Page 177 of The Temptation

I glance down at the screen as her thumb furiously types a reply.

Me: This is Lucia, and if my husband ends up with so much as a scrape on his kneecaps, I’ll personally rearrange that pretty face of yours. Capire.

My attention swings back to him as I watch him read her reply, and when he looks past me, to her, with a cockysmirk, I hear a tiny growl bubble in the back of Lucia’s throat.

I’m half expecting her to jump up, leap on his back, and put him in a headlock, but instead, she leans towards me and whispers, “I’m going to make it my mission in life that his next born wears that damn dress.”

I throw my head back and crack up. I can’t help it. I adore her fiery side, and I don’t doubt her threat for a second.

I adore everything about this woman.

I drape my arm over her shoulder and lean in to place my lips on the side of her head. “I fucking love you, Mrs De Luca.”

She’s like a gift that keeps on giving.

The beautiful smile she gives me in return hits me straight in the chest. “I love you more, Mr De Luca.”

“Not possible, babe.”

As the laughter fades and the conversations around me blur into background noise, I find myself reflecting on how far we’ve come. How content I am, and how full my life is now.

The love that Lucia and I share has evolved into a quiet force that holds us steady in a volatile world that never is.