Page 98 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Calisto took his hand away, and every single part ofEmma felt the loss. She wanted him touching her again, she wanted him closer.It didn’t matter how dangerous and idiotic it was, she needed it.

She didn’t say a thing.

Calisto moved beside her, and put a tiny gift boxabout the size of her palm on the counter.

“Better I give it to you now,” he said. “No one elsewill understand.”

“Your gift is under the tree. The girls picked it outwith me.”

She hoped he liked the black rosary with its silvercross and chain. It reminded her of the one he had given to her. He had yet toask for it back.

She made sure to touch it at least once a day.

Calisto smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind. Open it, andthen don’t let anyone see it.”

Without another word, Calisto caught Emma’s chinbetween his forefinger and thumb, and pressed a fast kiss to her lips. Beforeshe could react to his kiss, he was leaving the kitchen with a two finger wave.

Stolen moments.

Calisto couldn’t possibly know, but Emma clung ontoeach one.

Every single time.

Shooting the kitchen entryway a look, Emma listened tomake sure no one was coming back from the living room. She quickly opened thetop of the gift box, and froze in place as she saw the small item nestledinside black velvet.

A casino chip. From the casino where herpenthouse had once been. Where Calisto played her right off a poker table withhis cocky as hell grin.

The white chip was embossed with golden dots allaround the outer rim. The casino’s logo was emblazoned on the middle along withthe dollar value.

It was a little thing.

A stupid thing.

And she loved it.

Emma laughed under her breath, amused and overwhelmed atthe same time. She plucked the chip out of the velvet case with tremblingfingers. Her vision blurred as she blinked away the sudden tears gathering inher eyes.

Somehow, Calisto had either kept a chip from his timein Vegas, or he got one sent to him.

It didn’t matter.

It meant the same thing to her.

His time there had been important enough for him towant to keep something from it. His time with her had been important tohim.

Emma held the chip tighter, hiding it in her palm.

The simplest things were the best kind of things.

Emma

“That’s an awful one,” Affonso said, flicking hiswrist at Emma.

Emma glanced at the dress in the mirror, appreciatingthe soft colors and smooth lines. It wasn’t housewife enough forAffonso’s tastes.

“You’ve only seen a few of this season’s collection,”the shop woman said. “Give it a few more dresses and see how you feel.”

Affonso sneered at the woman. “If they’re all likethis one but in different colors, I think we’ve had enough for the day.”