Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

He kept his eyes on her face. Willing her to take the next step. They were still dancing around each other in the guise of teasing, but he needed her to take the next step to trust him with things she wouldn’t normally tell him.

“I don’t want you upset with Katie. I’m the one coming up with all the irreverent nicknames for certain clients.”

He remained silent, disappointment slicing through him. They weren’t at that point yet, and he knew above all else, patience was key to getting her to trust him wholly. He shook his head, annoyed with himself for trying to push her beyond where she was ready to go.

“Vittorio.” She whispered his name and there was an ache in her voice.

She didn’t like disappointing him, and she knew she had. He leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to her mouth. That alone made him feel as if she’d given him a great gift. She might not trust him all the way yet, but she definitely cared enough that when he wasn’t pleased, or he was disappointed, she was upset.

“It doesn’t matter, gattina, it will come with time. We’ll get there.” He was confident they would.

“It does matter.” Grace surprised him with her fierce reaction. “I’m embarrassed that I can be childish at work. I want you to recognize that I’m a professional. I love what I do and I’m seriously good at it.”

“I’ve listened to you and Katie every day for the last week. I’m very aware you’re professional.”

She ducked her head again, and his heart sank. He didn’t like her disappointed in herself when she clearly was trying—really trying. He willed her to keep going. This was an important moment in their relationship even if she didn’t recognize it as such. He was patient, remaining silent. Waiting. He concentrated on the rise and fall of her breasts. Her skin was soft, very pale, almost glowing in the moonlight spilling over the lake and pouring in through the bay of windows.

She touched her tongue to her lip and then looked up at him, meeting his eyes. “I should trust you enough to know you aren’t petty enough to retaliate against our business, or Katie, because I like to play silly games.”

Vittorio was elated that she made her confession to him. She didn’t quite know that he wouldn’t hold whatever her game was concerning him against him, but she wanted to extend him that trust. Her work was very important to her. It was the one thing she’d had that Haydon Phillips hadn’t been able to take away from her, and she’d made it a success. She didn’t want him to belittle it, hurt it, or in any way think less of her regarding her business.

“When clients are difficult, I make up names for them, and then use acronyms in order to make us both laugh.”

He couldn’t help but smile. She made the confession as if she’d committed some terrible sin. “I see. I have one of these acronyms?”

“SURB.”

He caught on immediately. “Spoiled useless rich boy,” he translated. That wasn’t bad enough for her to have waited so long to tell him. He thought over what she’d revealed. When clients are difficult. He’d never been “difficult” at any of the charity events. She had invented a game to ease the sting when difficult clients were ugly to Katie or her. “What did you call my mother?”

She sighed. Her fingers twisted in the sheets. He couldn’t help himself. He caught her hand and pressed her palm to his thigh to give her courage.

“She was known as QBSITDROH.” She rattled off the letters fast as if she’d used them often.

He raised an eyebrow. “That is quite a mouthful.”

“Your mother is not an easy person to work with. She deserved a name befitting someone who could raise her level of contempt, sarcasm and venom. It was necessary to find a way to laugh.”

He could hear the apology in her voice. That wasn’t what he wanted from her at all.

“You’ll have to teach your special name to my sisters-in-law. They occasionally need a humorous way to cope. What does it stand for?”

“Queen bitch spawned in the deepest recesses of hell.” She looked up at him quickly as if expecting him to be angry.

Vittorio couldn’t help himself. He burst out laughing. “I have a very healthy respect for my mother, but no one can quite reach the particular level of vitriol she can when dealing with anyone in any situation. Very imaginative and apt.”

He framed her face and kissed her, taking his time, letting her fire consume him.CHAPTER THIRTEENKissing Grace turned his world upside down. Once he started, Vittorio never wanted to stop. She tasted like wildfire, hot, spicy and yet sweet, a runaway sensation that took him down the dark path he desired. No one had ever come close to taking away the harsh reality of his life—not until he’d found Grace.