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Sal’s eyes narrowed, instantly business.“You did?”
“Yes!”Catarina bounced slightly on her toes, unable to contain the spark of triumph.“I thought maybe if I drew the whole scene, it might help you track her down faster.”
For a long moment he studied her, unreadable.Then he nodded slowly.“That could be useful.But why not do it properly?Go to an art store.Get real paper.Charcoal pencils.Whatever you need.”
She blinked, startled by the suggestion, her mind spinning at the possibilities.“Would you…really be okay with that?”she whispered, suddenly aware of the other men watching, measuring her.
Sal chuckled, bending to brush his mouth against hers.The kiss was brief but delicious, an anchor of certainty.“Go.Buy whatever you want.Use the credit card I gave you.”His gaze hardened, stern but protective.“The one you still haven’t touched.”
Her lips parted, a small gasp of wonder escaping.Hope and excitement shimmered in her eyes.“Really?”
“Really,” he assured her.
Catarina rose onto her toes, surprising even herself as she tugged him down and kissed him.Hard.The spark of daring lit through her veins, and when Sal’s arm wrapped firmly around her back, pulling her flush against him, joy burst inside her chest like fireworks.
For several long, dizzying seconds, she let herself drown in the kiss—the wonder of his mouth claiming hers, the thrill of those hard, unyielding muscles pressed against her softer curves.He tasted like strength and danger and something impossibly sweet when his teeth tugged teasingly at her lip, coaxing her into deepening the kiss.
The pen and paper slipped unnoticed from her hands to the floor as she gave in, sliding her fingers into his hair, her whole body humming with delight.For once, there was no fear, no shadow of her father, no hesitation.Just her.Just Sal.Just this kiss.
The deep, masculine chuckles behind them jolted her back to awareness.She gasped, trying to pull away, but Sal’s arm held her fast.His grip wasn’t just possessive—it was protective, steady, reassuring.And in truth, she didn’t really want to escape.So instead, she turned her head with a breathless laugh, her cheeks burning, to find the two men grinning like wolves.
Color flooded her face, but instead of shrinking, Catarina laughed outright, pressing a playful hand against Sal’s chest as though to scold him for kissing her senseless in front of an audience.He finally released her, and she smoothed her dress, still glowing with happiness that no amount of teasing could erase.
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation,” she said lightly to the men, her voice softer, but warm with humor.Then she glanced at Sal, only to stumble back at the look in his eyes.There was heat there—undeniable, unhidden—and it made her pulse skitter with wild excitement.
He growled, low and promising, and Catarina spun before she could melt right there on the spot.“I’ll be back soon,” she called over her shoulder, lifting her hand in a breezy wave, trying to mask her giddiness with nonchalance.
“Tony!”Sal barked.
The man appeared instantly, as if waiting just around the corner.
“What’s up, boss?”Tony asked, bracing his hands on his hips.
“Catarina needs to go to an art store.I haven’t taught her to drive yet, so make sure she has a driver.Tell whoever you send to see that she gets everything she needs.Don’t let her scrimp.
Chapter 18
Salwatchedashispretty wife nearly skipped down the hallway, light on her feet like she’d just discovered how much fun it was to live.The sway of her hips, the spark in her eyes, and that bold kiss that still lingered on his lips… she was an intoxicating mixture of innocence and sensuality.His body still ached from it, hard and hungry, and for a split second he almost called her back.He could picture it too easily—dragging her onto his lap, kissing her until she moaned, until her nails bit into his shoulders, until…
“Stop drooling, Romano.”
Sal turned his head slowly, his glare landing on Luca, who merely lifted one dark eyebrow and sipped his scotch like he hadn’t just risked his life.
“Newlyweds!”Paulo grunted, draining his own glass.He slapped it down on the table with a heavy thud.“They make my skin itch.”
Luca chuckled, leaning back in his chair.“It took me six months before I could stop staring every time Ava left a room.You’ll forgive Sal if he’s still walking around half-erect.”
Sal’s glare darkened, but he was in too good a mood to waste energy on it.His body was on fire, yes, but it wasn’t just lust.Catarina was gaining confidence, blooming under his roof, and nothing had ever looked so damned sexy.
“Six months?”Paulo scoffed, his big frame shifting in the leather chair.“You still stare at Ava when she leaves the room, you dumb ox.It’s pathetic.”
“And you’ll do the same,” Luca fired back smoothly, “once you find a woman who’ll put up with your broody ass.”
“Ha!”Paulo barked out a laugh, then looked directly at Sal.“Better advice for you, Romano?Just bed her and get her out of your system before you start writing her sonnets.”
The room went quiet for half a second.Sal thought about punching him.Then about breaking his jaw.Then he realized the insult wasn’t even worth the effort—because Paulo didn’t get it.He didn’t understand that some women never left a man’s system.Ava hadn’t left Luca’s.Lexie hadn’t left Max’s.And Catarina sure as hell wasn’t leaving his.
Luca smirked, enjoying the tension.“Don’t knock it, Ruffino.Wait until you meet the woman who makes you forget every other skirt you’ve ever seen.Then we’ll see who’s writing poetry.”
