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CHAPTER16
“Good morning, beautiful,” I said, kissing Valentina on the lips as she opened her eyes.
“How long have you been awake?”she said, touching the side of her face self-consciously.
“Long enough to tell you that you are beautiful even when you sleep.”
“That’s a lie,” she said, rubbing her eyes and pushing her hair away from her face.“I must look like a mess.”
“No, you look absolutely amazing.”
“I didn’t get to clean my makeup off.I didn’t brush my hair.”
“You look fine, Valentina.Absolutely beautiful.”
“You’re too nice, Sam.”She laughed.“So, what are you up to today?”
“Well, I’m going to meet up with my brothers and discuss a new case we got.”I paused as I realized that I was talking about work, and that was something I didn’t want to do with her.
“Oh?What’s the new case about?”
“I’m not sure.Sergio got a contact from someone.”
“Are you not working on anything else right now, then?”
“Just a couple of random things.Nothing important,” I said quickly.“What about you?What are you up to?”
“I’m going to look at another space.I spoke to my dad, and he said he’s not willing to pay that much rent for the space that we saw.So …” She shrugged.She looked slightly disappointed, and I felt bad for her.
“Couldn’t you take him to the space and see if that would persuade him?”
“You don’t know my dad.”She sighed.“Once he’s got his mind set on something”—she shrugged—“it doesn’t matter.”
“What does your dad do?”I asked her, even though I knew exactly what he did.
“He owns a couple of car dealerships and some other businesses,” she said quickly.“He lives in Jersey.”
“Cool.”
“It’s not that cool,” she said with a laugh, “but I’m fortunate that he’s quite successful, and I’ve been able to enjoy a very easy life.”
“But I’m sure everything didn’t come easy to you.I mean, you want to start your own business, so you’re obviously not just a woman who wants to sit on her laurels and shop all day.”
“No, though I think that’s what my dad would like for me.His mom worked really hard when he was younger.I guess he wanted to give his little girl the world, and he has.Still, he doesn’t understand that I want to make my own way in the world.I want to have a purpose and do something, and, well, he can’t dictate everything in my life, you know?”
“Yeah.”I nodded.“I’m sure that must be frustrating.”
“It is.”She reached over and grabbed her phone.“Oh, I need to shower quickly.I have to get going.”
“So early?”I said, disappointed.I’d kind of been hoping we’d have morning sex.
“Don’t look so disappointed, Sam.I can see you later today if you’re free.”
“Yeah, I am.That would be really nice.”
“Great.Are you sure you don’t want to meet my dad tonight?I’m having dinner with him.”
“Yeah, I just …”
