“Maybe you should leave if that’s going to be a problem,” I say stiffly, reining in the white-hot, protective fury that rises inside me.
“What? No, it’s not a problem,” Gio assures me, pulling me close once more. “Not a problem at all. I just feel bad that you’ve hadto go through so much all alone. It must have been terrifying for you.”
His voice is gruff, the deep baritone of his voice vibrating from his chest in a comforting tone, and I blink quickly to clear away the tears that threaten to fall.
Overcome by Gio’s empathy, I’m once again struck by how easily I could fall for him.
It doesn’t seem to matter what defenses I throw up or how many times I lash out for fear of being rejected, abandoned again.
With a few words, he makes it all better.
My heart aches with a newfound sense of just how lucky I am.
He’s such a perfect man for me.
So, why do I keep feeling like the other shoe is going to drop?
Perhaps it’s because I’ve had my guard up for too long. I don’t know how to act like a normal person who’s open to love.
In truth, since I woke up in that hospital bed with a tiny life growing inside me, I’ve been too scared to even think about letting someone else in. I don’t know what happened in my past—why I ended up in the spot where I found myself.
And I can’t afford to risk winding up there again.
Not when I have Jackson to think about.
But I genuinely want to trust Gio, and I believe he might be someone worthy of that trust.
Every step of the way, he’s pleasantly surprised me—not a high standard to exceed when I’ve defaulted to thinking the worst of people at every turn.
But hopefully, over time—if he sticks around—I’ll learn to be less defensive.
“Sorry if that came out hot,” I say, melting into him as I let my muscles relax.
“Jane, you have nothing to apologize for,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head—right on top of my scar.
The skin prickles with the familiar sensation of nerves that were severed and might never fully heal.
“I get that I’m someone new in your life and it takes time to build trust—especially after something like what you’ve been through. Just know that Iwantto be here. And I want to know your son. Even if I didn’t know you, I knew I would like you just from meeting him.”
“Really?” I breathe, my voice thick with emotion. I don’t know that anyone’s ever said something so sweet to me.
“Really. Now, let’s talk about something youwouldlike to discuss. Because even if I’ve thoroughly mucked up the night so far, if you’re not opposed to the idea, I’d like to stay a bit longer.”
“I’d like that,” I murmur, draping my arm across his torso. “Tell me about the movie we were supposed to watch,” I suggest. “You’ve seen it before, I gathered.”
Gio chuckles, the warmth in it filling my body with sunlight.
“More times than I care to admit,” he says. “I could practically quote it word for word if you asked me to, but I’ll give you the overview, and we can watch it another time if you’d like.”
I nod, a pleasant shiver trickling down my spine as he starts to explain the plot.
It sounds like a cute movie—one I actually really would like to watch.
But more than that, the sound of his voice, soft and deep and soothing, lulls me into a state of contentment that has my eyes drifting closed.
Gio’s watching me with those unfathomable hazel eyes, and my stomach coils deliciously, urging me to do something naughty.
Gripping the lapels of his suit jacket, I tug him toward a nearby alcove along the city street. “Come here,” I whisper, voice giddy with anticipation.
