Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“I had one at the condo.”
“Oh.”
He twists my hair around his fist and tugs gently until I lift my face to meet his gaze.
“I always get cleaned up there after a job.”
His meaning sinks in.
Of course.
I know what some of his jobs entail. He can’t come home covered in blood.
“I won’t ask.” I bite my lip, willing my happy bubble not to burst. Not yet. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Always.”
Bending down, he seals the promise with a soft kiss on my lips.
I’m not going to complain. I knew what I was getting myself into when I chose to be with Dante. He’s not going to change, and I don’t want him to. I only want him to be happy. And safe.
We shower together. Dante lathers my body with soap and massages shampoo into my hair. While he cleans himself, I apply conditioner. Once we’re rinsed, he wraps me up in a fluffy towel before taking one for himself that he secures around his waist.
As I grab another towel to squeeze the water from my hair, I can’t help but steal glances at his muscular chest in the mirror. I can never get used to his physical perfection.
He squirts toothpaste on our toothbrushes and hands me mine. We stand side by side, brushing our teeth. It’s such a domestic, unromantic act, yet it’s one of the things I’ve dreamt about when I could only see Dante if I sneaked out of the condo to meet him in secret. It’s a privilege I won’t take for granted.
I spit out the toothpaste and turn to him. “Are you having dinner at home tonight?”
He takes his time to rinse his mouth and to put his toothbrush away. When he’s done, he faces me. “What’s Noah’s favorite food?”
My laugh is uncertain. “You don’t know?”
He shrugs. “I’m not a good cook. I don’t pay that much attention.”
“Pizza or fries, without a doubt, but that’s only for special occasions. I prefer that his diet is healthy. It’s important that he eats his fruits and vegetables.”
He battles to hide his smile. “Show me a kid who likes healthy food.”
I cross my arms. “Noah loves my sweet potato fries.”
“Sweet potato, huh? That’s cheating.”
“Wait until you see my spaghetti bolognese.” I wag my eyebrows. “I sneak spinach and lentils into the sauce.”
He sucks air through his teeth. “Poor kid.”
“Slow release carbs are important for a small body that needs energy for growing.”
He goes from playful to serious in a second flat. “Let’s go out tonight.”
Wow. He changes gears so fast he gives me whiplash. “On a date?”
“Just dinner if you don’t want it to be a date. Pizza. Noah will like that.”
I gasp. “Are you trying to arm-wrestle me into going out with you by using our son?” I jab him in the ribs. “That’s called manipulation, and low, may I add, using a child to get your way.”
“It’s just dinner.” He hooks my wet hair behind my ear, staring down at me with a tender, earnest expression. “Come on. It’s eat-as-much-as-you-like night at the Pizza Palace. What do you say?”
Trying to keep things light, I reply with humor, “I’ll think about it?”
“You like to play on a man’s insecurities.”
“You? Insecure? Ha.”
He slams a hand over his heart. “You’ll hurt my feelings.”
I can only laugh.
He grows serious again. “Is that a yes?”
“Fine.” I put my hand over his. “Eat-as-much-as-you-like pizza won’t kill Noah as long as it remains the exception.”
“Good.” He appears happy with himself. “I’ll make a reservation.”
I laugh again. “Dante.”
“What?”
“You don’t make a reservation for the Pizza Palace.”
He seems smug. “I do.”
“Oh, my God.” I slap his arm. “You’re such a snob.”
“I call it planning. We don’t want to get Noah’s hopes up only to find that the place is full.”
“I bet you know a hundred Italian restaurants in this city that will make you a pizza when you tell them to.”
“Yes, but it’s not the same. They don’t have crayons and placemats for coloring. And just for the record, I always ask.” He cocks an eyebrow. “I have manners.”
“And arrogance too.”
He pecks my lips. “That’s why you like me.”
“Love you,” I correct.
Guilt flickers in his eyes, but it’s gone so fast it might’ve been just my imagination.
Hooking his fingers into the towel where the edges are folded over each other in the center of my breasts, he tugs me closer. “Before we have breakfast, there’s something else I want to eat.”
I should stop him, knowing Noah is waiting, but the protest dies on my lips when he yanks the towel open and lets it drop to the floor. Before he can reach for me, I unwrap the towel around his waist and go down on my knees.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Dante
* * *
The fingerprint comes back with a match. It belongs to a dancer, Naomi Foster, who goes by the stage name of Oxo. Or 0X0 as in noughts and crosses. What do I know? She’s been arrested a couple of times for prostitution. Her file states she works at a strip joint in a shady part of town.