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“Maybe I can go in late?” I suggested.
He shook his head. “We’ll handle it, don’t worry. Can you come on Saturday?”
“Of course!”
Vincenzo strode over to me, his tall frame looming over me like a nightmare. His dark eyes tightened on mine. “You heard some things today Eliza doesn’t even know.”
I nodded. “Don’t worry. I know nothing.”
“Oh, I’m not worried,” he folded his arms, “because we both know what’ll happen if it gets back to me that you opened your mouth about my business.”
“I understand. Like I said, I know nothing.”
He winked, giving my elbow a small squeeze of approval before he waltzed toward the exit.
* * *
I hadn’t seen James outside of work since the meeting. He’d been busy with his friends, and I needed to get more work done on my manuscript. We texted every night before we went to sleep. He always made sure I’d been taking care of myself, knowing I skipped meals when I got in the writing zone. We only saw one another at the office and though I missed him, the distance kept my feelings in check. Tonight was the gala, and I was excited to see him in the evening.
“Wow.” James took a step back when I opened my apartment door wider. “You look… just wow.”
“So do you.” Snickering, I took a step to the side, admiring his black suit, with a white shirt and grey tie. “Come in.”
He handed me a bouquet of crimson roses the moment the door closed. “I couldn’t resist getting you these when I knew you were wearing the same shade.”
“Thank you, sir.” I grinned from ear to ear, trying my best not to melt, turning to the kitchen. No man had ever gotten me flowers before.
“About that.” He took my hand in his, whirling me back around, yanking me into his body. Walking me backward toward the kitchen, he took the flowers and laid them on the bar.
“About what?” My voice cracked at the dark glare in his eyes.
“We should discuss the rules outside the room.”
I held on to his biceps, wanting nothing more than to kiss his perfect mouth.
“Since we’re continuing this, I think we should communicate, and I got a little pissed at you at work.”
“What did I do?” The thought of James being mad at me for anything, hurt. He’d not mentioned it during our conversations at night.
“I should’ve said something after they left, but I needed to think about it for a few days before I bought it up.”
“Okay?”
He slid his hand under my hair, cupping the back of my neck. “You are never to call another man sir, regardless of the circumstance. I know you were just trying to be polite, and I’m no longer mad, but when I heard you call him that, I wanted to yank you out of that chair and bend you over my lap while they watched me punish you. I’m the only man you are to call Daddy or Sir.”
A sigh of relief washed over me, and I melted into his touch. “I understand and apologize.” Though the thought of him punishing me in front of an audience caused my pussy to flood with warmth. “I meant to ask you what Vinny said to Damien in Italian when they first got there.”
He rolled his tongue over his bottom lip, trying his best to stifle a smile. “He said you were marked by someone and to leave you alone. He’d apparently been excited to see you again and was planning to ask you to coffee after work.”
“Oh.” Wow. I didn’t see that coming.
“You get hit on all the time. You’re gorgeous. I expect it. That being said, I’ll play nice with you in public while we’re still living in the secret bubble. But I’ll never ask anything of you in front of my kids, regardless.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off you tonight. You look so stunning, and I’d be so proud to have you on my arm as mine. Just know that.”
“I wish the circumstances were different.”
He peered at me in silence for a moment, then took a step back, blinking rapidly. “We should get going. Vinny and Eliza will be looking for us and Lucas and his date are downstairs in the car, waiting.”
“Let me go slip my shoes on and grab my clutch.”
