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CHAPTERSEVEN
GUINEVERE
I hopeI’m not too dressed up. Patience normally helps me decide what to wear, but tonight I did this all on my own. Noah invited me to dinner with him and his wife, Kenzie, at his family’s restaurant, Romano’s Little Italy. I told him I didn’t want Geoffrey to know because I’m an adult and don’t need to get permission to go out with friends.
After I found out that Geoffrey had a condo in my same building, I told him to go stay at his place. I’m perfectly okay in my own condo. Okay, I do pace it once everyone leaves me alone. But I’ve been writing more. I even sent a couple of my manuscripts to agents in the hope I can start making my own money.
Noah arranged to have a service pick me up and deliver me to the restaurant, so I was still safe. I’ve seen Rocco off and on throughout the week. Some days I forget to look because we have been so busy. I’m hoping tonight I can talk Noah into helping me arrange a meeting with Rocco. I need to find out if what I’m feeling is real, and if he really was into me.
The car pulls up in front of a bright red awning covered restaurant. I thank the driver before stepping out onto the sidewalk in my soft dove gray heels. I finally feel comfortable walking in them. My heels match my Body-Con wrap dress. I slip the chain of my small clutch purse over my shoulder. My purse actually has many cards and other items in it besides my ID and library card. I feel like a real woman, a person with an identity.
“Welcome to Romano’s. Do you have a reservation?” a pretty woman says from behind a bar height desk when I step into the darkened interior. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and look around, hoping I’m not too late.
“I was supposed to meet a party at seven.” I look down at the Rolex on my wrist and see that it’s ten after. That’s another thing I’m trying to get used to; I have jewelry now. The watch was my mom’s. It was a wedding gift from my dad. I still haven’t gone to the storage unit to see what furnishings are packed away. I’ll need to do that soon. I have a living room with only a sofa and chair. A library and office that aren’t furnished that will need to be soon.
“The party’s name?” the woman asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Oh, sorry. Um, Caine.” I startle slightly when my name is spoken from beside me.
“Guin,” the gravelly voice says, and I turn to see Linc standing there.
“Hello, Linc. I didn’t know you were going to be here this evening.” He and I are on a first-name basis. Well, more of a nickname basis now. I’ve learned he’s married and has an older daughter and a new baby. He has helped me with setting up my condo to be more secure.
“Yeah, I told Noah that Rylee would want to meet you too.” He chuckles, and it’s deep sounding.
Linc directs me through the restaurant to a large round table. As we walk up, I take in everyone sitting around it. Noah and a woman next to him both stand and smile at me. She is tall and holding a toddler. She hands the little girl to Noah and then moves toward us.
“I’m so glad you could make it.” Her voice has an accent that I’ve recently learned is a Brooklyn one. I hate that I was so sheltered I didn’t learn there are so many colorful accents for New Yorkers. “You are beautiful.” I smile as I look up at her. She’s in heels and probably close to six feet tall. Her flowered dress is a maxi style with a slit up the side. I’m glad I’m not overdressed.
“Thank you, so are you. Noah talks about you all the time. Kenzie, correct?”
“Yes. Can I call you Guin too?”
“Yes, please.” I turn as another woman approaches us. This one is what I’ve heard Patience call a bombshell when Linc isn’t around. She’s curvy and mid height, still taller than me. She has dark hair that is in a roll at the front and hangs down her back. She’s dressed in a retro style dress that shows off her tattoos as well as her well-endowed breasts. She hands the little boy in her arms over to Linc. The preteen girl with her looks like a mini version of her father, same as the baby boy.
“I’m Rylee, and this is my daughter, Samantha,” she says. I smile at both of them and shake their hands.
“Your eyes are so pretty,” Samantha says, pointing out what most people try to ignore.
“Thank you.” I dip my head. “Most people think they are strange or creepy.”
“What? No way! That would be so cool to have two different colored eyes.”
I don’t tell her that my aunt used to say that was a sign I was stupid and defective. The young girl doesn’t need to know that. I move to the table and pull out my chair.
“Ever!” My name is yelled through the restaurant. I turn knowing that voice as Rocco turns to look for me. I’m in the crowd of bodies of women and children. All taller than me. Even Samantha is my height. When I move around them, his eyes zero in on me. He moves between the tables, ignoring the other patrons, until he’s standing directly in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my eyebrows shooting up.
“Who are you here with?” he grumbles as he looks over my head at the table. I turn to say Noah and his family but stop.
“Wait one moment. You have no right to ask me who I’m here with?” It’s not supposed to be a question, but it comes out that way. Am I right, he shouldn’t have that right, but I want him to?
“Fuck. I didn’t want you to leave that night, but Geoffrey had said it would be for the best. That you weren’t ready for a relationship. Didn’t you understand I wanted you?”
I stand there, not sure what to say, with my mouth opening and closing, as if I’m a fish. Where to begin? I take a deep breath, then lick my suddenly dry lips. Rocco groans and then his lips are on mine. My very first kiss.
My arms wrap around him as he dominates my mouth. His scruff tickles my skin. His firm lips move over mine. His tongue touches my lips and I gasp. He slips it into my mouth and groans again. I whimper as I clutch at him, pulling him tighter down to me. He lifts me up off my feet and his arms are locked around my body.
A throat clearing causes him to pull back, and heat hits my face as I remember where we are.
“Would you care to join us for dinner? I don’t think you want to carry on with this in front of everyone.” Linc chuckles.
Rocco slowly lowers me. My legs are shaky, but I stand and look up at him waiting to see what he says.
“We’ll take our order to go?” he asks me. I want to say yes, but we have so much to discuss.
“Can we stay? I’d like to get to know them.”
“Whatever you want, beautiful.”
As he sits down after helping me into my chair, I watch Linc hand a folded bill to Noah. They catch my eye and both laugh.
“I knew he wouldn’t be able to pass up you dressed up and going out. It’s why I picked the restaurant instead of my house. Plus, he would know you were heading to one of our houses as soon as you got into the neighborhoods.” Noah chuckles as he sets his daughter in a highchair between him and his wife.
Linc sits down next to his wife, still holding their son.
“Are you two proud of yourselves?” Rocco gripes.
