Thirst (The Calvettis of New York 1)

“This is it.” The sound of Marti’s voice startles me.

I look to my left to see her standing with a worn brown leather bag. She drops it in the middle of the table.

“I’ve had it for a long time.” She lowers back onto the chair next to me. “A very long time.”

I hear the quiver in her tone before I see the tears in the corners of her eyes.

This purse means much more to her than Rocco realizes.

“May I?” I ask as I inch my hand toward it.

She nods in silence.

I pick it up and examine the corners. If nothing has escaped through the small hole on the right side of the bag, I’d be shocked.

The gold-plated trim has worn away to reveal green metal underneath. Half of the clasp is missing and both straps are held onto the bag by duct tape.

“Can you make something similar, Dexie?” Rocco asks.

“I don’t want similar.” Marti squeezes my forearm. “I want the same.”

I lock eyes with her, the depth of her pain is apparent. Her eyes are the same color as Rocco’s and as clouded with unexpressed grief as his are.

His mother must have been an incredible woman.

“I understand,” I say with a reassuring squeeze of her hand. “I can make something identical.”

“Let her take it, Marti.” Rocco’s voice is steady. “Dexie will take good care of it.”

“The best care,” I reassure her with a smile. “I promise.”

She dumps the bag onto the table, sending lipstick tubes, a smartphone and a mountain of papers flying everywhere. “Take it.”

***

An hour later, Rocco and I are standing on the sidewalk outside my building. The Uber ride here from the restaurant was the first chance we had to be alone, and that was wasted because I had to take a work call. Rio Dirks finally got back to me about our upcoming photo shoot.

“Do you want to come up?” Rocco nods toward the door that leads up to his apartment. “You can teach me a thing or two about poker.”

Or you could teach me a thing or two about great sex; correction, mind-blowing sex.

We haven’t slept together, but the man exudes raw energy that is palpable.

I have to try and ignore it tonight.

“I have a lot of work to do.” I push Marti’s bag up my shoulder. “I’ve fallen behind lately. I have a few clients waiting for their orders.”

“Understood.” He shoves a hand into the pocket of his jeans. “Thanks for meeting me tonight and for taking such good care of Marti’s prized possession.”

I swallow. “I should probably go up.”

He steps closer, his eyes skimming my face. “Kiss me goodnight, Dexie.”

My teeth latch onto my bottom lip. A kiss with him makes me feel things I’m not ready to explore. It reaches beyond the physical need that it ignites in me. I like him. I want to spend time with him. I want to know him.

His hand leaps to my cheek. “What I’d give to feel you bite my lip like that.”

A blush races up my skin. “One