I handed her a coffee doctored to her preference for the current time of day.Then I wrapped an arm around her and studied the view.It was peaceful.Despite being in the middle of one of the largest cities in the country, we faced away from all of it.Only the traffic below us betrayed the breadth of civilization at our backs.
“The sale is going through today.”
That got her attention.“Does that mean you’re leaving?”
I shook my head.“No.I might make this a permanent move.”That depended on her.“If that’s what you want?”
She studied me for a long time.“You need to think about what you want.”
“I want you.”
My quick reply made the corners of her mouth go up.“How often will we go to Sardinia?”
“As often as we can?Did your sister mention she’s pregnant?”
Ellie sucked in her breath.“It’s too early.A bunch of stuff could go wrong so don’t tell anyone.”
“Who would I tell?”
“Me.”
She was finally awake, and her sarcasm with it.“I know we talked about his in Venice?—”
“No.No kids until I’m ready.”
She’d gotten an implant and testing done before her wedding.There was a supply of condoms in her suitcase, but that had ended up with Allie.Apparently, Mario ignored those.“What do you think they’ll have?”
“A boy.”
“You sound certain.”
Ellie shook her head.“Allie wants it, boy then girl.Big brother, little sister.And Allie is just perfect enough it’ll happen that way.”
Speaking of perfect, I pulled her closer.“I love you.”The words didn’t trip in my throat anymore.
She leaned against me.“I know.”
I kissed her cheek.“We have a lot to do today.”
Ellie groaned.“River, crowds, bar.I know.”
Her scent tempted me.“Shower first?”
“I think we’ll need to share.”
My fiancée was brilliant.I kissed her neck to show her how much I appreciated that.
“You’re going to make me spill my coffee.”
“You have twelve seconds to set the cup down.Go.”
I released her and stalked her to the island where she set the mug down.Then she dropped the robe, and I followed the sway of her naked ass.
She turned the water on while I stripped off the pajama bottoms I’d pulled on to take Mario’s call.Ellie’s body was reflected in the large vanity mirror.I watched it, rather than her.It gave me an opportunity to see us together without artifice.In the frame, we were just a man and a woman.Sure, I had scars that told the stories I couldn’t utter to anyone but other than that, I was normal.It was a life that I didn’t know I wanted.She fit against me and ran her hands down my chest.
My distraction didn’t go unnoticed.“Do we need to install a mirror above the bed?”
“Look.”
