•38•Making It Official

Driving through the courtyard of his house, Luca felt the ritualized excitement take hold of his belly, knowing she was inside there waiting for him.

Spending the weekend in turns over at each other's houses was something they'd developed.

He couldn't believe it'd been more than a month already since they began this thing, and to think he'd had so many misgivings in the beginning.

Parking his car under the canopy by the wall, he grabbed the shopping bags containing the dresses he had bought for her and made for the main building.

She was in the kitchen when he got there, standing before the electric stove as her right arm moved in rapid motion.

The aroma of spices, vegetables, herbs and chicken wafted through the air, and he couldn't help but breathe it in together with her utterly unique scent.

Obviously hearing the click of his shoes on the tiled floor, she slewed her head, a smile forming on her lips when she saw him. Oh God, that smile.

"You're back. I'm almost done here." She