Ruthless (The Calvettis of New York 2)

“An accident? She was hurt?” I hear the concern in her tone. “If you saw her today she must be fine, right?”

“Better than fine.” I smile. “She’s thriving. Happier than I could have imagined she’d be.”

“Good.” Her eyes shine bright. “Your dad should have taken a minute to calm down. There’s nothing a kid can do that deserves a punishment like that.”

She’s wrong. I deserved what was handed to me. I let too many people down that day.

Fortunately, for me, I’ve been given a second chance to prove I’m a better man now than I was when I was fifteen-year-old kid.

“What should we do now?” Her eyebrows dance. “Do you have any ideas?”

I yank her onto my lap, pulling a scream from her. Another follows when I rip open the front of my dress shirt, sending buttons scattering around us.

“You just ruined your shirt,” she points out looking down at her naked body.

“It was worth it.” I cup her tits in my hands. “I haven’t had a taste of these yet.”

Lowering my mouth to her right breast, I swirl my tongue over her hard nipple. “Give me an hour or two to savor every inch of your body and then we’ll decide what’s next on the agenda.”

Chapter 42

Bella

I open my apartment door to find two faces staring right at me.

“It’s not even eight a.m.,” I point out with a tap of my finger over the face of my watch. “What are you doing up, and why are you even here?”

“I have an early call time for a photo shoot,” Gina answers first.

“I’m her stylist for the day,” Max adds. “That and I had the most amazing date last night. I had to tell someone, and you were missing in action.”

I look at my sister. I’m surprised that she didn’t call Max to give him all the details of my overnighter at Barrett’s apartment.

“I told him you were doing your boss.” Gina throws her hands up in mock frustration. “He only wanted to talk about himself and the hottie that he met at the launch party we went to.”

“You met someone there?” I drop my purse on the couch. “What’s he like?”

“Prince Charming,” Max swoons. “Seriously, Bella, he looks like every picture of Prince Charming I’ve ever seen.”

“Every cartoon drawing you mean.” Gina taps him on the shoulder.

“Whatever.” Gus swats her hand away. “He’s a doctor. He’s smart and funny. He’s a good guy.”

I smile. “I’m happy for you.”

Taking me in his arms, he gives me a full bear hug. “I’m happier for you. You broke your dry spell.”

“You didn’t just say that.” I push back to stab a finger into the middle of his chest.

Adjusting the collar of the green polo he’s wearing, he laughs. “Don’t deny it. You look like you were fucked into next week.”

Gina’s head pops up. She gives me the once-over. “You do, Bella. You look good.”

Wiping a hand over my forehead, I sigh. “I have to shower and get ready for work.”

“Mr. Hot Stuff couldn’t cut you a bit of slack after you rocked his world?” Max pushes my hair behind my ear. “It was good? He was good to you?”

“So good.” I wink.