“Oh.” She grinned. “Maxx and I have done our fair share of stock-room demolition.” She winked. “He’s a big guy. He takes up a lot of airspace. And he needs room for his maneuvers.”
“His maneuvers?” I repeated.
She nodded slowly. “He has a lot of maneuvers.” She rubbed her stomach. “Which is how I ended up pregnant again.” She stood and began to waddle away, stopping to look over her shoulder. “We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any shenanigans between those two.”
“Right.”
She moved away, barely making it three steps before Maxx appeared in front of her. He bent low to her eye level, talking quietly, and she nodded, letting him lift her into his arms without an argument. She gazed up at him in utter adoration, all the snark and sassiness gone. She was simply a woman in love with her husband and letting him care for her.
Until he announced he was taking the rest of the afternoon off and spending it watching over her.
“Holy moly, big guy! I don’t need you hanging over me, jumping at every noise or grunt I make. You can forget that idea and get your ass back to the garage.”
Her voice faded away as he carried her out of the garage, and I chuckled. He loved riling her up as much as she loved to get under his skin. They were perfect for each other.
“Hey.” Stefano appeared, leaning on the doorframe. He was wearing a set of overalls, the logo emblazoned on the front. His hair was disheveled, and he was sporting a wide grin. “You got a minute?”
“Sure.”
He held out his hand. “Come see.”
I let him lead me over to the other side of the garage where he worked. “I just finished this bike,” he explained.
I walked around the motorcycle, stunned at the intricacy of his design and the detail. He was so talented. “Stefano, it’s beautiful. Really stunning.”
He grinned, looking pleased. “I hope the customer thinks so.”
“The roses look real.”
“The lady who owns it, Nina, is an award-winning gardener. She wanted her love of flowers represented on the bike.” He showed me the trail of vines and flowers woven over the fenders. “A change of pace from skulls and crests.”
“I love the color.”
“Burgundy-gray pearl. I mixed it myself. It’s unique.”
“Who did the upholstery?”
“Chase did it,” he said, surprising me. “He’s been taking courses. Teaching himself. He did this without me knowing, then showed it to me and Maxx. We showed it to the client. She was blown away.”
I ran my hand over the tufted gray leather. “It’s gorgeous.”
“I’m making her a helmet to match. I’ll work on that tomorrow. She’ll pick up the bike next week.”
“Has Maxx seen it?”
“He loved it.”
“I can see why.” I smiled at him. “You’re so talented, Amore.”
He froze. “What did you call me?”
“Amore,” I repeated. “My love.”
“I know what it means,” he rasped, dragging me to his chest and kissing me. “Do you know what it does to me to hear you call me that?”
“You like it?”
“I love it. I love you,” he added.
“Me too,” I whispered.
“You know I’m never going to let you go back to your apartment, right?”
I laughed, tugging on his overall strap, somehow not surprised by his words. “It’s been a day. Another week, you might change your mind.”
“Never. I want you and Theo with me.”
“What about poor Brett?”
“He told me this morning he and Chase are thinking of rooming together. We’ll find a house with a good yard for little man, some expansion, and Brett and Chase can stay in our current house.”
“Expansion?” I repeated.
“A little brother or sister for Theo.” He paused. “To start.”
I blinked.
“Am I overwhelming you again?”
“You want kids with me?” I whispered.
“I want it all with you, Tesoro. Kids, a wedding, a lifetime.”
“But Wayne…”
“Will be out of your life very soon. Then we’re going to figure out our future. Yours, mine, and Theo’s. Together. Got it?”
My head spun, but in the very best of ways.
I smiled at him. “Okay, Amore. Okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gabby
A couple of days later, as I was entering the last invoice into the computer, Chase came into the office, sitting down and waiting until I hit save.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I was wondering if it would be okay if I took Theo with me on my errands. Get him out of the garage for a while—a change of scenery, you know?”
“Oh, ah—”
He cut me off. “I’m a great driver—never had an accident. He’d be perfectly safe with me.”
“Oh, it’s not that,” I said, unsure of my next words.
His shoulders slumped. “It’s because of my past, isn’t it? I mean, I don’t blame you. But, honest, I’ve changed. I’m not a troublemaker anymore. The guys will vouch for me. Even Maxx will tell you I’m reliable now, and he, of all people, had the biggest reason to never trust me again. I can go—”