Gio

“Maybe.”

“Then I’m in.”

My bed is light and missing Gio when I wake the next morning.

I stretch my arm out to where he was sleeping only hours ago to find nothing but cold sheets and folded piece of paper.

Dinner 6PM, I’ll pick you up.

I’m grateful to be alone as my cheeks flush recounting the events from last night. That kiss. That damn kiss drifted through my memory. The feeling of his lips against mine had me wanting.

My head is swimming. This is not normal. I’m just working for him. It’s just a job, just an agreement.

Still, even knowing this is wrong, that I should just hustle through this deal and rid myself of Gio, I still want him.

I want him more than anything.

Him protecting me, rescuing Johnny, his words playing on repeat in my head.

You deserve better than that.

What did I deserve? Was it him?

Was Gio DelGado, a fucking gangster, going to treat me the way I deserved?

My thighs ached thinking about his kiss, the way he parted my lips and devoured me. If the kiss was that good, how was the sex going to be?

Yeah, I fucking want him.

Getting ready for work became a chore. My body tingles with excitement to see him again. By the time I made it to the nursing home I was five minutes late, flushed, and my brain was far from work mode.

“You look good.” Veronica, a fellow nurse’s aid and probably my only work friend eyes me suspiciously when I make it onto the floor. “Hot date?”

I heave a breath, rushing into work made my lungs hurt. Maybe Gio was right about me being out of shape. “No.” I insist.

“Mmhmm, sure.” Veronica smiles. “I’ve never seen you wear makeup like that. Unless you have a crush on one of these geezers,” she gestures to the two older men slumped and fast asleep in their wheelchairs next to the nurse's station. “You’re planning on meeting someone. Spill it.”

Veronica is 22, Latina, and stunningly attractive. She frequently wears red lipstick and hoop earrings paired with her baby pink scrubs and orthopedic shoes while I opt for tight ponytails and moisturizer instead of makeup. She’s the yin to my yang, and our friendship works perfectly like that. But she also knows me well enough to see that my curled hair, eyeliner, and blush pink lipstick is way out of the norm for work.

“Fine. You win.” I blush. “It’s a guy but that’s all I’m telling you.”

Veronica’s face lights up. “Oh. Annie! Yes, girl!”

“Shh,” I throw a loose pen at her. “It’s not serious.”

Veronica gives me a look of amusement.

Was it not serious?

I trip over my feet the rest of the day. Pushing wheelchairs, serving dinner, and checking in on residents all feel like insurmountable tasks. I’m beating myself up for being so distracted when I finally leave the nursing home at the end of my shift.

“Hey, sweetheart.” his deep baritone draws my attention from my phone to meet his eyes.

Gio is stunning leaning against the black Porsche in dark black jeans, a white tee, and his signature black leather jacket. His feet are covered in black combat boots that have the laces wrapped around them. His hair is slicked back as always and he wears a crooked grin that makes my knees weak.

“Hey.” I give him a matching grin.

We’re like two teenagers meeting behind our parents back. It felt wrong, like something we shouldn’t be doing.