Chiara:
I’ll have to ask Raf if he’s open to a poly relationship. Stay tuned. *Winky face*
Sophia:
You’re hysterical. Needed that chuckle. See you guys later.
Chapter Fifteen
Picture Perfect
Raf
“Don’t even thinkabout bringing her to the office,” I command, not bothering with pleasantries.
“You’re lucky you’re getting fair warning,” Avery says. “Your overnight guest was adamant she wanted to surprise you.”
“She stayed in the guest room,” I snap.
“I didn’t ask. Whatever you two get up to is your business. My job is to keep her out of trouble.”
“Nothing fucking happened.”
“Again, I didn’t ask,” Avery says.
“Also, good luck with keeping her out of trouble,” I huff. “She’s a walking hazard.”
“If I didn’t know better, she’s somewhat of a hazard to you too…”
“When did you get so fucking mouthy. One morning with the devil and she’s got her claws in you too.”
His chuckle rumbles down the line.
Avery is not a shit-stirrer like my brothers and Marco, but he’s very fucking observant. The fact he’s calling me out is telling.
“She’s coming, I gotta go. Unless you want to have this little chat with her yourself?”
“Avery, do whatever you need to convince her I can’t see her today.”
“I think we both know that’s a losing battle.”
“Fuck you.”
Just before the line goes dead, I hear the door open and her gleeful voice echoes down the line.
“Come on, Avery. Take me to Law Daddy.”
Fuck.
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose, which turns out to be the worst thing I could do because all I see is her. As if on a loop, I replay the moment this morning where I allowedmy eyes to freely roam over the lines of her body, cataloguing the way my T-shirt draped over her full, perky tits and wrapped around her hip before stopping to admire where she had tucked the excess fabric between her thighs.
The sight both knocked the wind out of me and ignited a sense of urgency to get out of the house so I wouldn’t have to face her looking all doe-eyed and tempting at the same time.
I need to get a handle on these irrational thoughts and the need to protect her. I try, more professionally this time, to convince Avery to stop her from coming here. I need more time to formulate some sort of plan to disassociate myself from the information I now wish I could unknow.
Avery, can you please tell Ms. Gigioliotti my calendar isn’t open for client meetings today.
As if right on cue, the devil herself texts. Multiple times as is her style.
