Breathing a laugh, I placed a hand on my hip. “If you let me get dressed, I’ll go on a walk with you around the back yard so you can get some fresh air.”
She squinted one eye. “I think I’d just rather talk.”
I swallowed, feeling my throat bob.Fuck. I wasn’t ready for the talk we needed to have, and my heart cracked at the knowledge I’d have to tell her I wasn’t going to let her stay.
“You want to talk now? I was thinking we could go to dinner on Saturday—”
“Now,” she said with a nod. “Let’s go into the living room.”
She pivoted and disappeared into the next room, and I sighed, wondering why I ever thought I’d have control ofanysituation with the stubborn woman.
I found her sitting on my couch, and I lowered beside her.
“How’s your back?”
“It feels much better. I’m still trying to sleep on my side, but it barely hurts anymore.”
My heart constricted in my chest at the thought of how close I’d come to losing her. “That’s good. You’re pretty tough, princess.”
“Don’t you forget it,” she said with a wink.
Facing her, I rested my head on my fist as my elbow dug into the back of the couch. “Okay, let’s do this. I’m assuming you want to start.”
Grinning, she shook her head. “No, I’m just going to finish this before it begins. How about that?”
“Alexis...” I sighed, observing the determined glint in her eyes.
“I just came from Michael’s office,” she said, lifting her chin. “You’re looking at the new Director of Digital Security for the Caruso organization.”
My eyebrows drew together. “What?”
“He gave me a job. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. And we’re going to need it so I can renovate this house to make it livable for us.” She swept her hand across the room. “Especially your murder-basement gym. We’re going to overhaul that room first.”
The corner of my lips curved. “I like my murder-basement gym.”
“Too bad, buddy. That one’s non-negotiable.”
I gazed into her eyes, unable to deny the deep love that swirled there. I was sure it was mirrored in my eyes, and I took a few seconds to breathe and try to remember why I needed to ensure she chose a different path.
“Michael’s business isn’t Google, sweetheart. I know you understand that.”
“I do,” she said with a nod. “And I never thought I’d choose to stay in this world. But things have changed, and we both know it. So, I’m making the best choice for the future I want to build.”
I grasped her hand, gently caressing it as I tried to talk some sense into her stubborn head. “Building a life with me will be extremelydangerous. Not only for you, but for any children we have. Have you really thought about that, Alexis? Harming a mafia leader’s child is the first step in the playbook. Are you prepared to live with that threat?”
Her chest contracted as she released a deep breath. “Do I want to live with that fear? Of course not. But there are dangers in every aspect of life, Nick. We could both choke on a damn strawberry tomorrow.”
I laughed. “That’s not the same equivalence, and you know it.”
“I can’t imagine how scared you were when you heard I’d been hurt,” she said, scooting closer to me and sliding over my lap.
Straddling me, the warm juncture of her thighs encased my cock through our clothes. I was surrounded by her sexy body and sweet scent, and I gripped her hips as she continued.
“I’m sorry you had to experience that,” she said, gliding her palms over my cheeks. “It was stupid of me to search for the devices, and I’m going to make better decisions in the future. I owe you that.”
I swallowed thickly as I studied her. “All I care about is keeping you safe,” I said softly. “And if that means I have to let you go, I will. I won’t have you hurt because you’re my girlfriend or wife...or whatever is cooking in that busy brain of yours.”
“Wife is good,” she said, her teeth flashing as she beamed. Lowering her palms to my pecs, she tenderly rubbed me as she stared into my eyes. “We both know you’re going to marry me, so let’s just accept it. I want to start my life with you.”
