Page 62 of Captivating

“Ladies.” Rome salutes before he walks over to the sink and washes his hands, then shows them to Rosie for inspection. “Look. No peanut butter.”

She smiles and nods, then reaches her arms up for a hug.

“I keep telling you it’s gross, Rome.”

He sits her on his hip and laughs. “I know, but I love it.”

“Did you eat it today?” She asks and smiles when he tells her no, then kisses his cheek.

But it’s not Rosie’s smile that could knock me over.

It’s Lilah’s.

It’s the way she watches the interaction. With longing. Though I’m not sure for what.

Maverick grabs the plates from the cabinet like it’s his house. “You two eating dinner?”

“Yes,” Rome answers as I say, “No.”

“Aww, don’t be a party pooper, Killer,” Dillan teases as she places a wooden salad bowl on the kitchen table. “Rosie just taught us how to make Nonna’s sauce.”

When my eyes find Lilah’s, so damn soft and hesitant, it just about kills me.

Like she wants something, but she’s scared to ask for it.

“Yeah, champ. Don’t be a party pooper,” she whispers, and I’m done for. It’s the closest she’s come to asking me for anything since she asked me to protect her.

“Okay,” I give in and watch Lilah’s teeth graze over her lip in an attempt to hide her smile. “But I think Rome should have to do the dishes.”

“What?” he sputters. “Why me?”

“Yup,” I steal Rosie from him and kiss the top of her head.

“Because we cooked,” Maverick hands Rome the plates and grabs a pitcher of water.

“Killian didn’t cook,” he argues.

“Killian lives here,” Lilah says softly. “He gets a pass. Now eat before it gets cold.”

I look over the top of Rosie’s head at this woman who never stops surprising me, but she looks away.

Yeah... It’s long past time I do something about this.

There’s a knock about working out in Lilah’s gym.

Knowing she’s upstairs.

In one way, it’s a good thing. I know she’s safe.

In another way, it’s torture—because I know she’s upstairs.

Mav and Rosie stuck around until Rosie started yawning.

Rome and Dillan left separately just after that.

Not that Rome didn’t try to leave together, but Dillan shot that shit down.

It was epic.

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