Page 100 of Unraveled

“The answer is no.”

“Fuck, you are stubborn when you want to be,” Gian grunted under his breath. He turned back to the sink, going back to his task as though that would get him back on track, and Cara’s refusals didn’t matter. She had news for him. “Don’t force my hand here, bella.”

She stuck her hands to her hips, determined to make him hear her. “You can’t order me around from place to place.”

“Can’t, mon ange? Can’t?”

“That’s what I said.”

“That’s the wrong word, Cara. I can do whatever the hell I please, so long as you are safe and comfortable while I do it. Nobody said you had to be happy about it, though.”

“Then what’s the right word, your fucking highness?”

Gian’s brow dipped in his irritation, his dark gaze flashing over to her in warning. “Won’t, Cara. I won’t do something you ask me not to. See the difference?”

“I see you being an asshole.”

Before Cara had even blinked, Gian pushed away from the counter and came for her. His hand caught her around the back of her neck, he pulled her close, and his mouth came crashing down on hers in a fast kiss that seared her from the inside out. It took her fucking breath away, all the languid strokes of his tongue against hers, and the way his fingers tightened to hold her still. He didn’t let her move away, even when he stopped kissing her.

“Stop being difficult,” he murmured against her lips.

Cara let out a shaky exhale. “I’m not going anywhere that you’re not going, Gian.”

“I love you, Cara, but you’re killing me.”

“You don’t really want me to go anywhere, either.”

“I want you safe.”

“With you,” she said, kissing him quickly, “I’m sure I will be.”

“Chris,” Cara greeted as the man held open the restaurant door for her. “Thank you.”

“Very welcome. Have a good dinner, miss.”

He still wouldn’t call her by her name, no matter how many times she insisted. She figured she could break him of the habit, eventually.

Gian was waiting for Cara beyond the entrance of the restaurant, his sharp, black suit making her gaze travel over his fit form to appreciate the sight of him standing there like he was. With his hands clasped at his back, and his stare focused on something inside the restaurant, he seemed almost relaxed.

Cara knew that he couldn’t possibly be as calm as he appeared on the outside. Gian’s mind always ran a million miles a minute, and with the problems he had been having lately, she was sure that only made it worse.

Yet, there he stood. Like a fucking rock in a hurricane. Refusing to move or be moved. Unflinchingly calm in the eye of a storm. Always strong.

Cara wondered if this man knew his strength, or the power he wielded because of it. She was positive that if anything made Gian a formidable threat to the men in his business, it was this right here.

“Something caught your eye?” Cara dared to ask as she approached.

Gian’s head turned, his lips tugging into a sexy grin as his gaze landed on her sapphire-blue, body-con dress. He didn’t hide his wandering gaze, making Cara smile and her cheeks heat up. “Something certainly has now, my beautiful girl. How was your day?”

“Long, but I got through it.”

“Chris wasn’t too pushy when he showed up to bring you to dinner, was he?”

“Chris is always pushy,” Cara joked, “but I blame that on his very impatient boss.”

Gian winked, his arm curving around her side as his hand laid flat to her lower back, above the swell of her ass. “He’s paid very well to put up with me, trust in that.”

“I’m sure. Have you ordered?”