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“It’s okay,farfalla,” he rasps, his voice rough and full of everything I’m feeling. “It’s enough for me tonight. Trust me.”

Santino walks us back to bed with me in his arms, and tucks me back in. When he joins me this time, he doesn’t keep his distance. He slides to the middle of the bed and hooks his arm around my waist to pull me right up against him.

“No more space,” he says gruffly. “It about killed me to keep my distance every time I came to bed.”

I settle my head against his chest and come to realize he’s not wearing a shirt. Was he not wearing a shirt this entire time and I was too angry and wound up to notice? Has he been sleeping next to me with no shirt on every night and I’ve been missing out on the view?

“I can feel you thinking,” he says. “Just sleep, Mia.”

I take a deep breath, inhaling his masculine scent, then release it slowly.

A few minutes go by, and I’m not sure if he’s asleep or not, but I have to tell him the truth. The blanket of darkness gives me the little bit of strength I need to whisper, “I don’t regret anything we did. I shouldn’t have said that. I woke up and started freaking out, and then took it out on you because I could. I’m sorry.”

Santino skims his fingers up and down my spine and kisses the side of my head. “Thank you,” he whispers, the relief in his voice evident.

Chapter 19

Mia

I walk into the kitchen hoping to see Santino sitting at the counter, but there’s a note instead.

My beautiful Mia,

I wish I didn’t have to work today. I already know I won’t be able to focus when I can’t stop thinking about last night.

I’ve left you the name and number for a spa nearby. I’ve booked you in for the day, so choose whatever treatments you’d like.

My driver, Vince, will escort you to and from the spa, but then I’m taking you to dinner tonight and a surprise afterward, so be ready at 6:30, looking sexy. That shouldn’t be hard for you at all,farfalla.

~ Santino

A spa day? How thoughtful of him. And he’s taking me on a date tonight? Smiling, I clutch his note to my chest. Today is going to be a good day. The first I’ve had in what seems like a lifetime.

* * * *

I spent longer than I should have getting ready for dinner with Santino, but the butterflies in my stomach are telling me I’m just a girl who wants to look good for her husband.

My husband.

I’m going on my first datewithmy husband, and it’s my first date ever. EVER.

After last night, there’s no going back. Not that I want to, but now the butterflies of excitement are taking flight, leaving in their place a tangled knot of nerves.

I don’t know how to date Santino. I don’t know how to date anyone.

My breathing starts to become shallow and I grip the edge of the bathroom counter. But before it can become a full-blown panic attack, Santino appears in the doorway, freshly showered and dressed impeccably in a dark grey suit that’s tailor-made for him.

He looks amazing, delectable, handsome, sexy.

He looks…like he’s mine. All mine.

“Farfalla,” he says seductively, the low timbre of his voice making that knot in my stomach loosen, “you’re breathtakingly beautiful. Stunning.”

I feel my cheeks heat under his awe-filled gaze, and it reminds me of how he looked at me while I was walking down the aisle – wanted, desired, and without a doubt, beautiful.

“Thank you,” I say softly, letting my eyes travel over every inch of him. “You look really handsome.”

His answering smile momentarily stuns me. This gorgeous man must have hit his head at some point to want me the way he does.

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