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“Oh, yeah, I’m sure you tried,” I tease with a playful wink, which has her chuckling. “I am just so happy that you’ve found your passion, your love,” I tell her.
“I have.” There’s honesty in her words, and I believe her. She’s practically glowing from love and my chest twinges with envy at what she’s found. Maybe Portland would be it for me. Perhaps I can find that too.
“Why don’t you come to our place for dinner one night?” Mia asks. “It would be great to catch up properly, and you can finally meet Camden.”
Nodding, I tell her, “I’d love to. Thank you, Mia. It’s so good to be here, to see you again.” We both stand at the same time, and I know she has to get back to work.
She pulls me in for a hug before leaving me to finish my coffee. It’s delicious, and I order a second cup to take away. It’s time for me to figure out where I’m going to stay. I’ll have to scroll through some apartment rentals and figure out just what I’m going to do.
Chapter 7
Rome
The office is quiet as the sun sets behind me. My door swings open, and Dom walks in. He’s still dressed in a black suit, which is tailored to fit him perfectly. The man is a walking GQ advert.
“Donovan,” he rumbles my last name as he settles himself on the chair that the sweet Ms. Rossi was perched in earlier. I meet his gaze as his mouth quirks up into a grin. “How was your day?” he questions easily, gesturing to the tumbler of whiskey that’s sitting on my desk.
“It was interesting. I had a rather intriguing meeting this morning,” I offer.
“Yeah,” he says, leaning forward, fascinated. I push off the chair and head to the cabinet to pour my best friend a drink. Once I’ve given him the glass, I sit back in my chair and tell him about Elisabet. “She’s incredible. I’ve asked her to dinner tonight,” I tell him finally.
“I thought you vowed never to mix business with pleasure again. Has this pretty little princess dragged you into her web so easily?” He gulps down the drink and heads to pour another for both of us.
“I don’t think I’m the one caught in her web. I want to fuck her, yes. I’m not saying this is love, Dom.” I school my features, waiting for him to look at me. It’s how he’ll know I’m lying, only this time, I won’t allow my best friend to see how much this woman has gotten under my skin with just one meeting.
He turns to me then, stalking back to my desk. He sets the glass down before smirking at me in that knowing way. “So, you’re telling me you’re just going to fuck her, take her money, and then move on?” His head tips to the side, intrigue written all over his face.
“Yeah. Why not?” I shrug, but it’s not enough. Dominic Hale will see through every ounce of my lie.
“Because I know you, Donovan. There’s nothing you do that’s without purpose. There’s more to this woman, and for some reason, you’re not telling me what.”
“Look, she’s fuckable. I need to get my dick wet. Why else would I even look at her?” He regards me warily before flopping into the chair opposite my desk.
“You’re not one to tell me about women. Unless it’s one we’d both wanted and she chose you, which you enjoy using to piss me off. This time, this is different.” He sits back, watching me with those forest-green eyes. They’re dark, the color reminding me of something sordid. That’s Dominic Hale.
“I want her. She’s headstrong, and you know I want someone who’ll challenge me.” He nods then. “And she has a mouth that I could practically live with my dick inside. Elisabet Rossi is different. She’s special.”
“You mean she told you off, and now you’re turned on by her fiery nature?” He chuckles darkly, knowing how much I love a challenge in a woman. Someone who’s not just going to lie there and take what I give her.
“Yeah,” I respond easily because I can’t deny him that.
Sighing, my best friend rises and nods. “Fine. I’ll go. You get yourself all dolled-up for the pretty Italian,” Dom taunts, and I’m ready to knock him the fuck out. It won’t be the first time we’ve come to blows about something. But as many times as we’ve fought, we’ve always remained friends.
“Don’t be an asshole, Dominic,” I retort with a smirk.
“I’m not trying, that comes naturally. I’ll head out and find some pretty girl to entertain me tonight. Don’t get too caught up in this woman. She’s a client,” he warns, his eyes sparking with amusement.
“Go get your dick sucked or something, Hale.” With a loud guffaw, he stalks out of my office, leaving me to my thoughts of what I’m going to be doing with the delicious little Elisabet.
