Astrid walked toward Christiano with an easy smile, stopping right in front of him before resting her hand on his chest.“I scolded them for picking flowers in the garden,” she explained, not a hint of guilt in her voice. “The little girl got scared, that’s why she cried.” Her hand brushed lightly across his chest, keeping his attention on her. “How’s the wedding?”

Christiano slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. The small victory made her smile ...