Page 78 of Replay
First, I glance at myself in the mirror. Leggings and a ripped T-shirt. Not my most fashionable look, but I don’t really have time to give a toss right now.
Next, I rush downstairs to see if Freya and Mac have returned home from their scan yet. They haven’t. Thank God. If Mac’s going to blow a gasket, I want to make sure that Freya is out of the line of fire at the very least. And since there’s no sign of Santino yet, maybe I can catch him when he arrives and calm down the situation.
Pacing the house, I decide on a whim to panic clean while waiting for Santino to arrive. I waffle from straightening the furry throw pillows to nervously peering out the window along with the judgmental eyes of Hercules that follow my every move.
“Oh, now you’re not afraid of me?” I ask, glowering at the fat orange cat seated on the credenza in front of the window. “Now that I’m a total disaster and putting on a show for you, you’re suddenly interested? Where’s your popcorn?”
His whiskers flicker annoyingly.
I roll my eyes. “That’s what I thought.”
Santino’s car finally pulls up just as I debate pulling the curtains down for a quick wash, so instead, I rush out to meet him at the curb.
“Now or never, Tilly,” Santino growls, striding around his car and marching toward the front door.
“Let’s go for a drive and talk about this like proper grown-ups first.” I grab his arm and try to pull him back to the vehicle.
“You’re the one acting like a child, not me,” he booms, jerking his arm out of my grip. Dammit if I don’t get a thrill of heat between my legs at his forceful tone.
He marches up the front steps and wrenches the door open. Hercules takes off at mach speed for the bedroom, clearly exceeding his daily rations for drama.
“Are you happy? You’ve upset Hercules.”
“Where’s Mac?” Santino seethes, turning his dark eyes on me.
“He’s not here.” I cross my arms nervously as I stand in front of the staircase.
Santino narrows his eyes at me. “Bollocks, you’re acting nervous.” He moves me out of his way and thumps up the stairs.
“He’s not up here!” I call out after him, having trouble keeping up. Christ, he’s fast in that sexy suit.
He reaches the landing and pauses at the nursery, doing a cursory glance like he’s a copper sweeping a house for criminals. Then he opens the door to my room. He walks inside, taking in my display of photos up on the wall. He turns quizzical eyes on me. “He’s really not here?”
“No.” I step inside to close the door. “Do you feel like an eejit yet for marching in here like a psychopath?”
He blinks back at me, his dark eyes swimming with disappointment. “A bit.”
I exhale heavily as I witness reasonable Santino returning to the universe. I step towards him and wrap my arms around his neck. “We will tell my brother, but right now, he and Freya are having scans done on the baby.”
“Fine.” He closes his eyes and wraps his arms around me, squeezing me in a big bear hug. He presses his nose into the area below my neck and inhales deeply like he’s trying to reacquaint himself with my smell. His voice is soft and pained when he says, “This is real to me, Tilly. This isn’t a game.”
“This is real to me too,” I reply defensively.
He pulls back and a nervousness sweeps across his face as he blinks back at me with a horrified look on his face. “Tilly?”
“What?” My entire body erupts in goosebumps because I’m terrified of what he’s going to say next.
He inhales sharply and says, “Mi sono innamorato di te.”
“What?” My brows furrow. “What did you just say? You want Indian takeaway again?”
His Adam’s apple slides down his throat before he replies shakily, “I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“What?” I gasp.
The muscle in his jaw jumps as he straightens and repeats softly, “I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“I heard that part.” I blink rapidly up at his stupidly beautiful face.
