He nods, but Holden watches him for a moment before pulling me close. I snuggle against his side and breathe in his cologne. It’s warm, familiar, cozy. So much like Holden in general.
Holden puts some silly heart warming rom-com thing on TV, but I swear I only get half of it. I’m focusing on what I can do if I should tell my mom what I have to do tomorrow. Holden curls me against him, pulling my legs over his until he can rub my feet. I stare at his hands, almost pull away, but he tightens his hold on me.
“Let me do this, Sophie.” He whispers.
I meet his eyes, see something deeper there, and nod. He rubs my feet slowly, making sure nothing is missed. Tension edges out of my body, slowly, then all at once. I lean against him and kiss the inside of his shoulder.
“I owe you a massage back,” I whisper.
He shakes his head but smiles gently.
After that we eat, even though I can barely pick at my food. I try to go to sleep alone after a much needed shower, but my bed is too big. There’s just too much space, too many thoughts swirling in my head.
What if dad dies? What if he gets better and finds out what I’ve been doing with the guys? Should I tell Mom? What if she comes out here to try and take me back? What’s going to happen with the business?
I get up and pace the floor. I don’t want to go to one of the guys and disturb them. I’m sure they’re just as overwhelmed and exhausted as I am … and honestly, I’m not sure I want to be around people right now.
So I curl up on the couch, put the TV on, hoping that it will drown out the thoughts, then let myself cry. I must fall asleep at some point because I wake up to Roman. He brushes my hair from my face.
“Do you need another day, Bambina?” He murmurs. “Take it.”
“No. I’ll just … work is better,” I tell him. “I’ll get changed.”
I pull on a decent dress, heels and do enough makeup that I actually look awake. I brush through my hair and put half of it up in a clip. Roman waits for me, and we drive to work in silence.
When he parks, he rests a hand on my thigh. “I’ll take care of Sasha. You take care of Neal. Okay?”
“I can do both.”
He chuckles. “She will be made aware that she needs to route things appropriately and pay more attention to scheduling or else. I can deliver that threat without her getting pissy.”
“Roman.” I shake my head. “You don’t have to protect me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He teases.
I roll my eyes but thank him. He releases my hand when we get inside, and I see Sasha shoot me a glare. Too bad for her. I’m over her attitude, especially when I haven’t given her any reason to be so rude to me all the time.
I’ve got enough on my plate without her trying to add to it. I go over to Neal, and he lights up. “Hey there! I’ve missed you around here, gorgeous.”
My eyes flick to Nick, who obviously heard Neal and very obviously doesn’t like it. I put on a smile. “I see that it hasn’t affected your sales. You’re doing really well.”
“It just takes the special touch.” He looks me over hungrily.
“Well, keep it up, and I may be able to get you another three days of PTO,” I whisper. “But don’t tell. It’s our secret.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “And maybe a lunch with you?”
“Right now, I have a lot going on,” I say seriously. “I don’t want to make plans and then end up not being able to keep them. That’s rude.”
He blinks at me, then nods. “Yeah. Thanks, actually. I’ll get to work. Those days will come in handy.”
“I’m sure!” I nod and then go to my office.
I end up working on emails, scheduling, and verifying the clients my dad has been working with until nearly two. Roman knocks on my door and shakes his head at me. “Bambina, you haven’t eaten.”
“Neither have you.” I say without looking away from the file. “Pot calling the kettle black.”
“Come on. We need to fix that.”
“Later.” I insist.
“Sophia.” Roman arches his eyebrow, then closes my office door, stalking to me before bracing his hands on my desk. “Whether you eat or not, you’re taking a break.”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “We have a lot to do, and I want to be done so I can-”
“There is nothing that can’t wait a day.” He continues around my desk. “Maybe a better question for you is are you hungry or … do you want to be distracted?”
I blink at him. No. There’s no way he’s suggesting …. The air between us sizzles as he leans towards me. He’s so close that his hair brushes my forehead, and I can’t escape the woodsy, warm smell of him or fight the urge to reach out and touch him.
We’re not in Italy anymore. We can’t just … go at it whenever we want to even though it sounds amazing right now. Running my hands over the hard muscles of his arms and back, licking his neck, melting into every kiss and touch, he’s a sinful kind of heaven.
He tips my chin up. “I’m starving for you, Bambina. Let me make you feel good.”
“That’s not the same as lunch.”
His lips slowly curl up into a wicked smile I want to taste. “It is if I devour you.”
I gasp, and my toes curl in my heels. He’s naughty, bold, intense, and right now, I can’t think of anything in the world I want more than him.