Chapter 14 - The Revised Checklist
The rain poured around them, but neither of them felt the cold.
Dominic wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground, returning the kiss with a raw, breathless hunger that shattered weeks of agonizing separation.
When they finally broke apart for air, Dominic rested his forehead against hers, his hands trembling as he cupped her wet cheeks.
“Claire... what are you doing here?” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You hate my world. You have rules—”
“I rewrote the list,” Claire interrupted, breathless, looking straight into his slate-gray eyes.
Dominic blinked, stunned. “You what?”
Claire reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a damp, folded piece of paper. With trembling, determined fingers, she unfolded it and read aloud over the sound of the rain:
“Rule Number One: Must be financially secure, but willing to give it all away to protect the people he loves.”
Dominic’s breath caught in his throat.
“Rule Number Two: Must be handsome enough to take my breath away every single time he enters a room.”
Dominic’s grip on her waist tightened.
“Rule Number Three: Must carry Mom’s groceries, fix stubborn jar lids, and treat my family with absolute reverence.”
“Rule Number Four: Must be kind to the weak, but fierce enough to stand between me and any monster in the dark.”
“Rule Number Five: Must love his mother fiercely and listen to her cooking advice.”
“Rule Number Six: Must understand that my choices are my own, but that I choose him. Every day. For the rest of my life.”
Claire looked up from the paper, tears mixing with the rain on her cheeks.
“And Rule Number Seven: Absolutely must be Dominic Russo. The reformed, honorable, extraordinary man who captured my heart.”
Dominic let out a ragged, overwhelmed breath. A tear slipped down his cheek, lost in the rain. He pulled her against his chest, burying his face in her neck, holding her as if he would never let go.
“I love you, Claire,” Dominic choked out, his voice thick with raw emotion. “More than life. More than my own soul.”
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“I love you too, Dominic,” she whispered against his lips. “Don't go to Sicily. Come home with me.”
“Always,” Dominic promised. “Wherever you are is my only home.”
