Micah crossed his arms over his chest. “Damon’s made it clear this is a business arrangement. I can’t… I won’t let myself think otherwise.” It left him open to too much heartache.

Tessa sighed. “So oblivious,” she muttered.

Micah shifted in his swivel chair, fiddling with his pudding. “Although, I should let you know, Damon did text me yesterday and ask me to pack an overnight bag.”

Tessa’s eyes lit up with a wicked sort of glee. “So you are having a sleepover? I frickin’ knew it. Though I don’t know why he bothered to tell you to pack anything. He probably wants you naked the entire time; I know I would.”

Micah chose not to respond to that. “He, uh… he also asked me if my passport was current?”

Tessa stiffened, her expression going from teasing to hard in a second. “Jesus, Micah. You said no, right? Because no one asks that unless they plan on going out of the country and taking you along with them. And I know you have enough self-preservation to never agree to that, no matter how wound up Damon gets you.”

“You either greatly overestimate my self-preservation or greatly underestimate my libido,” he admitted reluctantly.

“Micah!” Tessa yelled, glancing around after Micah shushed her, but then sitting up and leaning into his space as much as her swollen belly allowed. She hissed at him like a snake. “What if he found out you’re a cop, thinks you’re a narc, and he’s planning on burying your body somewhere on his family’s countryside estate, huh?”

Micah shook his head. “I would be able to tell if he knew,” he argued, although he wasn’t completely sure he was right. Micah thought he had a good read on the other man, but Damon had a better poker face than any hardened criminal Micah had ever met.

“Even if he doesn’t know, Damon’s still not a good person, Micah. He’s a mafia don. It would be the definition of foolhardy to trust him. Lord knows I don’t.”

“I know that, okay? I do. But, at least when it comes to my safety, I do trust him. So, call me a reckless idiot or whatever, but… I’m still going to go wherever he wants to take me.”

Tessa stared. “You’re a reckless idiot,” she said. “A feckless, inconsiderate donkey, who’s going to put me into early labor.”

Micah winced. Though he shouldn’t have been surprised. She wasn’t one to let an opportunity to insult someone bypass her.

Then Tessa sighed. “But I’m glad you told me. Keep your phone on you the entire time, and you better respond to all my texts in a timely manner or I’m going to call the U.S. Embassy of whatever foreign country he’s taking you to-”

“Italy, I’m pretty sure. He’s mentioned a family house there.”