Page 158 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

I hold his gaze.

“If someone does, they won’t get the chance to do it again. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Update everyone who needs to know. No one else.”

He nods.

“Go.”

He turns and walks straight for the front door.

I take out my phone and dial Luca.

“Luca,” I say. “I need a favor.”

In the kitchen, Katie’s eating waffles covered in raspberry sauce and smiling as Beatrice talks to her. I walk over, kiss her hair, and sit beside her.

“Do I need to be worried?” I ask. “Are my girls conspiring?”

They both glance at me and smile. Katie leans into me for a second before going back to her waffles. Beatrice gets up.

“What are you doing?” I ask her.

“Getting you waffles. You need to eat.”

“Sit,” I tell her. “I can get my own waffles.”

She raises her eyebrows but sits back down.

“Miss Katie,” she says. “I like when you are here. He’s such a gentlemen.”

Katie laughs. It’s good to hear. She needs that. They continue talking behind me while I plate my food. It’s nice. We’re like a little family here in the kitchen.

“Michael,” Katie says.

I turn.

“Will you bring me another waffle?”

“Anything you want, Doll.”

“Ah,” Beatrice says. “Look at how he softens for you.”

When I sit back down, Katie reaches over and takes a waffle from my plate. Her hand follows, sliding into my lap. I take it and hold it there.

After we finish, I take her out to the gardens.

“Can we walk around the pond before we have to—“ Her voice breaks.

I lace our fingers together before she can pull back. “We’re not rushing anything. Come on.”

She nods and follows me. We walk the path slowly until we reach the bench by the water. I gesture toward it, and she sits. Her eyes go straight to the pond, tracking the movement of the birds, a small smile on her face.

I watch her.

“Katie,” I say. “I have something to ask you.”