Chapter 30
ROSE
Sir-Pounce-A-Lot jumps on the bed with a thump as if catapulted from the other side of the room.
I roll over, tugging the duvet with me, last night’s dress open and tangled around my thigh. Inhaling the pillow, the scent of D’Angelo fills my lungs. But he’s nowhere to be seen.
Light shines through the slats of the blind. Sir P paws at my bedding.
I stroke his head, and he rises, pushing against my hand. “You hungry?” As I open the bedroom door, the sizzle of cooking and the aroma of bacon travels up the stairs. My stomach grumbles, but my body tingles at thoughts of last night, and as I pad down the hall, my heart thrums at the sight.
My kitchen has never looked so good, but it’s not the food I’m salivating over.
D’Angelo shirtless in nothing but black boxer shorts is enough to make my mouth water.
I lean against the doorframe as he shakes his hips to whatever music he’s listening to through his ear pods.
I fasten the last button on my dress, fiddling with it as I bite my lip, watching this man in my kitchen.
My stomach flips. But my brother’s words ringing loud in my head douse out the heat in my body.
What would he want with a girl like you?
Are you completely stupid? It's obvious he was using you. I push the thoughts away. I need to believe Dan’s intentions are real.
Because if they aren’t, after last night, I don’t know how I’ll survive him leaving again.
I want to know what sort of music he likes. I want to know everything about him. He told me all this before, but I’m not sure what was real and what was fabricated. We’re both different people now. I know I’ve changed.
Maybe this can work after all. I’d certainly like to see him in my kitchen more often. And my bed. And… everywhere.
He cracks an egg with one hand and drops the contents into the frying pan next to the bacon, then does it again before spinning around to drop the shells in the bin.
He pulls a pod from his ear as he widens his grin. “Hey, you’re up.” His lips press against my cheek. “I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”
“Sounds good. Shall I just go and wait?” I point to the stairs, my smile almost reaching my ears.
“Yeah. Make sure you’re naked, too.”
I roll my eyes, but climb the stairs, my stomach still simmering after last night. Not wanting to pop this bubble, I decide not to mention the ID again. He’ll tell me when he’s ready. Or maybe he won’t, but that’s a problem for another day.
I jump back into bed, fluffing the pillows behind me, grinning to myself as if high on laughing gas. Sir-Pounce-A-Lot settles beside me, curling up like he owns the place. His purr vibrates against my hip as I scratch behind his ear.
“Lazy boy,” I murmur to the cat, though I could say the same for myself, sinking into the warm bedding.
Dan strides in, balancing a tray in one hand like a naked waiter missing his bowtie.
Eggs, bacon, toast, a steaming mug of tea.
A single pink rose, thorns stripped, rests beside the cutlery and a small bowl of strawberries.
He sets the tray across my lap, then drops a kiss onto my lips, lingering just long enough to make my pulse skip.
“Breakfast, as requested,” he announces, his grin flashing wickedly. “Shame you’re not naked like I asked. Toast wasn’t the only thing I wanted to eat this morning.”
“Use your imagination…for now.” I raise a brow while buttering a piece of toast.
“Oh, I’ve got imagination to spare, fiore mio.”
I pluck a strawberry from the bowl and hold it out to him. “Want one?”
Dan scrunches his nose playfully. “Not really a fan.”
I blink. “You chew strawberry gum all the time.”
His grin softens. “Because it reminds me of you. My strawberry gelato girl. The hopeless romantic who turned my whole damn world upside down.”
Warmth fills my chest. “I do things that remind me of you too.”
He caresses my lip with his thumb. “Like setting your house alarm to the date we first met?”
I nod. “I also moved up north to feel closer to you.” Heat flares in my cheeks, but I pop the strawberry into my mouth, grinning around it like an idiot as I lift my buttered toast.
“All this time you’ve been hiding in plain sight.” He leans over, stealing a bite of my toast, his teeth grazing my fingers. His gaze lingers on me, warm and hungry in a way that has nothing to do with the food.
I pretend to scowl. “Oi, that’s mine.”
“Correction,” he replies smoothly, kissing my cheek again, trailing it towards my jaw, “you’re mine. Therefore, so is your toast.”
“You’re a caveman.”
“Maybe. But this caveman makes a mean breakfast.” He plucks a piece of bacon from the plate, popping it into his mouth. His eyes crinkle with amusement.
Sir-Pounce-A-Lot interrupts, batting at the rose petals on the tray with a lazy paw.
“Did you run out to buy me flowers this morning?”
Dan chuckles, reaching over to stroke the cat’s fur. “I snuck over to Mrs. Aranda’s garden and plucked it from her bush.”
“She’s very protective of her roses,” I say, popping a forkful of egg into my mouth.
Dan hums, dragging his fingers slowly down my bare thigh where the dress has ridden up under the tray. “So am I.”
My breath catches slightly, but I keep my cool, lifting my chin. “Careful, D’Angelo. I might get used to this and you being in my bed.”
“Good,” he murmurs, leaning in to steal a kiss. “Because I’ve got no intention of leaving it.”
Our lips meet, slow and soft at first, then deeper, until the tea is forgotten, the breakfast cooling between us, and all I can think about is the way his mouth feels against mine.
Dan pulls the tray off my lap and sets it on the bedside table, ignoring the slight protest from Sir-Pounce-A-Lot, who plays with a stray crust. Dan stretches out beside me, warm and lazy, as if he’s got all the time in the world.
“Right,” he says, linking his fingers behind his head, his biceps flexing in a way that is completely unnecessary and utterly distracting. “We’ve had breakfast in bed. I’ve cooked for you, given you multiple orgasms…” He shoots me a wicked grin. “I’m basically husband material.”
I scoff, but my lips twitch at the corners. “You’re not doing bad. A little full of yourself.”
He rolls onto his side, propping himself on one elbow to look at me properly. “Not full of myself. Just full of plans.”
I arch a brow, pretending not to melt at the way his gaze drags slowly over me, soft and full of things he’s not quite saying yet. “What plans?”
He sighs, brushing a knuckle along my cheek. “Today’s plan is to keep you in bed as long as possible. The next plan is to take you out on a date. I have the perfect place the next time we’re in Rome.” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “But first…”
His hand trails down, fingers brushing along my thigh beneath the tangled hem of my dress, sending a thrill up my spine.
“First?” I prompt, my voice a little breathier than intended.
“First,” he murmurs against my skin, “I find the man who put that doubt in your head.” His tone dips.
“The one who made you think you’re not enough.
I’m guessing he’s the reason you don’t like to be naked with me, and I can’t have that.
I’ll make sure he never so much as looks in your direction again. ”
Emotion catches in my chest, tightening my throat for a moment. But before I can speak, Dan softens the mood again, like he senses my heart stumbling over itself.
“But for now,” he adds with a teasing smile, “I’m going to make you admit you love my co—”
I press my finger to his lips. “I already told you last night I love your cock. How many times does your ego need to hear it?”
“I was going to say cooking.” He bursts out laughing. “But it’s always good to know you love that as well.” He rolls around on the bed, his nose scrunching with a hearty laugh.
“That toast was a little burnt, if I’m being honest.” I laugh, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek. “Don’t worry, you’ve got other talents.”
His eyes darken with heat, but there’s a softness there too. “I plan to remind you of them. Frequently.”
Sir-Pounce-A-Lot leaps onto Dan’s chest, landing with a soft thud and a meow that says get a room.
Dan barks a laugh, ruffling the cat’s fur. “Jealous?”
“He’s just not used to sharing the bed,” I say, scratching behind Sir P’s ear.
“Well, he’d better get used to it,” Dan replies, his gaze steady on mine. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
Something shifts between us. A shared understanding. A promise not made out loud, but felt all the same.
Maybe this can work after all.
“I have to go out shortly. I may not be back until tomorrow.”
I sip my coffee with a smile as if my face is now permanently stuck this way after spending the last few days in a bubble with D’Angelo.
I don’t want it to pop, but he’s getting ready to go to work.
Despite my curiosity, I no longer ask about his profession.
“Look at us. We almost sound like a normal couple.”
He leans over the kitchen counter and kisses my lips.
“We are a normal couple.” He lifts the shirt I've just ironed for him from the back of the chair and slides his arms through the crisp white cotton. There’s something stupidly intimate about watching him do such a normal thing.
Like we’ve skipped years ahead, to mornings like this that belong to us.
“Shane’s gonna come and watch the house.”
My brow furrows. “Who’s Shane?”
“My mate. Lilly’s husband. He’s a sergeant in the police.” He pulls a tie through his collar. “I don’t want you to worry while I’m gone, that’s all.”
My grip tightens around my mug. “I wasn’t worried, but I am now.”
“Don’t be worried. It’s more for my benefit.” He lifts my chin, his touch reassuring. “I can’t think straight if I don’t know you’re safe.”
My chest warms at his words. I nod, understanding.
If it wasn’t for the high security at my son’s school, I’d be a wreck.
But nobody’s ever worried about me like this before.
I’m usually the one worrying for everyone else.
Being strong for everyone else. It's exhausting.
I like the way he takes some of that weight off my shoulders.
“I’ll text you and check in, but I’ll be back tomorrow at the latest and we can pick Angelos up from school.” He rolls his lips between his teeth. “I need you to tell our son the truth.”
I gulp. The smile disappears from my face as a wave of emotions rise in my chest with guilt in the lead, followed by dread. “I know. I will. Just…”
“Just what?” The space between his brows wrinkles.
“I will tell him everything. Just give it time. He needs some time to get to know you and get used to you. If I just spring this on him now, he could resent you.”
“Is it me you’re worried he’ll resent or you for keeping the truth from him?”
Ugh. I hate it when he’s right.
“Fine, but I'm not sleeping on the couch again when he’s here.” His grey-blue eyes darken. “You tell him we’re together. We’ll tell him everything else when the time is right. We’ll figure this out.”