Page 77 of Above ’N’ Beyond

“Not really.” Okay, he’d done some good things for her, but in reality, he’d done them to further the case, for the intel she could give him. Right?

Then again, he didn’t actually have to buy her the dog crate, or help her with Gnocchi, or fix her AC to squeeze information from her. It had made him feel good to treat her well, and wasn’t that what good people did?

His brain twisted with so much confusion he couldn’t make sense of anything. The only thing clearer than ice was that, deep down, he was worse than all of them—Tony, Paola, Marco. At least they were up-front about who and what they were. Jamie was lying his ass off to the one person in this whole mess who actually cared about him.

“Yes, really.” Bella rested her hands at his waist. Her expression softened, her eyes filling with emotion as she gazed up at him. “Please don’t shut me out. I need you. I want you in my life.”

Looking down into her eyes, Jamie felt as if he were seeing directly into her soul. Beneath the prickly defenses she put up for the world to see, hidden behind all that feisty snark he’d seen the first day they’d met, was a gentle, honest woman. In that moment, Jamie was lost. The resolve he’d thought was stronger than a steel door disintegrated like a sandcastle in a rising tide.

He clasped her wrists, bringing her hands behind his neck so he could pull her against him. Not exactly walking out the door the way his brain dictated, but he couldn’t stop himself. Selfish bastard that he was. She was so good, and he wanted that. Wanted to feel it for himself. She was the one thing in his world in a very long time that sparked the possibility there was still something worthwhile left buried deep inside him.

Jamie pulled her tighter against him, wanting to breathe her goodness into his lungs so that maybe, just maybe, he could be worthy of her.

When she stood on her tiptoes and nuzzled his chin, the hair on his head stood at attention. As she dropped light kisses on his lips, the air around him started to vibrate and buzz. Somewhere in his consciousness, he realized it was all in his own head.

“Kiss me,” she whispered, and he did.

He lowered his mouth to hers. The moment their lips touched, hers parted, and he claimed her, stroking his tongue with hers and holding her even tighter. He couldn’t say how long the kiss lasted before a clap of thunder blasted in his ears.

White light surrounded them. The air in his lungs froze, every ounce of blood in his veins lighting up with an energy he couldn’t explain, and all while the rest of the world continued moving in slow motion around him.

“Jimmy?” Bella’s hand caressed his cheek. “What’s wrong?”

Aside from the sensation of electricity coursing through his system, nothing. Yet it wasn’t pain he felt, it was blissful awareness. Like…

Being struck by lightning.

Only there was no storm outside. Through the kitchen window, the moon hung brightly in the dark sky over the treetops.

Jamie swallowed as the full meaning of what was happening became apparent.

What he’d felt when he and Bella had been making love was only the precursor to what he’d just experienced. Then, he’d felt only a vague tingling sensation. Now the very air crackled with energy.

Colpo di fulmine. The lightning bolt of love.

Damned though he’d be for it, the very worst of all things possible had happened.

He was in love with Bella, the niece of Paola Mancuso.

The Godmother.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Jimmy?” Bella asked. His jaw tightened. Was that pain she saw in his eyes? Confusion? He looked completely out of sorts, which wasn’t like him, and it was starting to frighten her. “Say something. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Sure.” He nodded but still didn’t look fine.

She searched his face, hoping and praying the changing emotions she saw weren’t because of what she’d said.

“Bella, you are—” He broke off, then, with infinite tenderness, stroked the backs of his knuckles down her cheeks. “Precious.”

“Um.” Her stomach fluttered. Not because of the word, but how he’d said it. Like he truly meant it.

He dropped his hand, and the look of confusion she’d glimpsed moments ago returned. Whatever this was between them, she didn’t want to lose it. For so many years now, she’d been holding back her emotions and feelings. He hadn’t said the L word, but his eyes told her what she needed to know, what echoed in her heart.

It was finally time to let someone in.

“Come with me.” She clasped his hand, tugging him behind her, passing Jax and Gnocchi who’d settled on the living room rug, and continuing straight into her bedroom. She closed the door but didn’t bother flipping on the lights. There was enough moonlight streaming in the window to accomplish what she needed.