Page 91 of Hard Lessons

“Luca!”

He swung his axe into the stump before him and turned in the direction of his first property purchase—a crofter’s cottage, complete with thatched roof, inglenook fireplace, and sash windows.

Serena stood in the doorway, a muslin draped over one shoulder. She shielded her eyes and looked his way.

“Be there in a minute,” he called, then grabbed his t-shirt from the fence post.

As he walked to the cottage, Florence, their collie dog, bounded up to him.

“Hey,bella.” He ruffled her hair as she wound around his legs. “You been keeping an eye out?”

Her tongue lolled and she wagged her tail.

As was his habit he glanced at their long driveway. A hilly nine-acre field rested to the right of it, soon to be occupied with sheep. And to the left a poly tunnel filled with seedlings ready for their vegetable patch. But it was the clear drive that gave Luca the most pleasure. No one to come visiting except a local to trade produce or favors—favors of the legal kind—or a neighbor wanting to pass the time of day over a whiskey or two.

Luca had developed quite a taste for the peaty flavor of Scotch whiskey.

“Everything okay?” he called to Serena.

She smiled and nodded.

How the hell had he gotten so damn lucky? Not only was his wife stunning, girly and sexy all perfectly presented in one sweet package, she also had a damn smart head on her shoulders.

Setting up their new life without a paper trail hadn’t been easy. It had cost a chunk of money, and they’d had to cover every ‘what-if.’ But now, a year and a half down the line, they were allowing themselves to exhale. To finally just be, and let their souls exist in this beautiful corner of the world.

“He’s asleep,” Serena said, placing one hand on her waist and jutting her hip. “Finally.”

Luca smiled. “Good.”

He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her close.

“Ick, you’re all sweaty.” She laughed and pressed her palms on his chest.

“You don’t usually complain.”

She reached up and kissed him, sliding her hands to his jawline and holding him close.

He gripped her closer, her taste instantly sending blood to his groin. “How long do you think he’ll sleep?”

“A good couple of hours.” She swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. “You know Samuel, if he’s up half the night, he’ll sleep half the day.”

“Takes after his father.” Luca smiled, his heart swelling with love at the mention of his son.

“These days you’re awake in the day and asleep at night, the way normal folk are.”

“I’m trying my hardest to be normal.”

“You never will be, not completely.” She laughed.

He brought his hand down on her ass, enjoying the way she jumped upward and her eyes widened. “Are you cheeking me, wife?”

“I’m stating a fact.”

“Mmm.” He kissed her again, a rush of all the deliciously dirty things they could do in a few hours flooding his mind.

“You know what we talked about the other week,” she said, her voice soft, a little hesitant too.

“Remind me.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

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