Chapter 12 - The House on the Lake
I looked at the silver key in his palm.
I thought about the rules of nursing. Professional distance. Boundaries.
Then I looked at the man standing in front of me. A man who had fought through hell, confronted the darkest betrayal of his own blood, and emerged with his heart still capable of love.
I reached out and took the key.
Luca’s face broke into a smile that reached his eyes. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me against his chest.
"My mother likes the guest suite here," I murmured against his collar.
"She can stay as long as she wants," Luca whispered, pressing a kiss to my hair. "You both can."
We walked out to the patio together.
Julia was sitting at the outdoor table, reviewing a stack of legitimate business contracts. She looked up and saw Luca holding my hand.
She smiled, a genuine, warm expression that told me I was finally part of the family.
Leo tossed a tennis ball for the estate’s guard dog, who had quickly become a massive, goofy pet.
"Hey, Dad!" Leo called out. "Are we still going to the baseball game tonight?"
"Front row, Leo," Luca called back.
He looked at me, the sunlight catching the gray at his temples, making him look impossibly handsome.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready," I answered.
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The past was finally buried. The secrets were all exposed.
The drawer was empty, but the house was finally full.
