Page 113 of Mafia And Maid
CHAPTER 28
CAMILLO
The sound of my footsteps echo around the hall. I’ve struck out in each room I’ve gone in search of Ethan.
I pause, catching sight of Rosa sitting on the floor, knees tucked beneath her. Her brow is puckered in concentration, and that delectable bottom lip of hers is sucked between her teeth. I could watch her all day if I didn’t have work to do or a promise to keep.
I gently clear my throat before entering the room—a soft signal to both Rosa and Ethan that I’m here. It’s the best way to announce myself without either of them spooking.
Ethan’s smiling face meets mine before his brow scrunches in a way that is nearly identical to his mom’s.
“Hey, you two.”
“What’s that?” Ethan asks.
I look down at the mitt in my hand with a smile. “It’s a mitt. Am I interrupting you?”
Rosa shakes her head. “No. We were trying to figure out this game. It’s supposed to help prepare him for kindergarten or something, but…”
I step closer, peering over her shoulders, but all I can do is grimace.
Her soft lyrical laugh fills the room as she stares up at me. That sound alone could make me die a happy man.
“What?” I ask a little self-consciously.
“You look as confused by it as I am,” she giggles. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s too complicated.”
“I’m not the smart one of the family. You’re better off asking Alessio if you want help with that.”
Rosa shakes her head. “I think we’ll just stick with the good old-fashioned ABC memory games. And you’re plenty smart. You were the one who figured out that thing with the oven last week.”
Hearing her call me smart feels weird. A good weird. A weird that I could get used to.
But deep down, I know it’s just idle flattery, even from Rosa. I’m the brawn, the muscle. No one comes to me for plans or ideas unless it involves busting someone’s kneecaps. But when Rosa says something like this, I almost believe it. Almost.
“What’s a mitt for?” Ethan interrupts with a quizzical look.
“Baseball, of course.” I smile. “I remember you said you wanted to learn the game. Since I’ve got the day off, I figured maybe we could spend some time together and I’ll show you. I promised, after all.”
New things have the potential to be hit or miss. Ethan’s come out of his shell around me, laughing and asking to do things or play games, but I can see still the trepidation in his eyes every time. “But you can say no and spend the day with your mom if you want.”
“It’s okay, Ethan,” Rosa encourages. “If you want to go outside with Camillo, you can. I’ll be inside for a bit to finish some work. I can always join you both outside after.”
“Is it hard?”
“Baseball? Nah, in fact, I think you’re gonna love it. But we can do whatever you want while your mom works.”
Offering to watch Ethan flows effortlessly off my lips. It’s some compulsion I’m not sure I want to fight. Spending time with him is important. Not just to Rosa, but also to me.
I watch as he tentatively moves to grasp my hand.
“Why don’t you go slip your shoes on, and I’ll meet you at the back door?”
“Okay!”
Ethan dashes off toward the mudroom, leaving Rosa and me alone. I step closer, closing the space between us, before capturing her lips. Waking up with Rosa in my arms every morning is better than any fucking work out or drug on the market. Nothing makes me feel like she does.
Her breath, labored from just one kiss, warms over my face as I pull back.