Romancing Sal Gabrini 2: A Woman's Touch by Mallory Monroe Read Free Book Online Page B

it buckled his knees.   He went to her, and knelt down in front of
her.   He took her small dark hands into
his large bright ones.    “I’m not smooth,”
he said.   “I told you that before we went
down this road together.   I told you I’m
not going to be the kind of man you deserve.   I’m not that guy and I’ll never be that guy.   Too much baggage, sweetheart, too much of a
messy past.   But I promised you I would
be faithful to you, and I would cherish you, and I would make certain that
you’re loved and protected every day that I’m alive.”  
    Then
a concerned look came onto his face.   “This isn’t easy for me, either, baby.   I know what you’re going through.   My anxiety is nothing compared to yours, I know that too.   But it’s there and it’s real.”
    Gemma
placed her hand on the side of Sal’s face.   She knew what it was taking for him to be this exposed.   Especially since he wasn’t, as he often told
her, touchy feely at all.  
    “I’ve
never been in love a day in my life until I met you,” Sal admitted.   “And I mean never.   I’ve gone from, and excuse the language but
it’s the way I talk, fucking women up and down the line, from coast to coast,
to just being with you.   That’s a hellava
change, Gemma.   But I’m doing it because
I know you’re worth it.   Our relationship
is worth it to me.”
    Tears
welled up in Gemma’s eyes as she rubbed the side of Sal’s gorgeous face.
    “Most
people would say I’m not worth it for you, considering the kind of wonderful
and upstanding woman you are, and if I’m honest I would have to agree with
them.”   He said this with a smile, but
Gemma could see the pain.   “But it’s not
what people say, or even what I say about it.   It’s what you say, Gem.”
        Tears
dropped from Gemma’s eyes and Sal’s heart plunged.   “Oh, babe,” he said with his own level of
emotion as he stood her up and pulled her into his arms.   They stood there, as she quietly sobbed, and
he held onto her tightly.   It was Gemma
who finally pulled back.
    She
grabbed tissues off of the dressing table and began wiping the mascara from
beneath her eyes.   “Sorry about that,”
she said.   “I didn’t mean to cry.   I’m sure I look like Wolfman Jack’s sister
right about now.”
    Sal
managed to laugh.   “I’m sure you don’t,”
he said.  
    Then
she frowned and exhaled.   She looked at
Sal again.   “You’re more than worth it,
Sal, please believe that.   It’s not about
your worth.   It’s   just that . . . those times, when you have to
look out for your friends and family, does it sometimes involve illegal
activities?”   She asked this and stared
at him.
    Sal
didn’t flinch.   “It involves me looking
out for them.”
    “Whatever
it takes?”
    Sal
nodded.   “Whatever it takes.”
    Gemma
frowned.   “And I’m just supposed to
accept that?   Without you even telling me
what it’s about?”
    Sal
grasped her by her arms.   “You don’t
accept anything.   You trust me.   And just like you told me to let you handle
your business, you let me handle mine.”
    It
still sounded tough for Gemma to accept.   But she knew, if she wanted to be with Sal, and she did , she had to accept it.   She put her arms around him.   And
nodded her head.   “Okay,” she said.
    Sal
smiled grandly and pulled her back into his arms.   “Oh, darling,” he said.   “You won’t be sorry.”
    “I
don’t know about that,” Gemma said.   “I’m
sorry already.”
    Sal’s
heart dropped.   He pulled back and looked
into her eyes.
    She
smiled.   “Dang, Sal, I’m kidding, all
right?   Lighten up!”
    Sal
laughed and began stepping into the tub.   “Why don’t you go round us up some food while I bathe?   That garage action worked up an appetite in
me.”
    Gemma
looked sidelong at him.   “Round up food?”
she asked, and started removing her robe.   “Are you out of your mind?