Stefan’s face twists. “Why would you do that?”
None of them speak. Luc eventually shrugs. “Family.”
“Ba!” Alessia kicks her legs, and Stefan glances down at her. Swallows. “I… would appreciate that.”
Family.
***
I take my time getting ready. Study the clothes Luc ordered, take the time to wash my hair and let it dry into waves that fall down my back.
I study myself in the mirror for far longer than necessary.
Don’t be ridiculous, Caterina.
When the door knocks, it’s a relief to pull it open. Dom lingers on the other side, smartly dressed in a deep blue shirt and cream chinos. He swallows, his eyes sweeping my body. “Perfect.”
I smooth down the dress with an irritating amount of self-consciousness. The sweetheart A-line neck dips low, leaving my brand, my ruined crow tattoo on display. The green material hugs my waist, flaring out into a skirt that dips low at the back. “I actually forgot about the brand until I put it on. But I don’t want to cover it up.”
It would be another victory, another small hold over me, and I refuse to let them have it.
Dom’s hand lingers in the small of my back as we walk. “I can design something to cover it. If you want to.”
My hand reaches up to trace the puckered skin. “Maybe.”
Dom leads me to the gray Masteri we drove to the Fusco estate, opening the passenger door and waiting. I grin at him as he climbs behind the wheel, and he narrows his eyes at me. “What is it?”
I turn to look out of the window. “Just… it’s funny to see you being chivalrous, Domenico Rossi.”
But… nice.
I turn back to him, sucking in a breath when I find his face close.
Warm lips close over mine. Dom’s hand slides behind my neck, cupping it as he tastes me.
“Trust me,” he says gruffly when he pulls away, “there is nothingchivalrousabout the things I dream of doing to you, Cat.”
Well. I press my lips together.
He keeps his hand on my knee as he drives, his thumb tracing tiny circles against my bare skin where my skirt rises up. By the time he pulls up, I’m trying not to squirm. He gives me a wry glance as he turns off the engine. “Feeling okay?”
I press my tongue into my cheek. “I’m enjoying the chivalry. But I’dreallyenjoy it if we slid the seats back and I climbed onto your lap.”
The temperature rises as we stare at each other.
“Let me do this,” he says finally, cupping my cheek. “I want you. It’s been too long. But let me do this first. I want to take you on a date, Caterina Corvo. I want to push the rest of it out, just for a little while.”
And I want to let him.
Our fingers tangle together as we walk down toward the beach. Ahead of us, the sun is setting, casting the sky in vivid shades of orange, pink and purple that takes my breath away. “It’s beautiful here.”
“Is it?” Dom’s lips turn up. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“Why –oh.” Heat rises on my cheeks. “You charmer, Rossi.”
Dom’s low laugh settles something in my chest. “I’m trying.”
He’s trying hard. My breath catches as he leads me around a corner, and I take it in. The large rug is scattered with colorful pillows, tall candles embedded in the sand around it. A cooler sits alongside.
