Page 18 of The Mobster's Nanny

I look up at Liss who is nervously waiting in front of me. "Grab his leash, and I'll get the car key. We're going to the vet."

She nods without any questions or complaints, and I can't help the spark of satisfaction in my mind. I'm seeing things, of course. Her obedience in a stressful situation doesn't mean anything—and yet I feel an odd kind of excitement in my step all the way to the second floor.

I just can’t help myself, and as we take Dolce to the car I slip a few calm but clear orders into the process. Liss obeys them without a hitch, and the satisfaction in me grows. She can be such a good—

Damn it.

I'm being weird again.

All I'm doing is pushing her away, so I have to pull myself together and leave the girl alone.

We spend the short ride to the vet clinic with a small, meaningless talk that Liss seems to keep up just to calm her nerves. I have to admit, it’s been a pleasant surprise to watch her being so caring and worried about Dolce. Of course, I wish there was nothing to worry about in the first place, but as it is I'm glad to see that her heart is as open and genuine as I thought.

As it turns out, though, the whole ordeal was for nothing—and thank god for that. When we present Dolce to the vet he immediately attempts to jump on her and knocks over a plastic jar with his vigorously wagging tail. Mrs. Jones only laughs at him, and after a quick exam and a few questions to Liss, she gives us her verdict.

"Looks like he ate too much grass." She pats his head and turns to us with a big smile. "It'll come out on its own, don't worry. If you notice something's wrong, call me, okay? But he should get better in a day or two."

And as if teasing us, by the time we get out of the clinic, Dolce is already trudging ahead of us with his tail swaying high in the air. God, this silly boy. I can't help but give him extra pets when he jumps into the car, and Dolce wags his tail and pants in excitement.

"Well, that was a car ride for fun." I chuckle, turn the engine on, and look around before driving out of the parking spot.

"Sorry," Liss says all of a sudden, and I even slow down in the middle of the parking lot to look at her in bewilderment.

"For what?"

"For making a mess out of nothing."

She's not even looking at me, staring out the window with a frown, and I can see how tightly her hands are clenched. She looks upset, probably at herself, and my gaze lingers on her face for a moment longer than it should. It makes something in my chest tighten, and god, why do I feel so enamored every time I look at her?

"Well, I'm glad you've made what you call a mess.” I chuckle with what hopefully sounds like encouragement. “If something was wrong with Dolce, I wouldn't even know until it would be too late."

Liss finally looks at me, meeting my gaze, and I see a hint of a smile on her lips. "Thanks."

“I think I should be the one thanking you, Liss.”

Shit. Does that sound too cheesy? I really have to learn how to take control of my thoughts in her presence—but when Liss chuckles, finally relaxing in her seat, I feel like it wasn’t too bad of a choice. Despite myself, I smile as well and focus on the road, but the urge to get to know her better—and maybe make her smile again—is too strong.

“Have you ever had a dog? It looks like you know your way around Dolce.” I glance at him through the rearview mirror and see Dolce pushing his nose into the crack in the window with a blissed-out expression. Maybe I should take him on road trips more often.

“Yes, actually, I had a golden retriever when I was a child.” Liss hums with a thoughtful smile on her lips, looking out the window and giving me another chance to look at her face for a second too long. “I still don’t know where my dad found her, but Sweetie lived with us for six years until we had to give her away.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I frown, feeling a pinch of sympathy and sadness. I can’t imagine what it’s like to part with your best friend like that. “What happened to her? Why did you give her away?”

“Ah, well…” Liss hesitates, and I immediately feel like an idiot.

“I didn’t think it through, sorry, I shouldn't have asked,” I hurry to explain myself, but she immediately waves her hand to stop me.

“No, it’s alright. I don’t mind sharing it with you.”

She smiles at me with something brighter, something deeper, in her eyes, and I feel a wave of heat so strong it reaches all the way to the tip of my head. God. It’s been so long since I wanted a woman so badly—but it’s been even longer since my heart felt so alive.

Chapter 6 - Liss

I quietly close the door of Romeo’s room and turn around—only to startle with a loud gasp when I almost bump into Matteo in the middle of the hallway. God, what’s wrong with me? Why does this keep happening?

“Sorry,” he whispers with a grin hot enough to grace the covers of fashion magazines. “Is Romeo asleep?”

“Yeah.” I nod and smile rather awkwardly with my heart still beating frantically in my chest. He doesn’t have to stand so close to me, he really doesn’t. Is it only me or is the temperature in the house too high right now?

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