Page 115 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

Damn right, she was his. And he would do whatever it took to keep her in his life. Smiling, he continued watching her eat.Today, he’d romance his woman. Tomorrow, he’d fuck up her ex-husband.

Prince Charming and the villain -there was no reason why he couldn’t be both.

Chapter Twenty-Four

ORAZIO

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“Dream World Aquarium?” Monique asked as Orazio pulled into the parking space.

“Yes,” he told her, noticing the shocked expression on her face. “What do you have against the aquarium?” He chuckled after removing his keys from the ignition. She truly looked surprised. Had he chosen the wrong place for their outing?

“Nothing. It’s just...” She went silent and stared at the building like she’d never seen an aquarium before. “I didn’t peg you as the aquarium type of guy.”

Raz leaned against the seat to stare at his Rose. “Where did you expect me to take you on our outing? To the gun range?”

Monique faced him. “Um, kind of. That does fit your personality more than the aquarium.”

He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It seems you need to get to know me better, Monique Rose.”

“It seems I do, Orazio Cattaneo.”

He rested his hand against her cheek. She leaned into his touch as a beautiful smile spread across her face. No woman had ever made his heart race with just a smile. No woman had ever made his heart race, period, except for this woman.

One touch from her calmed him while driving him wild at the same time. She was his strength and his weakness. The reason he smiled, but also the reason he frowned. He smiled because she was his.

He frowned because he feared losing her. He was at constant war with himself. But when she stared at him like this, the warring stopped, and he was able to focus only on her smile.

“I love you,” he whispered.

She lifted her head and pressed a kiss to his palm. A first for him.

“I’m falling for you,” she told him.

“Just say you love me.”

“It’s too soon.”

“Do you think it took the ocean years to figure out it loved the moon?”

Monique smiled. “Don’t get all poetic on me.”

“I’ve gone my whole life not believing in love, real love. And then I saw you and instantly knew I had to meet you. I heard your voice and instantly knew I wanted to have a conversation with you. I felt your touch and knew I wanted to feel this forever. I saw your smile and knew I needed you in my life. I see the way you look at me, the way you touch me. This is real, Monique. And I don’t need a few more months to verify it. I know it right now. And you do, too. Don’t you?”

She swallowed. “I’ve made this mistake before and...”

“I’m not him. You’re not her. You’re more confident and stronger than you were back then. Aren’t you?”

She nodded.

“I love you, Monique,” Raz told her. “I’m not asking you to marry me.”Yet. “I just want to hear how you truly feel.”

Her gaze searched his. He could see the indecision in her eyes.Shit. He was doing it again. Forcing her to do what hewanted. When would he learn? Just as he was about to tell her he could wait for her to say those words, she spoke.

“I love you too, Orazio Cattaneo.”

For a moment, he sat there in the driver’s seat, staring at her. She’d admitted it. Finally. He wanted to smile like a kid on Christmas morning, but he had to play it cool. Monique Rose loved him. Him!

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