by Tara Pammi
It had taken them only twenty-four hours, however, to realize their son, notwithstanding his cherubic looks, had the temper of the very devil. Within two days he’d reduced Sophia to hysteric tears and a dark fear that she couldn’t even calm her own son.
Packing them into his Maserati, Luca had driven them around all night, lulling them both into frantic sleep. The next night it had begun all over again. Until Luca had started playing the piano.
Only those two things calmed Leo enough to sleep every night now.
The smallest disruption to his schedule, and Leo was known to scream at decibel levels that could rupture unsuspecting eardrums. A thing that seemed to endlessly amuse his two cousins, the perfect little girls they were. “Why couldn’t I have a beautiful little doll like Izzie or Chiara?”
His arms around her, Luca nuzzled her neck. “You know what we could do if you want a girl, cara mia.”
Sophia snorted. “No way. I haven’t even lost half the weight I’ve gained. I wish men gained weight when their wives got pregnant. It’s not fair that you...you continue looking like you do while I look like a baby elephant.”
“Watch that mouth. That’s my lovely wife you’re talking about.” He pressed a kiss to her temple, reverent and tender. “I love you just as you are, Sophia. I wouldn’t change a single thing about you. I would change everything about my past, everything about myself, to prove it, if I could.”
The regret and pain in his tone was like a lash against her skin.
He accepted her for everything she was, flaws and all those little eccentricities, and she loved him, too. That she’d hinted, even unknowingly, at denying him that same acceptance was anathema to her.
“Si,” Sophia whispered urgently. A shiver went through her and he held her tighter. “I do. And I trust you, Luca.”
Even to this day, she woke up sometimes in the middle of the night, saw him next to her on the bed, usually hogging all the sheets and pushing her to the edge of the bed in his need to hold her tight, and wondered at how much this gorgeous, beautiful man loved her.
And how deeply and how completely. The wonder in his eyes when he looked at Leo and her every day, it humbled her.
“Did you really want a girl, Sophia?”
Sophia locked her hands on top of his, settling into his arms. “Not really. Although I do worry sometimes.”
“About what?”
“I think of the future, and I’m sure I’ll dread mornings where I have to leave you two at home and walk away. I imagine coming home to a disaster zone.”
“Are you saying I’m going to spoil our son?”
“I know you’re going to spoil him rotten. And I’ll have to be the strict one.”
He nipped at her shoulder, his lowered voice a caress. “But you do strict so well, bella mia.”
Melting on the floor of her office was not an option so Sophia snorted instead. “I see that you’re not even saying no.”
His hands tightened around her waist, pressing her into his front. The length of his erection was a brand against her back. Her mouth dried, a rush of wetness pooling at her sex.
Sophia caught the moan in her throat, thanking Margie for discreetly walking away with their son to her private sitting area.
In the short time she’d been back at work, Luca and Leo’s visits to her workplace were already the highlight of the day for all the women in the office. Everyone wanted to hold her son, and everyone wanted to see Luca—the infamous playboy turned devoted husband and doting, stay-at-home dad—tease, taunt and make their strict boss blush. Or so Margie had told her when Sophia had asked why there was always a rush on their floor during lunchtime.
“I have asked Alex if she’d watch Leo tonight,” he said now, swiping that clever tongue over the very spot he had dug his teeth into at the crook of her neck. “She said yes. She also said she was surprised that it had taken us this long to ask her. She also, also said she would be keeping tabs, that the minute she hears that Leo’s sleeping better, she expects us to take Izzie and Chiara. Even if we have to rip away the little one from my brother’s hands.”
Sophia laughed. Leandro was so protective of the girls that it took all of Alex’s energy to ensure they had the freedom that little girls needed to run around and express themselves.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was her husband, who praised their little boy for his perfect aim when he threw his bowl of mashed peas across the room like it was a soccer ball. Luca had converted a whole room in his studio into a kid-safe playroom for Leo, who even as a seven-month-old challenged himself into how destructive he could get each day.
“The whole night? Is he ready for it, do you think?”
His fingers laced with hers, he held her tightly. “He is. Are you?”
It was both alarming and a little guilt-inducing to see how easily Luca had taken to fatherhood. He loved doing everything from morning to night without a single complaint. His energy, it seemed, was boundless.
He had watched Leo the whole night for weeks, only bringing him to Sophia for feeding. While Sophia had struggled, Luca had decided it was the perfect cure for his insomnia.
“I know that right now, you know more about his habits than I do, but I thought maybe—”
“Shhh, bella. Didn’t we talk about this? You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about. I love looking after him. I love bringing him to visit you here. I love seeing the glow you get when you work your ass off and you make a win in this world. This is our family, Sophia. Our life. This is what works for us. You’ve worked so hard to get here and it’s not like I’m ever going to work a nine-to-five job.”
“Yes, but I’m worried that you’re not getting any time to yourself. And that you’ll probably resent me sometime in the future, or think I’m not—”
“I love you. All of you. The woman who bawled like a baby when she held our son the first time, the woman who told her stepfather, in an uncompromising tone, that she and only she, could run Rossi’s the best, the woman who resurrected Rossi’s from its broken state, the woman who fought for me like a lioness, the woman who cries every time I play the piano.
“And that woman, that is who I fell in love with. That is who made me see a future full of love. Don’t you dare change on me now, cara mia.
“I’m aware every minute of every day that I have this happiness, this love, this family with you and Leo because you’re who you are. I adore you, cara mia, more every day.”
Tears pricked at Sophia’s eyes, a lump in her throat blocking any words from coming out. Even if she was capable of them with her heart swelling in her chest. She turned and buried her face in his chest.
God, she loved him more and more each day, too. And sometimes, the depth of that love, the power it gave him over her, the possibility of her entire life falling apart at his hands...it choked her, too. That fear was becoming less frequent, though.
When Luca loved, as she’d learned in the last three years, it was with such unerring devotion, it was with such absolute giving, that it filled her with awe.
She squeezed him for all she was worth. “Okay, you and your son have to get out of here if I’m going to take the afternoon off.”
Desire glinted in his eyes. “Si?”
“Yes, but not for what you’re thinking.”
“What, then?”
“Shopping,” she whispered against his mouth. She stroked her tongue into his mouth and pressed herself against him. His erection was a long, hard length against her belly. Darts of desire shot straight down to her pelvis. “I need new lingerie. Lots of red and black lace, I’m thinking, and those stilettos that I hear are new in the market.”
He groaned and leaned his forehead against hers. He was breathing hard as if he’d run a mile. “I guess I should shave, then.”
She ran a hand over his jaw, loving the bristly texture against her palm. “No, no shave,” she whispered at his ear. Laughing, he hugged her one more time and Sophia thought life couldn’t get any better.
>
* * * * *
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Sleepless in Manhattan
by Sarah Morgan
PAIGE STOOD FOR a moment, thinking how unpredictable life was.
Who would have thought that herself, Eva and Frankie losing their jobs would have turned out so well?
Urban Genie existed only because life had laid a twist in her path.
Change had been forced on her, but it had proved to be a good thing.
Instead of fighting it, she should embrace it.
What had Jake said?
Sometimes you have to let life happen.
Maybe she should try to do that a bit more.
And maybe one day she’d look back and realize that not being with Jake was the best thing that could have happened—because if she’d been with Jake she wouldn’t have met—
Whom?
Would she ever meet someone who made her feel the way Jake did?
She stood leaning on the railing, gazing at the city she loved.
The lights of Manhattan sparkled like a thousand stars against a midnight sky and now, finally, as the last of the guests made their way to the elevators, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy it.
“Time to relax and celebrate, I think.”
Jake’s voice came from behind her and she turned to find him holding two glasses of champagne. He handed her one. “To Urban Genie.”
“I don’t drink while I’m working.” And while Jake was present this was definitely still work.
She knew better than to lower her guard a second time.
“The guests have gone. You’re no longer working. Your job is done.”
“I’m not off duty until the clear-up has finished.” And then tomorrow would be the follow-up, the postmortem. Discussions on what they might have done differently. They’d unpick every part of the event and put it back together again. By the time they’d finished they’d have found every weak spot and strengthened it.
“I don’t think one glass of champagne is going to impair your ability to supervise that. Congratulations.” He tapped his glass against hers. “Spectacular. Any new business leads?”
“Plenty. First up is a baby shower next week. Not much time to prepare, but it’s a good event.”
He winced. “A baby shower is good?”
“Yes. Partly because the woman throwing it for her pregnant colleague is CEO of a fashion importer. But all business is good.”
“Chase Adams is impressed. By tomorrow word will have got around that Urban Genie is the best event concierge company in Manhattan. Prepare to be busy.”
“I’m prepared.”
His praise warmed her. Her heart lifted.
He stood next to her and the brush of his sleeve against her bare arm made her shiver.
His gaze collided briefly with hers and she thought she saw a blaze of heat, but then he looked away and she did, too, her face burning.
She was doing it again. Imagining things.
And it had to stop.
It had to stop right now.
No more embarrassing herself. No more embarrassing him.
She turned her head to look at him but he was staring straight ahead, his handsome face blank of expression.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For asking us to do this. For giving us free rein and no budget. For trusting us. For inviting influential people and decision-makers. For making Urban Genie happen.” She realized how much she owed him. “I hate accepting help—”
“I know, but that isn’t what happened here. You did it yourself, Paige.”
“But I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. I’m grateful. If you hadn’t suggested it, pushed me that night on the terrace, I wouldn’t have done it.” She breathed in. Now was as good a time as any to say everything that needed to be said. And if she said it aloud maybe it would help both of them. “There’s something else—” She saw him tense and felt a flash of guilt that he felt the need to be defensive around her. Definitely time to clear the air. “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For misreading the situation the other night. For making things awkward between us. I was...” She hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I guess you could say I was doing an Eva. I was looking for things that weren’t there. I was close to panic and you were trying to distract me. I understand that now. I don’t want you feeling that you have to avoid me, or be careful around me. I’d never want that. I—”
“Don’t. Don’t apologize.”
He gripped the railing and she noticed his knuckles were white.
“I wanted to clear it up, that’s all. It was a kiss. Didn’t mean anything. Two people trapped in an elevator, one of whom was feeling vulnerable.” Shut up right now, Paige. “I know I’m not your type. I know you don’t have those feelings. I’m like your little sister. I get that. So—”
“Oh, for— Seriously?” He interrupted her with a low growl and finally turned to face her. “After what happened the other night you really think I see you as a little sister? You think I could kiss you that way if I felt like that about you?”
She stared at him, her heart drumming a rhythm against her chest. “I thought— You said— I thought you saw me that way.”
“Yeah, well, I tried.” He gave a humorless laugh and drained his champagne in one mouthful. “God knows, I tried. I’ve done everything short of asking Matt for a baby photo of you and sticking that to my wall. Nothing works. And do you know why? Because I do have feelings, you’re not little and you’re not my damn sister.”
Shock struck her like a bolt of lightning.
They were the only two people left on the terrace. Just them and the Manhattan night. The buildings rose around them—dark shapes enveloping them in intimate shadows and the shimmer of light.
The storm clouds were gathering, creating ominou
s shadows in the dark sky.
The sudden lick of wind held the promise of rain.
Paige was oblivious. The sky might have come crashing down and she wouldn’t have noticed.
Her mouth was so dry she could hardly form the words. “But if you feel that way, if you do have feelings, why do you keep saying—” She stumbled over the words, confused. “Why haven’t you ever done anything about it?”
“Why do you think?”
There was a cynical, bitter edge to Jake’s tone that didn’t fit the nature of their conversation. None of the pieces fitted. She couldn’t think. Everything about her had ceased to function.
“Because of Matt?”
“Partly. He’d kick my butt. And I wouldn’t blame him.” He stared down at his hands, as if they were something that didn’t belong to him. As if he was worried about what they might do.
“Because you’re not interested in relationships—or ‘complications,’ as you call them?”
“Exactly.”
“But sex doesn’t have to be a relationship. It can just be sex. You said so yourself.”
“Not with you.”
His tone was harsh and she took a step back, shocked. They’d often argued, baited each other, but she’d never heard that edge of steel in his voice before.
“Why? What’s different about me?”
“I’m not going to screw you and walk away, Paige. That’s not going to happen.”
“Because of our friendship? Because you’re worried it would be awkward?”
“Yeah, that, too.”
“Too? What else?” She stared at him, bemused.
He was silent.
“Jake? What else?”
He swore under his breath. “Because I care about you. I don’t want to hurt you. There’s already been enough damage to your heart. You don’t need more.”
The first raindrops started to fall.
Paige was still oblivious.
Her head spun with questions. Where? What? Why? How much? “So you— Wait—” She struggled to make sense of it. “You’re saying that you’ve been protecting me? No. That can’t be true. You’re the only one who doesn’t protect me. When everyone else is wrapping me in cotton wool, you handle me as though you’re throwing the first pitch at a game.”
