Chapter 68

Jake watches me over a mug of coffee in the small café. My tears have finally stopped. I’m not heartbroken, just resigned, letting go of all that pent-up emotion. Part of me is relieved.

There are no other words for it. His eyes never leave mine, and his arms ache to hold me, but he knows I need a moment to let my body—emotionally, mentally, and physically—settle. I want to get through this without any outside help. It’s just something I need to do.

Jake grounds me, always understanding what I need. He listens intently as I repeat every word from my encounter, holding my hand and letting me cry. He has wiped my tears and been the rock he always is.

“You don’t want her at the wedding at all? No visits when the baby comes?” He watches me closely, trying to understand my decision, wanting to affirm what and who I want in our future.

I shake my head. “No, as far as I’m concerned, both my parents are dead. I have my family, and its surname is Carrero.” I link my fingers through his on the table and tug his hand closer to me, wanting him nearer now that I feel stronger.

He lifts our linked hands to his face, tenderly running my thumb across his jaw, always so caring and there whenever I need him. “You’ll be a Carrero soon, ~Bambina~. You’re the daughter my mamma has always wanted. She told me.” Jake’s fingers rest on my bottom lip as I smile at him, and he smiles back. His adoring eyes locked on mine, mesmerizing me with their green beauty. I hope our child will have Jake’s green eyes, the kind that draws you in and steals your soul with love, compassion, and kindness like his.

“I love your family, even Giovanni.” I giggle to see Jake frowning at me, a look of ‘really?’ running across his face.

He shakes his head as though I’ve seriously lost the plot. “My father is … complicated.” He sighs, looking out across the small café, still no closer to seeing his father in any other light than the man who hurt his mother.

“Of course, because I know nothing about complicated parents.” I roll my eyes and giggle again when he tugs my chin forward, leaning over to kiss me across the table. The gentle brushing of his lips quells any lasting hints of sadness inside me. He sits back down but doesn’t let me go.

“I know he’s the strong silent type who thinks it’s weak to show so many goddamn emotions, but he is allergic to any sort of affection.” Jake frowns harder, a mild irritation passing over his sexy mouth. He doesn’t like talking about Giovanni in any way. If anyone has any allergy, it’s Jake and the topic of discussing his relationship with his father.

“I’m sure your mother disagrees; she was manhandling him under the table ten minutes before you proposed.” I let out a stifled laugh at the mortified, gaping expression startled across Jake’s beautiful face. He looks torn between being physically sick or hurting someone.

“No, she wasn’t!” He shakes his head, frowning and grimacing to remove the image from his mind, then lets me go so he can use both hands to scrub his face. “I don’t even want to know.” His voice is ridiculously cute. He sounds like a child completely traumatized by catching his parents canoodling.

“More of your daddy in you than you care to admit, Mr. Carrero. Your mamma and papa are obviously still very young regarding their libido.” I smirk at him wickedly, trying to contain the laughter in my throat at his obvious discomfort, and then jump when I see that mischievous grin coming my way. He rounds the table for me, and I high-tail it out the door. He is a little terrifying. We’ve already paid, so he catches up to me quickly in the street, swinging me into his arms.

“I’m taking you back to our hotel to wash that mouth out and apply some discipline for saying disgusting things.” He’s smiling, but I think I may have scarred him for life. He still has a rather pale hue and an unamused expression on his face. I hope he never actually witnesses any of his parents’ shenanigans first-hand, or Jake will need to join Daniel and me in therapy; that would be cozy.

“What kind of discipline?” I lift an eyebrow, snuggling in closer, arms snaking around his neck and pressing myself close. This could be interesting. Jake’s kinky side has been toned down since our reunion, but here’s hoping it makes a grand comeback.

“Depends on how frisky you get between here and there … I could be persuaded to tie you down or maybe work you into some seriously aggressive, angry sex.” The lust-fueled promise in those eyes has me squirming against him, unable to contain the way they light my insides on fire. Promises of lingering memories have me all out panting.

“Or both … you’ve never angry fucked me while I’ve been tied up.” I grin naughtily as he turns from serious to boyish, chuckling, his brow lifting in surprise.

“I’m seriously starting to worry about what I’ve done to you, ~Miele~. What happened to my sweet, naïve little ice maiden? When did you start calling it fucking?” He kisses me on the nose adorably, but I will not be swayed.

I start kissing him seductively and sucking in his bottom lip with a bite. “Keep doing that, and I’ll fuck you right here in any fashion you want,” Jake growls at me, and my inner core self combusts. I can’t deny an invitation like that— and move in for a steamier kiss, wrapping myself around him tighter and higher. I don’t care who is walking around us or that we’re standing in the middle of a busy street. He has always taken my pain away, knowing instantly what I need to help ground me. Right now, I can’t imagine anything I want more than a crazy angry release and a lot of kinky fun with him to forget about her and everything that coming here symbolized.

“Lucky I parked the car so close,” Jake growls again against my mouth, sliding down to cup my butt and pulling me off my feet. Pinned to his taut body as he strides purposefully towards it, carrying me with him, not giving a crap about the heads turning our way.