Page 53 of His Vow
I nod my agreement, even though I hate the thought of leaving Lucia when everything is going so well for us. We’ve taken a long time to reach the point of declaring our love for each other, butwe’re still figuring out how we meld our lives together. Though I don’t say any of this to Gio.
Instead, I pick up the document and stand. “What time tomorrow?”
“I’ll book a car and pick you up at six,” he says, preparing to leave with me. It’s late, and all of our staff left for the day hours ago.
But before he can take one step, I have to ask him the one question that’s bothered me the most about the whole situation. “Do you think our father is involved?”
“No.”
The swiftness of his reply gives me some comfort. But I can’t leave it there.
“Maybe the marriage contract was a distraction to stop us from continuing our investigation?”
“It could be linked or just a coincidence. But I can’t believe our father knew about this and chose to ignore it. Honestly, I think triggering the clause in the contract was him just wanting to piss us off for flexing our business might in the boardroom and making him look weak.”
I nod; that sounds about right. “He and I might not agree on much, but I don’t doubt that everything our father does is for the company. After all, the marriage contract originated from him trying to save the company from being bankrupt.”
“That’s right. Now, I’ll see you tomorrow.” This time I don’t stop him on our way to the door. “And try not to be late,” he warns.
“As if,” I reply, knowing he has every right to throw the old taunt at me when I do tend to be the last one rushing into meetings.
My sideways glance catches the grin painted across every feature of my brother’s face. I’m glad we’ve reached a pointwhere we can mention the marriage contract without any of the old animosity.
Thankfully, that brief blip in our close brotherly bond is long forgotten.
***
“I hate having to leave,” I murmur against my wife’s lips.
“I know, and I hate you going. But this is important. You and Gio need to find out who has been stealing from your company. If that turns out to be someone in the family, then you’ll deal with it, and I’ll be right here supporting you.”
After reading the report, we talked through all the possibilities of who was behind it, all while we ate the delicious chicken cacciatore she’d cooked. Luce is way better in the kitchen than me, but we’ve been taking turns on the nights Mary doesn’t cook for us.
“Are you still thinking you’ll fly to Paris for a few days? If you do, let me know, and I’ll arrange for a private jet to fly you to Florence when you’re done.” I hug her tighter.
“Stop worrying. I did live by myself in Paris for years. I’m sure I can survive one week alone.” She yawns, the lingering tiredness from last night still evident. I tuck the covers tighter around her.
“I’ll miss you,” I whisper close to her ear while breathing in the faint scent of her perfume. Luce, as my best friend, has always been important to me. But as my wife, I hate the thought of us being so far apart. She’s become more necessary to me than my next breath.
A gentle press of my lips to hers and my heart races. She’s become the regulator of that muscle in my chest, and maybe that was always the case; it merely took a while for me to realize that. My hand slides farther around her back, pulling her closer as my tongue delves deeper, swallowing her kisses.
Fuck, I can’t get enough of her. Every touch and taste leave me needing more.
She slides her mouth from mine, gasping. “You’re going to be late,” she says, but her fingers remain twisted in the fabric of my shirt, clinging to me like she doesn’t want to let go either. And I’m okay with that.
The cell buzzes in the pocket of my jacket, and without bothering to look at it, I know it’s Gio waiting in the town car downstairs.
A groan of displeasure slips out as I loosen my hold. “That’ll be Gio.”
The sultry smile she gives me doesn’t help.
“I’ll call when we land. I love you, beautiful.”
Her lips stretch wider as she beams back at me. “I love you too, big-guy.”
And with that, I pick up the suit carrier and bag I dropped earlier at the bedroom door and leave.
Downstairs in the car, I’ve barely got my seat belt buckled before Gio has turned sideways with a huge grin plastered across his face. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
