Page 223 of Lorenzo

“And I could have been hit by a bus crossing the street,” she retorts.

“Don't be ridiculous.”

“You're the one being ridiculous,” she snaps. “If I had walked in here this morning and found someone waiting for me, I would have handled it."

"That's the problem," I say, raising my voice.

“I'm not some damsel in distress, Lorenzo—”

“Madonna santa, che donna testarda. Testarda, cocciuta, impossibile—”

Her eyes narrow, and she steps forward to drill her finger into my chest. “I said don't curse at me.”

“I am not finished.” I drag a hand through my hair and switch back to English. “You are stubborn, impossible, and entirely too convinced that being capable means nothing bad can happen to you.”

“I know bad things can happen to me. You want me to run and hide? Is that what you want? You want me to call you, and wait for my knight in shining armor to come save me?”

She drills her finger into my chest again. “That's not who I am. I've never been that person. And I'm not suddenly going to become that person just because we're sleeping together, and if you think—"

I grab her arms and drag her up to her toes, so we're eye to eye. “Sleeping together? Avevo ragione, sei proprio stupida.”

Her jaw drops. “Did you just call me stupid? Who the hell do you thin—"

“Sì, sei stupida,” I say with a little shake. “This isn't because we're sleeping together. I love you.”

Her eyes widen, and before she can answer, I drag her against me and take her mouth in a hard, passionate kiss.

“Donna stupida,” I murmur against her lips. “I love you.”

She melts into the kiss, her hands curling into the front of my shirt. Her lips soften under mine, and she sighs as I sweep my tongue into her mouth to dance with hers.

The kiss goes on until we're both breathless. I pull back, resting my forehead against hers.

“I love you,” I say again. “I’m in love with you. And I almost lost my mind when they told me your house was hit. And then you said you walked into your office alone, and I just… lost my mind.”

A faint smile touches her lips. “I’m sorry your mind is so fragile.”

I let out a rough laugh. “Donna.”

“I don’t need you to protect me, Lorenzo,” she says, her hands sliding up my chest to wrap around my neck.

“I know you don’t.” I rest my hands on her hips. “But I'm going to do it anyway.”

"And I'm not going to hide," she says. "So we're just going to have to figure out how to meet in the middle."

"Meet in the middle." I blow out a breath. "I've never done that before."

A wicked smile spreads across her face. "I know. Your 'middle' is usually the other person giving in and making them think it was their idea."

My lips twitch. "It is an effective strategy." I pull her tighter against me. "But I will try."

"You'd do that for me?" she teases, her eyes dancing.

"Sì." I kiss the tip of her nose. "Because I love you, you stubborn witch."

"Good," she says, her smile softening. "Because I love you, too."

My breath hitches. "You do?"