Page 78 of Code Name: Dante

“You’re surly.” My mother turned to look over at Lark, who sat beside her mom. “You’re used to having her all to yourself. In due time, my son. She has years to make up.”

As if she’d heard us, Lark put her hand on Summer’s arm, stood, and walked over to us.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Sandro needs attention.”

I scowled at my mother’s back as she walked away.

“There’s something I wanted to run by you,” said Lark, putting her hand on my arm.

I turned to face her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Yes.”

She giggled. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard her do so since reuniting with her mother, and I had to admit there were only a handful of sounds she made that I liked better. All of which I’d heard when she and I were naked in each other’s arms. “I haven’t told you what it is yet.”

“It doesn’t matter. If there’s something you want or need, the answer will always be yes.”

“Good. Then, it’s settled.” She turned out of my arms, but I caught her before she got more than a foot away.

“Please tell me it doesn’t involve me being away from you for longer than, say, another hour?”

“Come over here.” She took my hand, led me to a window, and pointed. “See that cabin right over there?”

“Yes.”

“That’s where you and I will be staying for the rest of our time here.”

My eyes opened wider. “Who else is staying there?”

“No one. Oh, and your mom and mine offered to help Gram make her sauce for dinner tonight. I think they’re going to teach Chiara how to make it too.”

“Yeah? What about you?”

“I’ll be busy.” She motioned with her head. “Over there. In the cabin. With you.”

“It’s called a camp,” said Alice, bumping Lark with her hip as she passed by. “Or, in your case, we might rename it thelove shack.”

“When can we leave?” I asked, pulling her body flush with mine.

“As soon as you pack your things.”

I raised a brow. “I can be ready in under five minutes. What about you?”

“See those bags by the door?”

I looked in that direction. “Yeah?”

“Those are mine.”

I leaned forward, kissed her, then raced upstairs to throw what little I’d unpacked into my bag after brushing my teeth. I thought about changing my shirt but doubted I’d be wearing it much longer anyway. At least I hoped not.

“It looks like someone lit a fire,”I said, noticing the smoke coming out of the chimney as we walked down the path.

“You can thank Alice tomorrow. She also made sure we had plenty of food, along with coffee and tea.”

“I love Alice,” I said, nuzzling her neck. “But nowhere near as much as I love you.”

She gave me a quick kiss, then unlocked the door.

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