I look toward Ella, who is rapidly retreating, then back at him. “Thank you for trusting my friend and for letting all seven of my boarders live next to us.”
“You owe me. A lot.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, and speaking of owing you, I think there’s a lot to learn from the guys.”
One of his dark eyebrows rises. “You don’t say.”
I nod. “They’re all reformed and act like a family. We can do the same thing with the mob. You know. Build loyalty with incentives instead of fear. Like have scholarships, subsidized childcare, paternity leave ... you know.”
He looks toward the group. “I’ll think about it.”
So much warmth fills me that my cheeks burn. “The song I heard you playing early this morning. It was beautiful.” He belongs with a guitar in his hands.
“Thanks. It’s called Rosalie.”
Something flutters in my abdomen. “I love you. Thought I should say the words in a nice time instead of just when bullets have been flying.”
His lips twitch. “I love you, too. Have for years.” He ducks his head and tosses me over his shoulder, taking long strides toward the house. “You definitely owe me. Let’s go find out if you’ve learned to be obedient. You had better not be wearing panties.”
My whole body shivers.
Because I am.
