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She bows her head. “I’m sorry. I have no idea. I don’t pay attention to it. It’s just been me and Mom and… andhimwhen he feels like coming home. Now he’s got Mom all wrapped up in his mess.”
I pull her into a hug, smoothing my hands over her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. When I kiss her, she gasps like the show of affection is as shocking to her as it is to me. I kiss her again.
“Don’t beat yourself up. You shouldn’t have to worry about any of this stuff.”
We don’t say anything for a while. Simply holding each other is enough. After a while, she says, “What should I tell my boss tomorrow? Not the truth, obviously.”
“Definitely not that,” I say, honestly, more than a little pissed that my woman has to even think about bosses and all the rest of it. In my mind, she’s above all that. It shouldn’t even enter her head. “Tell them you’ve been headhunted by a top talent agency. You’ll be busy working all day.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” She turns away from me.
I grab her hand and pull her back. “The hell was that?”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
I step forward, pushing my body against hers. I wonder if she can feel this new heat in me—this new passion. I’ve never had it before. “I’d never make fun of you,” I say firmly. “You’re good enough. It wasn’t a joke.”
“Seriously, what should—”
“Don’t worry about your job,” I snap. “If they fire you, don’t worry. I’ll help you in any way you need.”
She stands on her tiptoes. It’s the first timeshe’sinitiated the kiss. I let her lead the way. We kiss slowly, her hands spreading over my back. “I can’t believe you want me,” she whispers, her face pressed against my chest. It’s like she can’t look at me when she says this.
“Why?” I ask.
“It’s just… you’re you. I’m me.”
“That’s very helpful,” I say in a very light, teasing tone. My woman is clearly on edge. “I want you. I need you. I…”
I stop quickly. I started this by trying to delete her number. Now, I’m on the verge of giving a love-filled speech. I need to get a serious grip.
“Sir,” Sebastian says quietly from the doorway. “The room is ready.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Would you please show Angela where it is?”
I take a step away from her. She looks a little hurt, then nods and turns away. I have to put both hands behind my back to stop myself from reaching forward and grabbing her hand again, turning her toward me, and kissing her even with Sebastian there.
Instead, I go in the opposite direction. I’ll have to wake Mom and explain the singer angle. I suspect Mom will think I’m using the singing thing as an excuse. She’ll think I’ve finally found a woman I’m interested in and, for whatever reason—maybe she doesn’t have a home of her own—I’m keeping her here. That’s fine as long as Mom doesn’t know about the debt and the sharks.
I’ve got a lot of work to do.
CHAPTER11
Scarlet
I wake at eight a.m., feeling groggy. I’m not sure what time I fell asleep. I didn’t think I’d be able to get any rest at all. But the second I felt the silk sheets and the soft pillows, I began to relax. My body was tired from the long shift, but my mind had different ideas.
Immediately, I reach for my phone—nothing from Mom. I left several messages last night once Elio left me. I try calling her again now. It goes to voicemail. Then I check my texts. There’s one from Elio.
Morning, my singing angel. I won’t be there when you get up. I’ve told my mom about the situation. She seems to think you’re my secret girlfriend, and I’m using the singing angle as a cover story for some reason. That works for us. You can go along with it if it makes things easier. I’ve got several people actively searching for your mom and dad. I’m going to chase down a lead myself right now.
He sent the text just a couple of minutes ago. I sit up and quickly reply.What sort of lead?
It takes a few minutes for him to message me. The bedroom has an ensuite, so I grab my toothbrush from the suitcase and head in there. Nerves twist through me when I think about walking into the main apartment. Of all the ways I thought I’d meet my future husband’s parents, it wasn’t like this.
When I return to the bedroom, a text is waiting for me.I’m canvasing all the neighborhoods in the city that could be classified as worse than yours.
I thought you said that Mom’s note didn’t narrow it down.
