Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Giorgio, thanks for showing my wife around, but you’ve got work.” I stare hard at him.
“It’s amazing how mad he seems.” Charlie sighs and pats Giorgio’s arm lightly. “Thanks for showing me around.”
“Anytime.” Giorgio shoots me a grin before hurrying off, leaving me alone with my wife.
I give her a long look before jerking my head back over my shoulder. “In my office. Right now.”
“Am I in trouble?” she says, cooing like it’s funny. “Because I think I like it when you’re mad at me.”
I close the door hard once she’s settling herself behind my desk. I struggle not to grind my teeth too hard, but the goddamn girl is so frustrating beyond belief. I can barely control myself.
“You have fun?”
“Actually, yes. Giorgio was the perfect gentleman. Very talkative too. Did you know he has two grandkids?”
“Mila and Turner. I’m aware.”
“That honestly shocks me.” She leans back, getting herself nice and comfortable. “This place is pretty cool, did you know that?”
I approach the desk and lean over it. “What’s your game, Charlie?”
She tilts her head to the side. “Whatever do you mean, husband?”
I circle toward her, going slow. “You’ve never shown any interest in the shipping business before today. Last night, you kissed me—”
“You broke your promise.”
“I brushed my hands against yours. I didn’t realize your knuckles were an erogenous zone.”
“I have extremely sensitive hands.” She stares at me, still smiling like she’s got the upper hand here. “What are you saying exactly? Are you accusing me of something?”
“I’m trying to figure out what the hell you’re doing at my depot.”
“I told you already. I’m curious about my husband’s business.”
“I don’t believe you.” I stop in front of her. I lean forward again, putting my hands carefully on the arms of her chair, getting right in her face. We’re inches apart but still not touching. “What’s the game?”
“No game. Can’t a wife be curious about her arranged husband?”
“You could ask me questions at dinner.”
“I didn’t realize we ate together.”
“We could start.”
“You want to share meals with me now, Stefano?” She says it teasingly, biting the tip of her tongue lightly. “What’s next? Movie dates?”
“I’ll take you to the movies if that’s what you want.”
“What a gentleman.”
Frustration boils over. She’s acting like this visit is completely normal, and we both know it’s not. “Just tell me what this is all about so we can be done with it.”
There’s a tense silence. Her smile slips and she glances aside, down at my desk. I want to reach out and touch her so fucking badly it’s like a tsunami hammering against a levee. I’m inches from breaking down and shattering, and when that happens, I doubt I can stop the flood.
“You want the truth? You’re not going to like it.”
“Just tell me.”
She meets my gaze again. There’s a strange yearning in her expression. “Last night shook me, okay? It’s like we crossed a line.”
I didn’t expect that. I figured she’d make some kind of joke, layer more teasing and bullshit over her emotions. Anything to hide herself from me.
But instead, she’s stripping down. That’s the most vulnerable she’s ever truly been, and it sends a jolt down into my heart.
“You don’t have to feel that way.” I want to brush my fingers across her cheek. I want to lean in and kiss her lightly so she understands how I feel. “There doesn’t have to be lines.”
“You know that isn’t true.”
“But it could be if we let it.” My fingers grip the arms of the chair tighter. My knuckles turn white. “It’s okay, Charlie. I know what I want.”
“And what’s that?” She’s whispering. Her lips are spread and slightly damp. I love the little gap between her front teeth. I can’t get enough of the turn of her nose, the curve of her eyes. The bend at the top of her lips.
“I want you. Since the second you ripped my towel off.”
Her cheeks flush red. “I was running for my life.”
“Which is the only reason I didn’t make you stay and say sorry.”
“Stefano.” She whispers my name and sits forward. Fuck, we’re so close. “I need to know something.”
“Anything. Just ask. You know I’ll be honest.”
She reaches out. Her fingertips brush down my chin.
“Does the door lock?”
Chapter 20
Charlie
Ishould be ashamed of myself.
There is so much wrong with this situation.
For one, my intentions were not pure.
And for another, they still aren’t.
But when Stefano looks at me like that, like I’m the most pure and beautiful woman in the entire world, it messes me up. It makes my brain do stupid things. Like touch him.
Like ask about the stupid door.
“It’s already locked,” he confirms, not moving but completely tensed. He’s like a predator struggling to stay still in the underbrush. Ready to spring but unable to loosen himself. “I need you to do something now.”
“What’s that?”
“Kiss me before I break my fucking promise again.”