Page 55 of Soulmate of the Mafia King
“What next, then?” I asked. “We lay here until Olivia comes back and starts screaming that we are almost out of time?”
He chuckled. “Next,mia cara, we do whatever you want.”
I knew he just meant today. But my mind leapt away from now, from final menu modifications and last-second seating charts, to our real future. On the island together.
Suddenly, my mind filled the villa there with children. One, two, five. All of them laughing. Killian teaching them to play baseball and patching up their injuries. Never missing a birthday. I wanted that so badly it hurt.
Killian stared at me, and I realized I’d been putting off asking him this question because I thought I already knew the answer.Mano Della Mortedidn’t want kids. But maybe this softer side of Killian was a little more flexible. I sucked in a breath and steeled myself.
“What about starting a family?” I asked nervously.
Killian blinked.
CHAPTER 42
PAIGE
Iwalked up the front steps of the imposing manor house Sera shared with Killian for the first time without Tom next to me. Mom and Dad used to get quiet when we drove past the Ricci place, as though Carmine Ricci could hear us from the street. I thought I’d gotten over a lot of that, especially after what happened in Egypt, but a little of the old fear shivered down my spine as I rang the doorbell with the hand not holding the garment bag.
The massive wood door sprang open almost instantly, and Joyce swept me up in a huge hug. I struggled between smiling and choking until she released me.
“Oh, even without the dress you’re beautiful.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Miss Sera and Olivia are upstairs already. Go, join them.” She shooed me away.
I laughed as I fled up the massive staircase and thanked God Sera texted me directions through the house before I started the drive over. Joyce was too excited to help me navigate the mausoleum, and “upstairs” didn’t exactly get me to the closet/dressing room Sera told me she’d be in. Still, following those, I found my way before too long. Laughter floated out of the open door, returning the smile to my face before I walked in.
“Paige!” Sera flung herself up off a poofy chair to engulf me in another hug. “I’m so glad you agreed to come.”
I laughed. “I’m in the bridal party. I couldn’t say no to getting ready for the bachelorette party together.”
“No, you couldn’t,” Olivia said as she stepped out from behind a painted screen. “Thoughts?”
Sera squeezed me one last time and turned away. The neon green dress hugged Olivia’s every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination, but the color?
“Eh!” Sera said in her best impersonation of a game show buzzer. “Washes you out. Try the next one.”
“Glad to see you’re already settling into bridezilla.” I hung my garment bag on one of the surprisingly spare racks. “You know, I really thought you’d have more clothes than this.”
She laughed as she returned to her poofy chair and opened an eyeshadow palette. “This is just the dressing room for the wedding. Anything Killian can’t see.”
“So then why are we in here now?” I crossed my arms and leaned against a shelf of shoes.
“Because Patrick can’t see me,” Olivia replied. “What about this one?”
She stepped out in an equally fitted, equally sultry dress, this time in a smoky gray with dark gemstones dripping down the side.
“Much better,” I said. “Why does Patrick matter?”
She giggled. “Killian asked him to guard us tonight, and he asked me to surprise him.”
Sera finished swiping gold over one eyelid and turned. “Now that’s a surprise. But the green wasn’t totally awful in small doses. I think I have a pair of heels in that color that will bring up the excitement and make it impossible for him to look away.”
Olivia grinned. “Perfect.”
“So things are going well?” I asked as I stepped behind the screen to change into my one choice. Bras, shoes, and dresses covered the floor back there.
“They’re almost perfect.” Olivia sighed. “But we both have such demanding jobs that it’s hard to have time for fun like this.”
“You’ll have more time soon,” Sera said.
