know if he’s given his heart to anyone, or more likely, how many hearts he’s broken.

“One.”

“Really? Just one? How old were you?”

“Thirty-four.” He takes a sip of wine and I stare at him, puzzled.

“You’re thirty-four now.” He looks back at me without saying anything, and my brain finally catches up. “Oh, you mean me?” He nods. “But we’re not really… We haven’t been together long, or nottogether… I mean…” I shake my head and look away, not knowing where I was going with that.

“We’re married, Mia,” Santino says. “We’re together. And yes, not for long, but you know I’m serious about you and us.”

“And I’m the only one? That’s hard to believe.”

“Women have wanted me to be serious about them, but the feeling wasn’t mutual.”

“You know,” I start, sitting up a little straighter, “I don’t know if you think I should automatically feel flattered or thank you or what, but I’d be naive to believe the first man who pursues me is always telling me the truth or is the one for me. And if you’ve never been serious about any woman before me, how do I know I can trust you’re serious now?”

“You think I’m lying to you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Let me start by saying that I’m not telling you things so you’ll feel flattered. I’m just being honest with you. Everything I’ve said to you has been the truth, and it will continue to be.I don’t believe in playing games. I don’t have time for games. And as for me being the first man to pursue you, that’s simply because every other man who’s been interested was a coward.”

I smile at that and take a sip of wine. I always did want a man who would be able to stand up to my brothers and not be intimidated or scared away by who they are.

How could I bring any normal guy into this world? He’d never fully be trusted by my family for them to include him in the business, and then he’d end up resenting them and me for something out of my control.

“Is that amusing?” Santino asks me.

“Not amusing, just an interesting choice of words.”

“In what way?”

“I always told myself a man would be worthy of me if he could stand up to my brothers to be with me.”

Santino’s broad smile has my core clenching and my heart beating faster. He looks younger when he smiles like that. Like he has nothing in this world weighing him down.

“Your family doesn’t scare me,farfalla.”

“Oh, I believe you,” I say on a laugh, “and I like that.”

“I’m glad.” If possible, his smile widens, stunning me. I think he knows what he’s doing to me, too, because his eyes twinkle with a knowing gleam, and I’m glad he doesn’t ask what else I like about him, because I’m not ready to admit anything else just yet.

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