Vow to Protect (Vow To Protect 1)

He smells good. Like really good. I swallow and duck my chin, about to try to make a graceful exit, but he gently lifts my gaze to his with his index finger under my chin.

“What’s your name?”

I swallow so I don’t squeak when I answer him. With his eyes locked on mine, I can’t even think straight. He towers over me, taking up the space both around him and around me, but unlike Sal, it feels like he owns that space, and I’m the interloper.

“Valentina Novak,” I offer.

He doesn’t say his name, only studies my face, his finger our only point of contact. I want to tuck my cheek so I can press my nose to his pulse point and get a good whiff of him.

Like a damn serial killer.

“What is this look on your face for, Val?”

Val. I blink. No one has ever called me anything other than Valentina or Miss Novak. Well, except Sal, but his names are curses and don’t count.

“You smell good.”

His forehead bunches up as he watches me. His dark hair is styled with a soft wave; it even looks like it would be soft to run my fingers through. Sal favors gel that turns his hair into a helmet. Not that I would want to touch it.

This man, though, there are a lot of things I want to do. And I don’t understand why. We don’t know each other. And while he is very beautiful, he must be fifteen years older than me. Apparently, I have a thing for older men now.

He’s still silent, and I let him hold my chin even though it’s a dangerous game with Sal likely about to discover us at any moment.

“Did you just say I smell good?” he asked. His deep and smoky voice has a hint of incredulity that is sweet, exactly like his scent.

“What did you want me to do? Lie?”

“Most would. Many here would make something up or deliver a stinging remark meant to gain the upper hand.”

I shake my head, and it dislodges my chin from his grasp. He drops his arm slowly as if he’s reluctant to stop touching me.

“No. I’ve had enough malice in my life. I refuse to give it back to others. Are you alright? I saw those people dragging someone away. Did she try to hurt you?”

His frown deepens, and he gently shakes his head. “Not hurt me, no. She only succeeded in embarrassing herself in front of a room full of people. However, I can’t let the insult pass. She was removed, and that will be enough unless she tries again.”

I shrug and smile. “Seems fair. I’d want to throw a woman out if she grabbed my genitals too.”

A short laugh bursts out of him, and his smile...good lord...that smile is like staring directly into the sun. There are dimples, his five o’clock shadow, the straight white edge of his teeth, and those full lips, can’t forget those.

“You saw that, did you?”

I give him a smile back, a real one that I could feel on my forehead. “Of course, I just didn’t realize who she was until I thought about it some more.”

The click of heels from the bathroom brought Rose in line with my back. I glance at her over my shoulder, but her face has taken on a pallor I only see when Sal is drunk and forward with her.

“Valentina,” Rose whispers. “We should get back.”

Her eyes are locked on the man, who is significantly more rigid and forbidding now that someone else is with us.

Dipping down, he captures my hand, brushes his soft lips over my knuckles, and releases me. It takes less than a second, yet I’ll be replaying it in my mind for the next year.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Val. I hope to see you again soon.” He tugs a black card from his pocket and presses it into my hand. The only thing on it is a phone number embossed in gold. “If you need anything, call this number and ask for Adrian.”

“Adrian,” I intone, still memorizing his features.

Rose pulls me away, and I let her, stumbling slightly as I shove the card into my clutch. We skirt the edge of the crowd until we reach an alcove, then Rose spins me to face her and clasps my face between her hands. “Are you okay?” Her voice is frantic, panicky, and thick.

I bat her fingers from my face. “No, what? No. Why are you freaking out right now? Adrian was very nice to me.”

Her eyes are huge, and she still hasn’t regained her color. “That man is a monster. The monster. The head of the Doubeck family. If you think marrying Sal is bad...that man will chew Sal up and eat him for breakfast. He’s not someone you fucking make friends with, Valentina.”