Page 63 of Hidden Rocco
His lips curled into a sexy grin. “No. She’s already weak from her first treatment, and I want her to know she has to rally and be strong, for me. She wants to meet you.”
Her eyes widened as she pressed her hand to her heart. “Me?”
Rocco’s gaze narrowed and for one second she had tingles like he saw the real her until he said, “You’re the angel who fixed my life.”
An angel wasn’t human and maybe this was the issue. She’d offered her heart but he didn’t want that. Now she had to let go, which was the opposite of what she normally did in this situation. She sipped her wine. “I did it so you would help me. You saved Jacob today.”
His face grew shadows and he put his almost untouched glass down. “No, you did.”
She'd run out of the bathroom, seeing Bear punching Rocco, Mo reaching for Jacob. Her heart had lurched and she'd made a beeline for her suitcase as the men struggled.
Rocco had cradled Jacob with his body just as she'd pulled the trigger at Mo.
While she was a trained shot, she’d never had to fire under that much pressure.
Ever.
She glanced at her precious son and put her glass next to Rocco’s. “I shot a man in the side. You dove in front to shield my baby.”
He shifted toward her, his shoulders and guard up as he said, “I promised I’d protect you both.”
Right. Every cell in her body screamed that she needed to convince him to stay. She had to find the words, but instead she sighed and said, “Then everything I did for you is paid back. I won’t mind if you want to stay with your mother.”
He pressed against her elbow and she glanced up at him as he said, “I want to stay with you.”
Her mind buzzed. She must have misheard so she stared at his lips and asked, “What did you say?”
His touch sent shockwaves of awareness through her. “I want to stay but I don’t have money.”
Unless he had some business idea that took off that would never change, but she didn't care.
Money was her own form of prison. He'd be fine the rest of his days even without her. “Actually the wrongful imprisonment settlement will be coming in soon.”
“That doesn’t make me your equal,” he said, and she swore she heard his heart beating in rhythm with hers as he stood so close.
If only she was just a woman standing here now, but that wasn’t ever going to be true. Her hair stood on end. “A bank account doesn’t make anyone an equal. It tends to make men… well no one I want to be near, and I don’t want Jacob to transform into a spoiled boy because he gets whatever he wants.”
Awareness grew in her belly as Rocco came even closer and their bodies were touching despite the layers of clothes. “Good, because all I have to offer is my love.”
This wasn’t what she thought would happen for her. Ever.
Did this mean he’d stay here with her? Her lips opened but the question didn’t come out. All she could ask was, “What?”
He took her hand. “I love you. You’re brave, smart, and wonderful.”
“But I’m demanding and bossy.” She sealed her lips. In business she knew better than to talk bad about herself as it showed weakness.
He kissed her palm and held it to his chest. “You are, but it’s part of your charm. I just can't figure out what I bring into your life.”
“You,” she said, her eyes wide. Didn’t he see he was amazing and perfect for her?
He lowered his head but stayed an inch away so she didn’t quite think he’d kiss her. Her body was ready though. “When you were taken back by the colorful butterflies at the park, and the nest of birds, I figured out that you don’t notice natural beauty around you.”
She let out a small laugh and squeezed his hand, wanting kiss as she went on her tiptoes. “I don’t have the time.”
He swallowed and his Adam's apple flexed. He took a breath and she wondered if he was nervous as he said, “So besides protecting you, I’ll happily point out flowers and appreciation...If you’ll have me.”
Seriously? She jumped up and hugged him. “Then we’ve just made the best deal. I love you. We’ve only kissed a couple times.”
