Page 140 of Claimed At First Sight

“That’s diabolical.”

“Yes, see? I’d make a terrible wife.”

She makes a half-hearted attempt to pull away, but I don’t loosen my arms around her. Not yet.

“I feel better now, thank you,” she says. “You can let go of me.”

Instead of releasing her, I lean down and press a soft kiss to the top of her head.

“Never.”

She tilts her head backward, peering up at me through her lashes. Instead of her usual teasing or sharp comeback, her dark eyes search mine with quiet sincerity.

There’s no sarcasm left in her gaze, no defensive wall to break through. She’s letting me see her.

“Thank you again,” she says, her voice earnest. “I needed that hug.”

I nod, not knowing what else to do. It takes far more willpower than it should to loosen my arms and let her step back.

Cold air rushes into the empty space between us, and instantly I miss her warmth.

Not wanting to dwell on that realization, I pull my phone from my pocket.

“Bring the vehicle around,” I tell one of my men. “And contact West Loop Veterinary. Tell them we’re coming.”

Mia’s attention snaps toward me.

“The cat’s going to a vet?”

I glance toward the animal bundled in Ari’s arms. She’s sitting on one of the overturned pallets, softly singing to calm the cat.

The sight is unexpectedly endearing. A lot of things seem to fall into that category this afternoon.

“The cat is injured,” I say, stating the obvious. “The clinic works with several shelters. If it recovers, they’ll place it.”

Ari stands up. “Why can’t I keep it?”

Mia and I exchange a look. I raise my eyebrows, telling her I’m leaving this conversation to her.

She clears her throat. “We’ll be going home to Sicily soon. We can’t burden Aldo or his staff with a cat. It will be much better off being placed with a family where it will be loved.”

Going home to Sicily.

Mia says it so casually, unaware of the irritation it stirs in me. I’ve become accustomed to thinking of her future in Chicago as an inevitability. Hearing her continue to discuss her departure as though it’s a foregone conclusion is strangely jarring.

I’ll let it go for now, not bothering to argue. Mia won’t be returning to Sicily.

Not only because she’ll be my wife, but because her mother will be living here. She’ll understand that soon enough.

Still, I doubt Aldo would want a cat roaming his house.

The SUVs arrive. Sienna opens her door and hops out. Relief is obvious on Mia’s face as she sees her. The two of them walk over to Ari, and Mia slips an arm around her shoulders.

“Let’s get this little cat looked after, shall we?”

Ari nods. I can tell she hasn’t given up hope of taking it home.

I watch Mia with her sisters. She’s fiercely protective of them. The responsibility isn’t something she wears because she’s expected to. It seems woven into her.