Page 82 of Humility

“True, but we still have to own our part in all this.”

“How is it that you haven’t changed a bit? You’re still just as sweet as I remember.” I smiled.

“I’m only sweet with you. The rest of the world can burn for all I care.” I buried my nose in her hair and loved her laugh. She turned her head, but I didn’t move, and my lips hovered over hers. My pulse pounded harder as I waited to see what she would do. Her golden eyes bore holes into my soul, making me want to confess every last sin and lay it at her feet to judge.

I didn’t care about my healing shoulder as I cupped her face and gave in to the need. Touching my lips to hers sent a charge racing down my spine. Deepening the kiss, her hands gripped my shirt and held me tighter.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Angelo said we should get going to retrieve Jasmine’s things and whatever is needed to create a new greenhouse here,” Enzo said.

My lips lingered on hers, hoping he would disappear, but I felt him standing there. It made me want to hit him.

“He’s not going to let me move back home, is he?”

I slowly pulled away and stood.

“No, he’s not,” I said. “And if I’m being honest, it’s not safe, and I’d end up sleeping in your driveway every night.”

“If it were Angelo put in that kind of discomfort, I’d think about it.” I couldn’t help but smile. Jasmine pushed herself to her feet, a sparkle in her eye, and I knew she had an idea.

“Enzo, did Angelo give you a limit to what I can spend on the new greenhouse?”

He shook his head no. “No, he just said go shopping if it was what you wanted.

Jasmine laughed. “Well, in that case, let’s go shopping.”

This seemed like a bad idea suddenly—a very bad idea.

“Give us a second,” I said to Enzo and as soon as he was out of earshot I searched Jasmine’s face. “Did you ask your father not to come after us?” She looked down and I knew the answer. “After everything we put you through, you should’ve had him send everyone to kill us.”

“I couldn’t do it. Call me weak if you want, but I loved you both, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if my papa killed you because of me.”

I tilted Jasmine’s head up, wanting her to look me in the eyes. “I said it once, but I will say it again. We never deserved you, but I love you and I’m going to spend every last breath I have to prove that to you,” I said. Laying my forehead against hers, I could only pray she let me into her heart again.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

ENZO

I thought I’d seen Angelo furious. But I’d never seen him as angry as when Jasmine refused to stay in his bedroom and locked herself in one of the spare rooms on the opposite side of the house.

Angelo swore as he marched past me and slammed the office door, closing him and Dario in together. I could hear him having a total meltdown, and I was honestly worried he would burn the house down around us. He was that angry.

Making a small plate of sweets and grabbing a bottle of wine, I decided that now was as good a time as any to try and apologize. It had been a while since I felt so out of place. I was the player, the happy go lucky guy, but it was my impulsive personality that had me hopping from one bed to the next. Which was great for a time, but there was a point when I realized I had no real relationships of any kind in my life. Everything had become a picturesque snapshot, but nothing more.

It was also the first divide between me and my family. My history with my parents wasn’t terrible, but there was nothing quite as heavy as the disappointed stare of a father. Angelo and Dario became my found family, and I’d been comfortable until I saw Jasmine and realized I wanted more from life than being on the run and hiding among the shadows.

My knock seemed loud in the quiet hallway as I tapped my knuckles against the door.

“Go away, Angelo.”

“It’s not Angelo,” I said and held my breath. I could hear her coming closer, and my heart thumped faster with each step. The click of the lock sent a jolt of excitement down my spine.

Jasmine looked up and down the hall. “I’m surprised you’re alone.”

“I wanted a chance to talk. I know you said you didn’t want to hear what I had to say, but…” I cleared my throat. “I hope you changed your mind.”

She leaned against the door frame, and the adorable, clumsy woman I’d met was hard to see now. Not that she was acting any differently, but I couldn’t get images of her walking by her father’s side and marrying a Don or Don’s son out of my head. My family had worked for the families for years. I was close to this world long before being accepted into it. I knew my place, but I’d never been much for the rules.

Jasmine stood still as her penetrating gaze interrogated my soul without saying a single word.