Oh, fuck me….There was no stopping the heat that began to thrum between my legs. This monster knew cars.
“I’ve gotta ask, do you have the original documentation?” he asked. That question was the sweetest sin.
“I do,” I gulped. “She’s authentic.”
“Damn.” Dominico let out a whistle.
“And to answer your request, I don’t let boys handle my girl,” I added with a smirk.
One eyebrow shot up. “Boys? No, little thief, a boy shouldneverhandle something this perfect.”
“Men too,” I said with a bite. “Cherry Pie is off limits. In fact, no one drives her but me.”
He didn’t mock me for naming my car.
A small mercy.
“See, here’s the thing.” Dominico drummed his fingers on the fender.Tap-tap-tap.Normally, I would have screamed at him for putting fingerprints on the paint job. Instead, I stood there, mesmerized by his voice. Lulled by his scent. Cursing him in my head, but unable to make him stop. “A man knows a beauty’s worth. I’ll earn the right to drive the car. Deal?”
I shifted, thighs rubbing together as I tried to shake the rush from my ears and make sense of what he was saying. “How do you plan to do that, Dominico Grimaldi?”
Using his name was supposed to be a slap.
The devil only smirked. “I’ll think of something.” One final tap of his finger and then he stepped around me. “Nice to officially meet you, Magnolia.”
I spun around. “It’s Rae.”
The bastard only chuckled. “Fine, but only if you call me Nico.”
Yeah, like that was going to happen.
There was no way I was going to be on a nickname basis with that one. Too dangerous.Muchtoo dangerous. I worked for his family.
He fought for you….
I stared at Dominico’s backside as he strolled to the house. Thinking about how I could bounce a quarter off his ass was far more preferable to thinking about the events of last night.
Before rounding the corner, he stopped and turned slightly—
And caught me staring.
Hell, who was I kidding, I was probably drooling.
With a devious smirk, he threw out, “Don’t be angry with Angelo.”
“I’ll be mad at anyone I damn well please,” I shouted back. “AJ had no right. I’m fixin’ to tear him a new one, and that ain’t none of your business!”
His grin only grew. “If you need to work out some of that anger, cherry-bomb, come find me.”
My cheeks burned.
Words failed me, even though I knew that I most certainly would not be doing that.
Having the last say, he continued walking. That trickle of laughter carried past the open garage door on the breeze. I clashed my teeth together, stomped to the shelf, and tore a microfiber chamois from the box. My elbow screamed in protest as I rubbed the fingerprints off the back fender.
Chapter 11 – Nico
How was it possible not to notice her? The dark circles under her eyes, the exhaustion written in purple and deep bruises were a fitting disguise. But as I studied Rae bringing in the plates behind her uncle, they seemed at odds with the energy radiating from her body. The light in her hazel eyes sparkled and snapped. We shared a quick look as she set the food in front of me, her gloved fingers twisting the plate to the correct angle.
