Page 114 of Disarming Caine

The television shut off. “They are now.”

I eased the doors open. There was weight to the evening. Like it was bigger, more important than any other night we’d spent together. It was thick in the air and made my insides tingle to be part of it.

His perpetual smirk was there, hands casually resting on the chair arms, and his hair had that wave in it that begged to be touched. I didn’t want to go anywhere other than the ten feet it would take me to get to him.

“You’re so handsome.”

“Does that mean I can open my eyes?”

I leaned against the bedroom door frame, hand on one hip. Heart hammering in my chest. This was all a crazy dream. “Yeah.”

His sharp intake of breath and the anticipatory lick of his lips sent molten heat straight to my core. He scanned me up and down from his chair, possessing every inch of my body with his eyes.

“You like?” I asked hesitantly.

He stood, smoothed his jacket, and gave a slight tug to his shirt cuffs. He stalked toward me and scooped up one hand to kiss, eyes raking over me, full of all the innuendo he could manage. Which was quite a lot. “What are you wearing underneath?”

My lungs grew tighter as he looked at me like I was already naked. “It’s a secret.”

“Is it red? Mine’s red. Always wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve for luck.”

I bit my lip to hold back a nervous giggle. “You’ll have to wait until after midnight to find out.”

He checked his watch and smirked. “It’s after midnight in Napoli.”

“Fortunately, you’re here, not there.” I withdrew my hand from his. “Unfortunately, that means you’ll have to wait.”

The smirk ratcheted up further. “You’re wooing me now, sì?”

I inclined my head, batting my eyelashes. Looking foolish, for sure. “Why Dr. Ferraro, I believe I am.”

“Consider me wooed.” He traced one edge of the halter from my neck, along my cleavage, where he stopped and frowned. He’d found the tape. “What’s this?”

“Insurance.”

He laughed, a throaty sound, full of desire mixed with amusement. “You’ll be the death of me, I think.”

“Not likely.”

“Samantha,” he said, tumbling my name out slowly, staring into my eyes. The heat faded, replaced by a different intensity. By love. Absolutely pouring out of him. “I joke a lot.”

I let out a little chuckle, mostly from nerves. His face was so serious.

“But I want you to know that you’re everything I’ve ever wanted. I know you worry I’ll grow tired of my boring claims adjuster from Brenton, Michigan—” He rolled his eyes, quoting my words back to me. “—but I hope last New Year’s Day was the last one we spend apart.”

“Watch yourself, Dr. Ferraro.” I painted on the best smile I could to cover up the anxious energy swirling around my chest. “If you keep saying all that stuff to me, I might start believing it.”

No sooner were the words out of my mouth than my stomach twisted into a knot.

Oh my god.

Ididbelieve it.

“This is exactly what I’m trying to do.” He winked and took my hand. “Shall we go downstairs now?”

My feet wouldn’t budge. It was all real. I placed his hand over my heart. Hewasthe one, wasn’t he? “Thank you.”

“For what?”