Page 124 of Steal My Heart

Like Nola, Remi has the ability to catnap on a dime. She’s drifted off with her head in my lap while my fingers run through her damp hair.

Me, I’m far less relaxed as I watch the video of her abduction.

“Idiot! This isn’t his sister!”

I hit pause, my nostrils flaring. Trying not to jostle Remi, I retrieve my phone from my pocket and call Nic, who’s on his way to the weekend house. “The shipment order that I paused, I want it to resumeimmediately.”

“You sure, boss?”

“I’m sure.”

“Understood.”

I resume watching the video, wishing I hadn’t with Remi on my lap; my body’s physically vibrating with rage.

Remi stirs, her hazel eyes meeting mine.

She’s so resilient, and dammit, she shouldn’t have to be. But she was right. I’m the one who keeps putting her in dangerous situations.

“Mai più,” I whisper to her, closing the laptop.

“I’m sorry?” With a yawn and a stretch of her arms, she shifts to sit beside me.

“We’re going home.”

Remi’s forehead bunches. “Do you mean the weekend house?”

I confirm with the slice of my head.

“But I thought the weekend house wasn’t convenient for handling business,” she reminds me of my rigid words.

“It isn’t. But home is wherever you’re happiest.”

Remi lifts her knee up and over, and I grab onto her hips as she straddles me. She playfully tickles my beard. “Turns out I’m happiest with a broody bastard. Who’da thunk?” Her smile falters as she drops her hand. “But I wasn’t happy watching you with Laurie today,” she admits quietly, burrowing her face in the crook of my neck. “And I never want to see the Mississippi River again.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I say against her hair, “If it’s any consolation, I got no enjoyment from it.”

“I’m not the kind of woman a man like you has on his arm.”

Anger rumbles in my chest. “Says who? It’s my damn arm.”

“You have an image?—”

“Of being a broody bastard,” I say impatiently. “Yes, yes, we’ve established that.”

“I don’t want to be your hidden queen; a dirty little secret.”

“Look at me,” I command.

She rises up from her hiding spot, her expression guarded.

I fucking hate it.

Cupping her cheeks, I assure her, “The world will learn you are mine when things settle down. Doing so right now would only put a target on your back.”

“What if your world never settles down?”

“It will,” I vow, hoping it’s one I can keep. “Now, the only thing ‘dirty’ is what I want to do to you.” My lips tickle Remi’s ear as I describe the fantasy she’s inspired.