Page 96 of Worship

She nods, chewing the inside of her cheek, trying to hold her emotions at bay. I take the hand she has joined to Ella’s and kiss them both.

“Will you have us? Will you keep us?”

Gretchen reaches up and touches my cheek.

“You broke my heart. Twice,” she whispers.

“Forgive me?” I ask, hopeful. “Forgive me, and I’ll spend my life worshipping you.”

Her eyes close, and I bring my forehead down to hers.

“Maybe…” She smiles out.

My own smile tugs at my lips, and I look up, forcing her to do the same.

“It won’t be the last time you have to forgive me.” She raises her brows. “I’m a horrible grump in the morning, and I tend to lash out when I feel powerless, and you make me feel very humbled.”

Ella reaches out again for Gretchen, and this time, she takes her from me, snuggling Ella in close, and I continue.

“I’m a blanket hog, and my brothers say I’m unreasonable about food. But I want to do all that with you. Because I begin and end with you, Angel.”

Gretchen looks at Ella and then back to me.

“What should I say, Ella? I know—how about, giuro di essere il tuo tutto come sei mio.”I swear to be yours as you are mine.

It feels like the wind has been knocked out of me. Her voice, those words, all in Italian, are doing things to me. I reach out, grabbing a handful of her shirt, and pull her in close to me. My arms wrap around her waist, snuggling Ella between us.

“How are you saying this in Italian?”

My voice is filled with amazement. She’s never predictable, one of the reasons I love her so much.

“I looked it up on Google a while ago. I’ve been waiting for the right time.”

Her eyes crinkle as she smiles, and I lean in to feather a kiss on her lips.

“Sposami.”Marry me.My words are a prayer as I pull away.

“In English, Luca.” She laughs, but I shake my head.

“The next time I say it, I’ll be expecting an answer—in Italian.” I wink, before leaning down again and taking her mouth with more purpose.

THE SMELLS COMING FROM THEkitchen are making me drool, almost as much as watching Luca, shirtless, jeans slung low, barefoot, and cooking.

He’s made himself right at home, but like he told me after kissing me, I’m his home, so the walls around us don’t really matter. It wasn’t difficult to forgive him because there’s never been an ending to our story I was willing to accept that didn’t have us together.

“All of what you’re throwing down should be illegal,” I say semi-seductively since I’m in the presence of a child.

His child… I look down at her and can’t help but picture her older, holding my hand and loving me.

“Yeah? Like what you see? You want to show me how much later?” He chuckles, breaking me from my thoughts. Luca rubs his rock-hard stomach. “I’m dying for something to eat. Maybe just a taste?”

It’s clear he isn’t talking about the food he’s making.I could lick him.

“Luca,” I chastise playfully, leaning my head toward Ella, who is crawling around me.

“What? Ella can’t understand what I’m saying. Would you feel better if I spelled it out?”

I laugh, and he wags his brows, taking a taste of the sauce he’s making. He pulls the spoon from his lips and smiles.