Page 56 of Ruthless Boss

Tears well up in my eyes, and I completely surrender to the emotions bubbling inside me. I love AJ. I want to be in her life, any way Dante will let me. I can’t give up on her completely. Hell, I don’t want to give up on him, either.

Though Dante is more complicated. Besides, maintaining a relationship with a baby is way easier than with an adult. A chuckle floats up my throat.

The sound of the door opening yanks me from my thoughts. I look up to find Dante striding into his retreat, with Katie following behind.

“Having fun?” he asks, walking up to us.

“Catching up.” I smooth my hand over my shirt. I opted for a casual gray shirt and matching sweatpants since I’m not allowed to go anywhere. Not that I’d want to be out now, anyway. Until this situation with Santini is solved, I’m prioritizing safety.

It’s funny. I longed for my freedom, was one step closer to it after I left Ciro and started my plan to save money. Then, when I ended up in Tulip, living alone, studying, with enough financial dependence to last a lifetime, I missed the feelings I experienced when I was with Dante and AJ. I realize now. That he gave me a different kind of freedom. A kind I never expected.

“I’ll give AJ her bath,” Katie says, carefully lifting the baby from the floor and leaving us alone.

“How are you?” Dante asks, sitting next to me on the rug.

I suck in a breath and accidentally catch a whiff of his masculine scent, fresh and crisp. “That’s a loaded question. Happy to be back, and sad because of what happened. And worried.”

I give him a lingering glance and internally add,and horny.Man, does he look good in the fitted pants, dark shirt, and leather jacket. A spark of arousal flits through me, but I clear my throat and look away. I need to focus. We haven’t talked about us, what the future holds, or anything.

I assume he kept quiet because he wanted me to rest and not worry too much. What if there’s another reason? He told me about how he wasn’t able to commit to AJ’s mom.

“Happy to be back… do you mean it? I thought you loved your new life.”

“I did… I just missed AJ.”

“Is AJ all you missed?”

My heart thrums in my chest, but I don’t want to make it easy for him. “Why don’t you tell me what it was like for you when I was gone? Katie seems fantastic,” I manage to say casually.

“Katie is all right. But she’s not you.”

My pulse skitters. “Yeah?”

He reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and takes out a rectangular velvet box wrapped with a silver bow. “For you,” he says, kneeling next to me and offering me the gift.

Surprised, I carefully unwrap the bow as a nervous chuckle escapes my throat. I open the box, and the sparkle of a diamond tennis bracelet greets me. I pick it up. Wow. It’s beautiful.

“Read inside,” he says.

I accept his suggestion, bring the bracelet closer to my face, and read the engraved words.Not. Every. Girl.

“Gorgeous,” I whisper.

Pure, unfiltered hope wells up inside me, and I stare at him as he helps me secure the bracelet on my wrist.

“I missed you. I had a man track you while you were away… I told myself it was because I needed to ensure you were safe, but I also needed to know how you were doing. Every time Randy texted me updates, I experienced a giant wave of heat, of regret, of longing. I wanted to call you to get you back. But I was scared.”

“You were?” I’m entranced by his words and note his verb tense. Hewasscared. Is he not anymore?

He leans closer to me, his gaze on mine. “I’ve never felt this way before.” He catches my hand and presses it against his heart. The second I feel his erratic beats, a zing of awareness shoots through my wrist and spreads within me as if touching his heart ignites my immediate, organic response. “I love you, Gia.”

He stares at me, dipping his head like he’s searching for a better angle to study my response.

My heart stops working for a beat or two. My entire body comes to a halt.

“You love me,” I repeat like I’m learning a different language. Having this amazing man so close to me, telling me these things, is the coveted lottery prize I never bought a ticket for. Never even believed life would award me. But… maybe he didn’t either.

Not women loving him. I’m sure he’s experienced that—but him loving them back? I don't think so.

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