Page 135 of His Kidnapped Queen
We say our goodbyes, hugging people and waving and slowly walking out to the limo. I open the door for her and stuff in her dress, barely having enough room for myself as I get in and close the door.
There’s a sea of fabric between us and Sophia fights at it, making me laugh out loud.
“I can’t wait to get out of this thing.”
“I can’t wait to rip it off you.”
“Don’t you dare! There’s a gazillion buttons on this thing and we paid too much money to?—”
I cut her off with a kiss, laughing against her mouth.
“Fine. No ripping the expensive dress. But you know I could buy you five more as keepsakes.”
“Maybe, but Rosa needs a future, too,” she says stubbornly.
I don’t tell her there’s enough money for Rosa’s great-grandchildren to live high on the hog.
“And maybe I should get a job,” she continues as I let down the window for some fresh air.
I scoff. “A job? Why?”
“It’s not exactly fulfilling to sit at home counting our money.”
“We have people to count our money for us.”
She laughs. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I guess I just haven’t ever lived like that. I always had to make a living. To take care of Rosa.”
“Well, you did enough taking care of her to last a lifetime. It’s my turn, now. And she’ll never do without.”
We pull up to the house and I get out first, pulling Sophia out and all of her bunched up dress.
She waddles to the steps and I scoop her up with one arm, bracing myself on the railing with the other as we walk up the stairs.
She squeaks. “You’re gonna drop me.”
“I’m not going to drop you, pixie. I got you.”
She holds onto my neck for dear life, but I don’t stumble. I’ve healed completely even though Sophia still worries.
There’s a medic here, not Charlie, but a medic nonetheless, and he’s given me a clean bill of health.
“You’re going to pop a,” she starts, but I cut her off.
“There’s no stitches to pop anymore, baby, remember?”
She pouts up at me as I sit her down on the bed. “I just worry about you, Luca.”
“I know you do,belissima. But you don’t need to worry anymore. I’m all healed and I’m not getting into more trouble. I promise you that.”
“Thank god,” she whispers. “I can’t be worried you won’t make it back every time you leave the house.”
“With you and Rosa here, I’ll barely have to leave.”
I’ve already shed my suit jacket somewhere back at the reception, so I unbutton my shirt and tug it off.
She reaches up to trail her hand along my zipper scar and I shiver.
“You could have died,” she mourns, her blue eyes watering.
