We walk into the living room. Rafe stops mid-stride when he sees Theo in Dad’s arms. I try not to let my heart flutter at the reaction, but it’s difficult. Rafe’s face couldn’t be more dedicated, his eyes swimming with the same love from the auction.
“Hello, sir,” he says, addressing Dad.
Dad stands, gently handing Theo to Mom. He offers Rafe his hand. “Hello, Mr. Bellini.”
“Rafe, please.” Rafe shakes his hand. “Thank you for inviting me into your home. I know it’s… complicated. But it means a lot.”
“You’re right, it’s complicated,” Dad says. “The longer I live, the more I realize that most things are complicated. Whatever your reasons, whatever you’ve said, you’re here now. I won’t say that smooths over everything, but it’s a start.”
Rafe nods, humbled, his gaze returning to Theo repeatedly.
Mom gives me a look, eyebrow raised, and I offer a subtle nod.
“Would you like to say hello?” Mom says.
Rafe clears his throat, voice husky. “May I?”
“Sure.”
He sets down the gift box on the table, then approaches slowly, carefully, like he’s afraid Theo will reject him. He takes Theo gently, cradling him to his chest. Rafe is so big that he makes Theo look even smaller in his arms. Despite everything, no one could deny the love emanating from Rafe as he leans down and softly kisses our child.
Theo makes a bubbling, laughing noise, and Rafe smiles and looks up at me. I try to tame the glow emanating from me and the smile spreading widely across my face, but I can’t.
“Will you open his gift?” Rafe says softly.
“Sure,” I say, taking the box and unwrapping it. Inside, there’s a small stuffed lion.
“My mother used to say I had lion eyes,” Rafe says. “He has the same ones. Theo, the little lion.”
A tear rises to my eye, clinging to my eyelash. I quickly wipe it away, then approach, gently lowering the toy to Theo. “Look what Rafe…” I swallow. “What Daddy got for you, Theo.”
He gurgles, his small hand curling around the tail.
Rafe looks up and stares at me, into me. For a second, I’m convinced he must’ve been lying about the mob-boss thing. There’s no way a mob boss’s face could be filled with so much unequivocal love.
Affection swells in me, gratitude…
And beneath it, something else, something hungrier. I had lots of advice when I was pregnant, preparing to be a mother, but no one ever told me how fieryhotit would be to see Theo’s dad being a father. No one ever told me how it could make my lust do backflips.
Rafe sits with Theo in his arms.
“Would anybody like some sweet tea?” Mom asks.
“Sure, Mom,” I murmur.
“That would be great, ma’am,” Rafe says.
Dad sits, looking at me with a conflicted expression. I can tell he wants to approve of Rafe – his manners, his clear instant bond with Theo – but his paternal instincts are holding him back.
I sit next to Rafe, my leg touching his. Theo stares at me with his father’s eyes. Maybe I’m going cuckoo, but I swear he looks grateful for us allowing his father into his life.
CHAPTER 10
RAFAEL
Icould hold him all day, even while he’s asleep. He feels so tiny in my arms, a small bundle that feels linked to me by an invisible rope. Now that I know he exists, I find it unbelievable I didn’t… sense him before somehow.
“Why don’t I put him to sleep?” Mrs. Ward says. “Perhaps we should give you both some alone time?”
