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“You were wrong. Kimberly wanted things from you because of her greed. For me, it was a question of survival.” I sigh. “It never was the reason I wanted to be with you.”
He says nothing, just accepts the truth, pleading with his eyes. Dark brown abyss. So desperate, it breaks my already fractured heart.
“I love you, Gio. I love you so much it hurts. But you hurt me, neglected me, made assumptions about me, and yes, I never tried to explain my feelings, but that didn’t give you the right to behave the way you did.”
“Tell me what to do. Do you want me to beg?”
“Stop it. Don’t be ridiculous. When you told me you’re allergic to a beesting and you fight that by getting close to them, I admired you. When it came to me, you didn’t want to get close. I don’t know if I can trust that you would let yourself feel. That you wouldn’t hide behind work.”
He looks at me, and it’s not the thirty-four-year-old man, it’s a boy, lost and scared, who pleads with me.
“I can’t promise you anything, Gio. Not right now.”
* * *
The next day, I return from an afternoon client meeting to find Gio waiting for me. Not in my office. In the seating area at reception.
The receptionist nearly needs resuscitation, pleading wide-eyed that I remove him from her vicinity.
I stifle a smile at her freak-out and walk over to him. He stands up and, damn it, the dimples. He is shaved and dressed casually in khakis and a polo shirt. God, he’s gorgeous.
“What are you doing here?” I fold my arms across my chest, mostly because I want my hands to stop shaking.
“Hey, Princess, I’d like to walk you home.” He wiggles his eyebrows. Gio actually wiggles his eyebrows.The self-assured bastard. My mind says,Oh my God, oh my God. My heart flutters. Stupid heart.
I bite my lip. “You should have called. I have work to do.”
He shrugs. “That’s okay. I’ll wait.”
I narrow my eyes, studying him. What’s going on here? “Don’t you have a deal in California or Singapore to chase?”
“Not important.” He shrugs again. “I’ll be here whenever you’re ready.” He sits down, smiling. The king in his court.
I sigh and go to my office, honey-dipped wings fluttering in my stomach. It’s another four hours before I’m ready to leave, and he still waits there patiently.
We walk for several blocks and talk about my day. I live with Annie now on the other side of Manhattan, so we finally take a cab. Gio walks me to the door, asks about my sister, and then kisses my hand.
“See you tomorrow, Princess.”
We continue the same routine for almost a month. A few times we stop and eat from a vendor in the park, or a hole in the wall restaurant. Twice I accompany him to a charity event. Most evenings we just hang out.
Normal.
Gio Cassinetti is doing normal. My defenses are nonexistent by now, and I’m keeping my distance more, because a part of me worries things will return to his usual way of life as soon as I cave.
Though I can’t help but enjoy his attention. No longer is he taking me to shop for things I don’t want. He listens, and then surprises me with little things. Tickets for a Pink concert because I was humming her song. Flowers from a corner mom-and-pop shop I frequent to help the elderly couple. Many, small, thoughtful gestures.
My heart is ready to give in. My body craves his touch. My mind still needs to address one last thing.
Two of my team members are with me on the call, but my focus is stolen by the handsome man at reception. At one point during this courtship, he rearranged the seating out there, so he could watch me.
It’s wonderful to see him off the screen, but it’s wonderfully nerve-wracking having him stare at me with attention and reverence. Needless to say, I have to get the most important stuff done in the mornings before he comes. I’m useless once he enters the premises.
We get off the phone and debrief quickly. As soon as I’m alone, I take out a yellow folder. When I asked my assistant to print the document, she brought it back in the yellow folder and I laughed at the irony.
I hit my intercom.
“Yes, Mila, what can I do for you?” she chirps.
