The last time she woke, the sun hadn’t been up long, but she slid out of bed and headed for the shower.

“There’s no window in there, so that’s good. Just lock the door for protection, doll.”

“Do you mean to protect me from you while I’m naked and wet?” A hint of a smile played on her lips. At least she was starting to joke around with me again.

“Doll, no door in the world could protect you from me under those circumstances.” I winked and flashed her my best smile. “But after last night, I’m not taking any chances with your safety. We have to get you somewhere more secure before I can bust down the door and join you in the shower. Only then will you know what wet means.”

“I’ll shower first, then you can jump in while I stand guard. But, Damon, when you get out, we have to talk about last night. All of it. If I even think you’re holding out on me this time, I will cut you out of my life completely.”

“Is my sweet Louisiana belle becoming a ferocious tiger on me?”

She placed her hand on her stomach, instinctively protecting the precious life inside. “I’ll be whatever I have to be for my baby. Even if that means I’ll be a single parent.”

The jab to my heart couldn’t have hurt worse if she’d used a dagger and physically pierced it. Was she the type of person who would keep a child from its father? A father who wanted nothing more than to make the mother and his child his whole world? My stunned silence and pained expression told her all she needed to know, apparently. Her aggressive stance softened, and her gaze fell to the floor.

“We’ll talk about everything after breakfast. I’m trying not to make any rash decisions about anything, Damon. But so much has hit me all at once, and I’m still trying to find my footing after confirming my pregnancy just yesterday. You may have to be a little more patient with me than normal.”

“I can do that, doll. Jump in the shower. When you get out, I’ll make breakfast, then we’ll talk. My cards are face-up on the table, whatever you want to know.”

“Thank you—for protecting me last night. And for this—for the way you’re trying. I have to keep reminding myself your family doesn’t usually operate this way with outsiders. I’m finding it hard to be understanding about some aspects of this myself, so I appreciate the effort you’re giving.”

She stepped into the bathroom and locked the door behind her as I’d asked. But I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling her she wasn’t an outsider now. She was part of the family. And she always would be. Joining a mafia family was a lot like taking marriage vows, only there was no divorce that could dissolve the ties. She was married to the family the same as one day—soon—she’d marry me. And, like the family expectations, divorce wasn’t a word in my vocabulary either.

But I knew my love better than she thought I did, and telling her those terms would only cause her feathers to ruffle. That would get us nowhere fast. But if she saw what it meant to be part of something as big and wonderful and mad and crazy as my family and all that came with it, I was certain I could persuade her to my line of thinking. And every step we took together until she reached that conclusion on her own would be another building block to cementing our future together.

One step at a time, doll, and you’ll be mine forever.

“Damon, I’m out of the shower now,” she called out about twenty minutes later.

I stepped into the doorway when she started combing her hair. “Thought you might enjoy this while I shower, then we can sit down and eat together.”

“Mmm, that smells so good. What is it?”

“It’s called Passion Tango, from Havana Tea. It’s delicious.”

“Where’d this come from? I don’t have this in my kitchen.”

“Percy brought it over when he brought me a change of clothes.”

She took the steaming mug from me and sipped it carefully. “This is so good, Damon. Thank you.”

When she started to leave the bathroom, I wrapped my hand around her elbow and stopped her gently. “I need you to stay in here with me, with the door closed and locked.”

She cut her eyes up at me, a mixture of wariness and disbelief swirling in them. “And why would I need to do that?”

“One, because a man showed up here last night with intentions of taking you to Lorenzo.”

Her eyes grew wide, and her lips parted on her gasp. She knew she couldn’t defend herself against a man three times her size.

“Two, because if I hadn’t shown up when I did, he would’ve crawled through your window and achieved his mission without my knowing where to even start looking for you.”

She covered her heart with her hand and released a ragged breath. I knew she had the same thoughts I had—what Lorenzo and his goons would do to her, in a place where I couldn’t find her to save her.

“And, last—but most important—three, because I’m about to get naked, and you know you want to watch.”

She dropped her chin to her chest and released a hesitant laugh followed by a resigned sigh. “Fine, Damon. I will wait in here with the door locked while you shower. I’ll just…sit on the commode and drink my delicious hot tea.”

“By all means, my lady.” I closed the lid and put a folded towel on top for cushioning. “Please have a seat and enjoy the show. Your face will be at the perfect level for viewing.”

There’s my sweet Southern belle and her scorching red face. So, she is still in there under that tough bravado.

She tried to avert her eyes, but I caught her looking. Several times. Because I took my time getting undressed directly in front of her. Unabashed. Unashamed. Blatantly offering everything I had for her taking. If the number of times she licked her lips was any indication, I thought we’d move on to the next phase of our reconciliation sooner rather than later.

We chatted while I showered, and she dried her hair and put on her makeup. She kept the conversation light, actively avoiding any topic that could be potentially volatile. But I was onto her game. She wanted to wait until I was dressed and we were on even footing again. With me naked and wet in the shower right beside her, she was more than a little distracted.

She was more than a little tempted.

To throw gasoline onto the flames, I purposely didn’t towel off before I stepped out of the shower. In fact, I didn’t have a towel in my hand at all.

“Sorry, doll. I must have forgotten to grab a towel before I came in here. Mind if I use yours?”

Her eyes followed the droplets of water as they ran down my torso and disappeared into my happy trail. Her lips parted, and her tongue darted out, swiping across her lips and making my dick jump in response. The rise and fall of her chest came in quicker bursts, and she was at a loss for words. I was just glad to have her somewhat under my spell again. From her small pants and lustful gazes, she remembered the pleasure I could give her.

“Is that a yes?”

She looked up at my face and caught a glimpse of my smirk. She shook her head and snatched the towel off the rod where it hung behind me. “Yes, that’s a yes. Can we leave the bathroom now?” She thrust the towel at me, hitting me in the chest with it. I calmly took it from her hand and wiped down the front of my body.

“Let me check the room first. Sit tight.” When I turned toward the door, I felt her eyes burning the skin of my ass as she stared at me. I looked over my shoulder at her, catching her in the act, and smiled. “Go ahead and look all you want. We both know you love my ass.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth in a poor attempt to hide her smile. It was there, though. Hope was there too—for my part. Hope that we could overcome the obstacles I’d put between us and get back to what we were good at. I grabbed my gun from the vanity counter and unlocked the door, stepping over the threshold ready to fire at anyone on the other side.

“You’re still naked, Damon,” Jillian said from behind me.

“Yeah, I can shoot just as well naked as I can with a suit on, doll. My clothes are out here on the bed. Come on out.”

She watched me dress, and I couldn’t help but notice the look of disappointment on her face when I pulled my shirt over my head and finished hiding my body from her view. But she knew I could read her like a book, so she kept her gaze anywhere except meeting mine.

“Can I go into my bedroom and get out of my nightgown now?”

“No need to wait until we’re in your bedroom. You can get out of that gown right here, right now. I’ll even help you.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Ha. I think that’s exactly what you meant. A little Freudian slip of the tongue. Say the word, doll, and I’ll give you a slip of my tongue you won’t ever forget.”

Her skin flushed, her breathing hitched, and a slight tremor ran through, causing her hands to quiver. “I need to get my clothes on. Right now.”

Fuck if she wasn’t the most alluring woman I’d ever met. Just a few words of the right kind and she was more than ready for me.

“Come on, doll. I’ll escort you to your bedroom.” I slowly opened the door and checked the hall before taking her hand and leading her to her room.

Once inside, I locked the door behind us and kept watch on the windows while she stepped into her closet to dress. I heard soft sighs and muffled groans between the sounds of hangers sliding across the bar. She was still fighting her feelings for me, and I understood her hesitancy. People who gave me a reason to distrust them didn’t get a second chance…or even a second breath.

Maybe she should’ve fallen into that category from the moment the knife in her hand was intended for me. But I knew, even at that very second, she couldn’t go through with it. She wasn’t the hardened type. She was soft and warm. Loving and giving. Feisty and full of life. Gorgeous and down to earth. And I knew, even before that fucked-up night, that I was in love with her. I just wasn’t ready to face the truth that she was the only happily ever after for me.

I wasn’t ready to put my full trust in someone and hand my heart over to her. No reservations and no holding back. No holds barred. But that changed when I lost her, and I realized what a fucking moron I was for doubting her in the first place. The shock to my system made me realize my heart was all in with her even if my mind wasn’t ready for any of it.

“What now? I mean, I doubt your plan involves me staying here after someone tried to break in last night.” She stepped out of her closet wearing a cotton dress that hit at mid-thigh, revealing her luscious legs and supple skin.

“You’re exactly right. My men are watching, but it’s still too dangerous for you to stay here. They wouldn’t be able to stop a drive-by shooting or a Molotov cocktail lobbed through your front window.”

She closed her eyes and pressed her fingers against her temples. “Don’t say it, Damon.”

“You’ve only had one prenatal visit. There are plenty of great doctors there. Wonderful hospitals. Top-notch care.”

She kept shaking her head through my every word, fighting me every step of the way. But then, she wouldn’t be Jillian if she didn’t have that independent spirit.

“Mama and Aunt Maria are there. They can help us, give us advice, cook for us. My sister Carrie told me she wished you lived there so she could get to know you better. My whole family loves you, Jillian. Almost as much as I do.”

“You know, Damon, you don’t fight fair at all. You just used your mother, your aunt, and your sister against me, all at once. Then you mess with my head and tell me you love me.”

“Jillian, I’ve never declared my love for anyone outside of my immediate family before in my life. Not one single woman can claim I’ve ever said those three little words to her. You are the only one for me. You always will be.”

She whisked a tear from the corner of her eye before it had a chance to fall on her cheek. “You want to take me back to New York, huh? I just don’t know, Damon. I’ve finally gotten settled back in here. I have a job to think of, health insurance, a routine I’m used to. Can I not just move somewhere else here?”

“Jillian, you know better than that. This only ends one way, doll.” A thought occurred to me about her reluctance. She didn’t want to leave the area where her mom was buried. “I’ll bring you back to visit her grave as often as you want. All you have to do is tell me, and I’ll make it happen for you.”

“Really?” Her tone was so hopeful and so surprised.

“Of course. I’d do anything to make you happy, Jillian.”

She nodded slowly, still deep in thought. “Let me think about it for a few minutes.”

“Okay. You think while we eat. I still need to feed you and our baby. Come on, doll.”

We walked to the kitchen, and I cooked a big breakfast for her, along with another piping hot cup of tea, and we ate together—enjoying each other’s company. After we worked side by side on the dishes, I took her hand in mine and led her to the living room. She said she wanted to talk and she wanted all the details, and I had every intention of answering her questions.

But when we turned the corner, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. The SUV with the blacked-out windows creeping by her house caught my eye just in time to grab her and drop to the floor with my body completely covering hers. The bullets sprayed the front of the house, sending shards of the overly large picture window and all kinds of debris hurtling toward us. She tried to be brave and weather the storm of shrapnel zinging over our heads, but the terror of the moment won. I could barely hear her shrill screams over the noise of the rapid gunfire.

Shots rang out from a different direction, and I realized my men had flanked them, drawing fire away from the house. Still, there was no way I’d lift my head and risk moving from the relatively secluded spot where we fell. Shards of glass were stuck in my back and all down my side, but nothing I couldn’t survive. Squealing tires and familiar voices yelling my name told me the coast was clear.

“Jillian, are you hurt?” I pushed up and sat back on my heels, checking her over for wounds. “Are you shot? Answer me, sweetheart!”

“N-n-no.”

She sat up and wrapped her arms around me, her whole body shaking violently. Her arms scraped the ends of glass that stuck out of my skin, but I ignored the pain and ran my hands over her instead. Not feeling any obvious wounds, I wrapped my arms around her protectively and shouted orders to my men.

My only certainty was I had to get her out of that small town and under the protection of my family at a fortified safe house. That was the second attempt in as many days, and the force had increased exponentially. Their next move, if they couldn’t snatch her, would be to bomb her house and obliterate it completely.

“Jilly, doll. We have to go right now. Do you understand?”

“Y-y-yes. T-take me with you.”