Before I can smack her ass, she rolls away and hurries into the bathroom. I stay right where I am and watch her go.
Because what a fucking view.
This woman. This kind, loyal, and sexy-as-fuck woman. I had no idea Ineededher until she walked into my establishment with her bright smile and sweet heart. Her strength.I love her strength.I loved watching her care for Scarlett tonight, refusing to leave her side.I love her loyalty.I love that when confronted with something that unnerved her, she dealt with it, but then sought me out.
I love …that she needs me.Needsme.
I’m in love with her.
Fuck.
I’m in love with Eloise.
Thirty-Nine
LULU
I’ve just set a pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta, and I fetch a few blocks of cheese from the fridge so I can shred them and turn back to the island, where Rome is sitting, watching me.
He’s only wearing a pair of black lounge pants. His torso is bare with all those delicious tattoos on full display just for me.
“Did you do that on purpose?” I ask as I set the shredder on a plastic cutting board.
“Do what?” he asks, his face void of any emotion at all.
I let my eyes move over his body, taking in the ink and his muscles and bite my lip becausedamn. When my gaze returns to his face, he’s smiling at me.
“You did it on purpose,” I confirm with a laugh. “Not that I’m complaining.”
He leans his elbows on the counter and rests his chinon his hands. “You’re wearing my shirt, firefly. I didn’t have a choice.”
I glance down at the black button-up that I grabbed from his closet before coming downstairs.
“You have about a hundred more just like it. It’s comfortable, and it smells like you.” I pull the collar up to my nose and take a deep breath. “I could live in this thing.”
“And I’ll be fucking you in it before we go to sleep.” God, the way he says the wordfuckshould be illegal.
It makes me want to just lie down and spread my legs for him. Right now, I want to circle this island, climb in his lap, and let him hold me.
Just hold me.
Because nothing feels better than being in Rome’s arms, and after everything I went through tonight with Scarlett and the mayor, I could use some snuggles.
But first, we’re hungry.
I lift an eyebrow and resume the task at hand. “Well then, maybe I should wear your clothes more often.”
He smirks, and his eyes move down to my cleavage, which is clearly visible because I didn’t button the shirt up all the way.
“Before this moment devolves into me bent over this countertop, I have questions for you,” I tell him, and his eyes climb back to mine.
“You can ask me anything.”
I reach for my water and take a drink, eyeing him. “You’re mysterious. A little confusing.”
“How so?”
“You’re a major player in organized crime,” I say as simply as if I’m saying that he sells used cars for a living, “and you likely kill people without a second thought. In my experience, men like you don’t have soft spots.”
