Page 121 of Ruthless Lord
But now it’s ours. An old building, renovated a couple years back, but retaining most of its original charm. Empty now, but soon it’ll be filled with laughter and joy. I mean, eventually. In a few years. When the baby’s grown at least.
“And we can start the night nurse whenever you’re ready.”
“Give me another month. I’m not at my breaking point yet.”
“You know, it’s usually better to do this sort of thing before you get there.”
“I don’t take advice from an old man carrying heavy furniture up narrow stairs all alone.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
I lean against his shoulder. He wraps an arm around me and I smile. Our little family. Everything’s new, but everything’s good. My father’s been keeping his promises and his alliance with the Marinos has been profitable all around. Stefano’s still happy running the warehouse and hasn’t been tempted back into the ring, not even when it looked like Sterling was going to break his record. We have a network of friends and family, and I’m starting to really understand why this whole famiglia thing is so appealing to people.
“Albert’s been bugging me about when you’re coming back to work,” Stefano says after a little while.
“Don’t most people get four months off?”
“Something like that.”
“Tell him I’ll come back when I want to come back.”
“Do you?” His eyebrows raise.
I hesitate, frowning, not sure how to answer. Milly makes a happy gurgling noise and I realize she fell asleep. I get her off the boob and cover up, cradling her in my arms. I love that stupid happy milky face she makes. It’s the most adorable thing in the entire world and makes me feel warm in a way I didn’t even know was possible. Most people call those hormones. But who the hell cares where it comes from? All I know is, it’s happening, and I like it.
“I don’t really care,” I say eventually. I glance at my husband, worried he’ll be upset, but he barely reacts. “Is that bad?”
“Not at all.”
“But you like it when I’m working there with you.”
“I love it.”
“So you’ll be unhappy if I stop?”
“Not really.”
“I feel like I’m having a conversation with a drunk brick wall.”
“Didn’t know brick walls could drink.”
“Look in the mirror and know the truth.”
He sighs, shaking his head, idly stroking Milly’s chubby leg. “I want you to be happy. Selfishly, yes, it’d be great if we worked at the warehouse together. But I don’t actually care, so long as you feel fulfilled.”
“That’s what I want, you know. To feel fulfilled. Like I know what I’m doing.”
“Then take as much time as you need and figure it out.”
I stare at my daughter. And I start to wonder if I haven’t gotten there already without realizing it.
“Tell Albert I’ll come back part-time if he agrees to switch over the accounting software.”
Stefano groans. “I thought the software wars were over.”
“I have leverage now.”
“I’ll run it past him, okay? But I’m not getting in the middle.”
