“Whatever you say,” I agreed once I’d recovered. I was curious to how the conversation between the trio had gone.
“What did Marcello want?”
“Ah.” I didn’t want to bear the news, but she needed to know and we needed to decide what the next move was. “We may have a small problem.”
Chapter Thirty Eight
Mia
Cerb was lying across the sofa with his head in my lap when Luc walked in from work. “Have you moved at all today?” he asked me. Cerb lifted his head and it took all my will not to throw the spoon in my hand at Luc’s head. Instead, I ignored him and dug into the tub of mint ice cream that was balanced on my bump.
Walking into the room, Luc threw his keys onto the coffee table and dropped down next to me, placing a kiss on my cheek. His beard scratched at my skin and I pulled my face away. “Dom mentioned you were moody today.”
“Dom can go fuck himself,” I muttered before sticking the spoon into my mouth and letting the cool, creamy taste of mint spread over my tongue. Luc let out a bark of laughter, causing Cerb to sit up properly and knock the tub off my stomach so that it hit the floor. “Luc!”
He bent over and retrieved the tub. “No damage done.”
I snatched it out of his hands as Cerb scampered off the couch, most likely in search of food.
“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”
“It’s a very long list.” I stabbed at the ice cream again, chipping off a small section.
“I have the time as long as you promise not to tell my wife why I’m late to dinner.”
I shot him a look. “You’re not funny. You’ll be lucky to have a wife at this rate.”
“You’re marrying me, Mia. You don’t have a choice,” Luc said casually. It frustrated me how he didn’t rise to the bait. When I’d first moved in, we’d get into little arguments whenever I felt moody but Luc learned quick and these days it was always a one-sided fight.
“No,” I told him despite the fact it was a lie. “No. I’m not marrying you.” The crease appeared in his brow. “Not so cocky now, are you?”
“Rather than pick a fight, why don’t you tell me what’s put you in this mood?”
“I’m not trying to pick a fight.”
“No, princess. You’re trying to break off our engagement because you don’t think I’m funny.”
“I’m not doing this right now.” Pushing myself away from the back of the couch, I sat up straight. Luc stood and offered me a hand and I swatted it away. “I don’t need your help.”
“Suit yourself,” he said, withdrawing his hand and putting both of them up in front of him. “I’ll get started on dinner.” Lydia had requested the night off and I was planning on putting something together but wasn’t about to stop Luc if he was offering. “Something more substantial than frozen toothpaste.” He gave the tub a disapproving look before walking toward the door.
I shuffled to the edge of the seat and tried to pull myself to my feet without any luck. Gritting my teeth, I called out, “Luc!”
He appeared at the doorway, smug smirk in place. “Did you need something?”
There was an urge to just drop to the floor and shuffle my ass straight past him, but I swallowed my pride. “I need a hand getting up.”
Luc didn’t say a word, the smile said enough, as he walked into the room and took the tub and spoon from my hands before placing them on the table. He offered me his hand again and helped me get to my feet before collecting the things from the table. “Want any more?”
“No, thank you.”
“Come on.” He placed a kiss on my forehead and just like that I felt the anger seep away. “Did something happen?” he asked as we walked out of the room and headed toward the kitchen.
“I’m just uncomfortable, Luc.” I could see him open his mouth and I raised a hand to stop him. “I’m anxious about everything. I feel like we’re walking on very thin ice.” Ever since Luc had told me what Marcello had spoken to him about, I’d wanted to pull back, but Luc refused. It’d look even more suspicious if we just tucked ourselves away again, so we continued our routine, with my nerves on edge.
A twinge ran across the bottom of my stomach and I huffed, rubbing the spot.
“You need to stop worrying.”
