XOXO

“But, you’re not as...”

“Bad as you thought I was?” he interrupts as he takes my phone and drops it back on the table.

Nodding, I answer softly. “Yes.”

His eyes search my face, stopping at my lips. “Don’t jump to that conclusion just yet, Arietta. The night is still young.”

Chapter 37

Arietta

I watch him from behind as he places all of the dishes into the sink. He cooked the most delicious dinner. I ate every bite of the perfectly seasoned chicken breast and roasted vegetables.

He assured me that even though it looked rustic that the taste would be memorable. He was right.

“Where did you learn how to cook?” I ask from where I’m seated on the sofa.

“Marti taught me,” he calls back. “Every Calvetti has to learn how to cook something. I started with lasagna. I’ve honed my skills in the kitchen since then.”

My gaze wanders back to the wall of photographs. Is there anything he can’t do?

I dart to my feet to get a closer look at an image of Dominick and his father. They are both dressed in baseball shirts. On the top of Dominick’s head is a baseball cap. Strands of dark hair are peeking out from under it.

“Did you used to play baseball?”

That turns him around. “I did.”

I glance at him. The smile that was on his face is gone. I chased it away with that question. I focus on another image in the hope that I can lure it back. I’d trade sleep for a week to see it again.

“Is that your niece?” My fingertips trail over the corner of a silver frame.

“Luisa,” he comments as he nears me.

I know her name from talking to his sister. Bella stops by the office regularly to see her older brother. If he’s in a meeting, she’ll pull up a chair next to my desk, and we’ll talk about everything from books to her love story.

I smile at the image of the baby. “She’s beautiful.”

He stands so close to me that I can feel the brush of his sweater against my bare arm. “She’s a handful.”

I take comfort in seeing the corners of his lips edge up again as he talks about his niece.

“Babies generally are,” I counter.

“Are they?” he grins. “I’m not a dad, so I have no idea.”

“I’m not a mom, so I have as much knowledge as you do when it comes to kids.”

Silence sits between us as I shift my gaze from the pictures to the bank of windows. “Your home is gorgeous, and that view is everything.”

“So is this one.”

His hand edges closer to mine as I turn back to look at him.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Arietta.”

I won’t discount the compliment by giggling or feigning disbelief. “Thank you.”

I sigh when his hand closes around mine.

“I realize that I’m your boss.” He lowers his voice. “That could make for a possible complication, but I believe we can handle it.”

I assume that the ‘it’ he’s referring to is sex.

I glance around his apartment as if I’ve just woken up in an unfamiliar place. Maybe I have. He asked me here tonight to have sex with me. Why did I think this was more? My romantic heart wanted it to be, but I know him.

He fucks and flees.

In our case, it will be fuck and fire since I work for him.

Regretfully, I tug my hand free of his. “I shouldn’t have come, sir. I’m not that... I’ve never had a one-night stand. I can’t.”

I keep fumbling through an explanation about why I’m about to bolt. “My job...it’s the most important thing to me...it’s a crucial step in my life plan, and I can’t mess it up. I won’t mess it up.”

Just as I turn toward the foyer, his hands encircle my waist, halting me in place. “Arietta, stop.”

I have no choice but to do as he asks. He’s more than a foot taller than me and at the very least a hundred pounds heavier.

I hang my head in sorrow or regret, maybe a little of both.

With a touch of his finger to my chin, he edges my head up. “Don’t run away. I’m not good at this.”

“At what?” I ask, searching his face for an answer.

Closing his eyes, he rests his forehead against mine. “It’s not obvious?”

“No,” I spit out. “I’m lost, but let me make this clear. If you asked me here to have sex with you tonight, I can’t. I know you cut women out of your life after you sleep with them, which means I’ll probably lose my job. I have to choose it over you even though you’re hot as hell, and I want to fuck you.”

My hand jumps to my mouth when I realize I said that aloud.

Before I can say another word, he takes my hand in his and presses his lips to mine in a slow, lush kiss. His other hand moves to my neck to angle me just right before he slips his tongue over my bottom lip. I let him into my mouth and my heart and every part inside of me that is aching for him.