Page 100 of Desperate Actions

Letting her squirm under the weight of everything that just passed between us.

And fuck if it isn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Then she takes a breath, shifts in her seat, like she’s building up to something.

“Sammy?”

Her voice drops to a whisper.

I match her tone.

“What?”

She licks her lips, her fingers tightening slightly around mine.

“Are you sure?”

I know exactly what she’s asking.

I cup her face, run my thumb over her cheek, and kiss her gently.

Once.

Then again.

Then one more time, slower, deeper, letting her feel the truth in my touch.

Then I press one last kiss to her forehead before resting mine against hers.

“I'm sure, Aella.”

I stroke her jaw, my fingers curling beneath her chin, lifting her face to mine.

“Never been so sure about anything in my life.”

Chapter 24-Aella

Dinner at the Ramirez estate isn’t nearly as bad as I expected.

At first, there was an undercurrent of tension, the kind only men who have sized each other up for years can create.

My father and Sammy’s.

My father and Sammy.

My father and, basically, everyone who ever looked at me too long.

But then Ellie brought out the first course, and scowling while shoveling her famous sourdough focaccia into their mouths proved too difficult.

Because holy hell—that sourdough?

Life-changing.

I take a bite, my eyes fluttering closed as the flavors dance across my tongue. The tang of the sourdough, the richness of olive oil, the pop of sea salt, basil, and plum tomatoes.

“This is delicious, Mrs. Ramirez,” I murmur, savoring it.

Ellie laughs a soft, motherly sound.

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