Page 121 of Ruined By Protection
Hazel stares down at the pasta, her expression changing from resistance to ravenous. "This looks amazing, Ettore."
"Taste! Taste!" he urges, hovering nearby like an anxious nanny.
I twirl pasta around my fork, watching Hazel do the same. She wraps those lips around it and the sound that escapes her is pure indulgence—a low, appreciative moan that sends me shivers.
"Oh my god," she breathes, eyes drooping briefly. "This is incredible."
Ettore claps his hands together in delight. "You see? The secret sauce is juniper berries and just a touch of dark chocolate."
I lean closer to Hazel, my lips brushing her ear as I whisper, "If I'd known pasta could make you sound like that I would have fed you some much sooner."
Her cheeks flush pink and she nudges me with her elbow, the small smile playing at the corner of her mouth tells me she’s enticed.
"If you two want to give an old man a heart attack," Ettore grumbles, waving a wooden spoon at us, "there are more merciful ways than canoodling at my kitchen counter."
Hazel's blush deepens but she laughs—a genuine sound that lightens my current stress load. These moments of normal domesticity feel precious, stolen from the jaws of everything dark that surrounds us.
"Sorry, Ettore," I say, not feeling sorry at all. "Your ragu is just that good that it inspiresamore."
"Bah!" He waves dismissively but I can see he's pleased. "Eat, eat. You both look like you need it."
We keep eating, savoring each bite. Under the counter I rest my hand on Hazel's knee, needing the connection.
"Thank you," she says softly, her hazel eyes meeting mine.
"For the pasta? I can't take credit for Ettore's cooking," I reply with a small smile.
She shakes her head, reaching out to place her hand over mine where it rests on her knee. "Not for the food. For everything." Her voice carries a weight that makes my chest expand. "For believing me about Elliott’s abuse. For protecting my family. For..." she pauses, searching for words, "for caring about what happens to me."
Her tone makes me set my fork down and turn fully toward her. Sensing the shift in mood, Ettore quietly busies himself at the far end of the kitchen, giving us privacy.
"Hazel," I say, popping a forkful of pappardelle smothered with meaty sauce into her mouth. Replaying our very first meeting.. "You don't need to thank me for that."
"But I do." Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "Most people in my life... looked the other way. Even when they must have suspected something was wrong. My friends stopped calling when Elliott made it clear he didn't approve. The country club wives gossiped behind my back. Nobody wanted to get involved."
Rage burns low in my gut at the thought of her isolation but I keep my voice supportive. "That's not care, bella. That's basic human decency."
"Is it?" A sad smile touches her lips. "Because I've found it's actually pretty rare."
I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles. Her skin smells faintly of the rosemary soap from the guest bathroom.
"You've had the wrong people in your life," I tell her simply.
She studies my face as if memorizing every line and angle. "I keep expecting you to tell me this is too much trouble. That I'm not worth all this... complication."
The vulnerability in her voice slices me like a blade. I think of all the casual hookups, the women I've kept at arm's length over the years. The careful distance I've maintained. None of them ever made me feel like this—like I'd tear the world apart with my bare hands if that's what it took to keep her safe.
"Hazel." I cup her face with one hand, my thumb brushing her cheekbone. "You're not a complication. You're the only thing that makes sense to me right now."
A tear escapes, tracking down her cheek until it meets my thumb. I lift it away gently.
"I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you in my life," she whispers.
"You survived," I tell her, my voice rough with emotion. "You kept going. You found the courage to leave when most people wouldn't. That's not nothing, Hazel."
She leans into my touch, her eyes closing briefly. When she opens them again there's a resilience that wasn't present before.
"I'm scared about tonight," she admits. "Not only about Elliott. I'm scared of what happens after. Of who I'll be when this is all over."
