Page 60 of Be Still My Unbeating Heart

“Got a little dizzy there,” he said. “I think I tripped.”

“You tripped,” De Luca confirmed, “because you were twirling.”

Bastian smiled. “I like twirling.”

“I noticed. Here, let me help you up.”

De Luca got Bastian upright but didn’t let him go, probably because Bastian rocked on his heels, threatening to fall again. De Luca’s strong arms remained around him.

“My manly man-hero,” Bastian cooed, and he swore he saw the halo now. The perfect halo shining gold above De Luca’s head.

“Can you walk?” De Luca asked.

“You’re an angel,” Bastian whispered. “A sweet, gorgeous angel sent to look after me.”

“Bastian.”

“Yes, keep saying my name,” Bastian sighed. “Don’t ever stop.”

“Bastian,” De Luca said, “we have to go back to the apartment.”

“No, not indoors. I’m not sick. I feel amazing.”

He felt light as air. Light as Champagne bubbles fizzing on De Luca’s tongue. How could he be sick when he felt so good? It took him a second to realize they were moving.

“Please tell me we’re going to a dance floor.”

“Sure,” De Luca said, “we’ll do the rumba and then you’ll take a run-up, and we’ll do The Lift like we’re Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.”

Bastian smiled, the street swimming in and out of focus around him. Dirty dancing with De Luca would be heaven. After The Lift, they’d hold each other close, and Whitby would DJ, spinning his favorite records with her paws. While Kylie played, Bastian would revel in De Luca’s laugh, and they’d dance and dance until they—

—were in the apartment.

They were back in the apartment.

Bastian saw that they were in the hall of his time-share. How did they get there? De Luca must have fished Bastian’s keys from his pocket. Funny, you’d think Bastian would have noticed that.

“This isn’t a dance floor, darling,” he said, gesturing at the kitchen. “We must have taken a wrong turn.”

His legs still didn’t want to hold his full weight.

“I’m just going to help you rest for a minute,” De Luca said, still supporting him. Bastian allowed himself to be led to the bedroom. The air was cooler, the sunlight muted, less intense now that they were inside. And why was De Luca taking Bastian into his bedroom?

“Signor,” Bastian murmured, “I believe you are taking advantage of me.”

His face smooshed against the pillow, and he felt his legs lifted onto the mattress, then the sheet being pulled up over him. There came a rattle from the other side of the room and darkness blanketed them. The blinds had been drawn.

“You need to rest,” De Luca said, voice soft. Soothing.

Bastian rolled onto his back, blinking up at the inspector. De Luca sat beside him on the bed. He looked so handsome in hisuniform. De Luca had no right to be that handsome and kind at the same time.

Bastian suddenly felt overwhelmed by the fact that this man had come into his life. How dare he exist with that jaw. His love of Bronski Beat. Those cute, oversized ears.

“You have the most adorable ears,” Bastian said.

“They’ve been a source of great amusement to people my entire life.”

Bastian frowned.