The Moretti Arrangement by Katherine Garbera Page A

much his mistress when he left her behind in Milan, which made her feel foolish besides.
    Dominic hadn’t promised her any more than he’d given her. He treated her well. She unlocked the door to the apartment he’d insisted they live in. The welcoming scent of orange blossoms greeted her as she put her keys on the hall table and walked into the living area. There was a crisp breeze blowing in from the balcony.
    “ Sì, Angelina. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I got an earlier flight back.”
    “I’m so glad,” she said. “I missed you.”
    “Good.”
    “You can be very arrogant at times.”
    “You’re right I can. Did you miss me in bed?” he asked, crossing the room and taking her in his arms.
    “Yes,” she said. She had missed his arms around her during the night and the comfort she took from knowing he was there next to her.
    “Me, too. I didn’t expect to miss you,” he said, his confession coming quietly from him.
    “Me either,” she said. He led the way to the couch and sat down, pulling her down on his lap.
    He kissed her passionately and she pulled back. “Can we pause for a bit?”
    “Why?” he asked.
    “It’s…it’s been a long day,” she said, holding herself stiffly. “I think I’d be happy to have your arms around me.”
    She knew she was being needy, and a part of her wanted to push hard to see exactly what she meant to Dominic. If he pushed her away, then she would simply try to stop caring for him. Try to keep herself from falling for him.
    “I’d love to hold you. Go change into something comfortable and get into bed. Have you eaten?”
    She shook her head. “But I’m not hungry.”
    “I will join you in a minute.”
    Angelina left Dominic in the living room to go and get changed. She took her time washing her face, and tried not to read too much into Dominic’s actions. He was a kind man—she shouldn’t be surprised that he’d take care of her when she didn’t feel well.
    But what did surprise her was that he’d do something so unselfish for her. There was nothing for him in his comforting her. Nothing at all. And she knew she hadn’t been able to get any further information from Barty or ESP Motors, but tonight it didn’t seem to matter.
    Tonight it felt to her as if Dominic cared about her simply because she was his woman.
    She changed into the silk pajamas she kept on a hook on the back of the bathroom door and came out to find the covers turned back on the bed. Dominic had stripped down to his boxers and a T-shirt.
    He held his hand out to her and she went to him. She climbed into the bed on his side and then slid over. He got in after her and pulled covers over her before drawing her close to his side. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, relaxing for the first time…since her mother had died. No one had held her like this since her parents had died.
    She sniffed, trying not to cry thinking about the hugs that she missed.
    “What’s the matter?”
    “Nothing. I was just thinking of the past,” she said.
    “What about it?”
    “My parents. I didn’t realize until this moment how much I missed the simple things they did for me.”
    He hugged her closer, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
    “You lost someone to share your life with,” he said.
    “Yes, and my dreams.”
    “What are you dreams, cara mia? Share them with me,” he said, stroking his hand down her back.
    She shifted in his arms until his hand was rubbing right where she ached. “I don’t know what my dreams are anymore. I think I’ve always wanted to live in the countryside, have a family of my own.”
    “Would you stay at home with the children?” he asked her.
    “Yes, I’d like that very much. I know that might not be possible, but I’d be willing to sacrifice material things if I had to. What about you?” she asked, meeting his dark gaze with her own.
    “I think I’d like my wife to stay home with the kids. My mother was there for my brothers and me