Page 110 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

“I like you too.”

We go back out to the kitchen. She starts picking up my coffee cup, but I take it from her.

“I’ve got it.”

“I can wash it for you,” she says.

“You don’t have to do my dishes.”

“I don’t have to, but I want to.”

I take the cup from her and move to the sink, ending the conversation before she can push it further. Something pulls my attention. There’s a painting above the counter I hadn’t noticed before. A narrow walkway framed by white stone buildings, their windows thrown open to the sea. Flowers drape overhead in thick clusters, bright pink and lavender, spilling down. At the end of the path, the water glows under the sun, sailboats drifting along the water.

It feels like an escape. I glance over my shoulder at her.

“You planning on running off somewhere like that?” I ask, watching her instead of the painting now.

“My mom used to describe a place she went when she was little. It was an island off of Greece called Symi that her grandparents took her one summer. She had a picture. It looked like that. I painted it in high school.”

I look back at it.

“Wow. And you were afraid you wouldn’t hit it big,” I say.

“Stop it,” she says, already trying to dismiss it.

“Right. Because clearly this is terrible. You should probably quit now.”

She glares at me.

“What? I mean, it’s awful. Horrible. Just throw it out.”

She comes over and slaps my arm. I grab her waist and pull her in to me.

“You’re incredible, Katie. Just take the compliment.”

“Fine,” she huffs, and I let out a laugh.

“You’re also extremely stubborn.”

She shrugs and then rises up on her toes a little.

“You wanting something?” I say.

She tries to push away from me.

“I’m just kidding,” I say, and I kiss her. She melts into me, and every part of me wishes I could stay here for the rest of the day.

Luca is already in the driveway when I step out of Katie’s house, leaning against the SUV with his attention fixed on the front door. He straightens when he sees me and comes around to open the back door without saying anything. I adjust my jacket as I walk down the steps, smoothing the front and settling the cuffs at my wrists before I get in.

The door closes behind me, and he’s back in the driver’s seat a second later. A half hour later, the estate gates open as we approach. Luca comes around to open my door. I step out, buttoning my jacket as I move toward the house. The shift happens the moment I walk inside. Conversations drop. Movement changes. People step out of the way without needing to be told.

Marco is waiting in my office. He’s standing near my desk, phone in his hand, already focused when we walk in.

“Boss.”

I close the door behind us and move further into the room.

“We’re bringing them in,” I say.