Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Samantha
The way my mystery man kisses me makes me feel loved and treasured.
He sweeps me away from the memories of Todd and takes me to a world where I’m whole.
I’ve been violated and destroyed, but I’m intact, and it’s because of this man.
It feels like every choice I made, everything that happened to me, led me to this moment.
It led me to him.
Slowly, he ends the kiss and presses my face against his neck. I feel as he adjusts his mask into place before he holds me tightly.
His voice is filled with emotion as he says, “You’re such an amazing woman, Samantha. I’ve fallen in love with you, which is a feat in itself because I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
Placing my hand against his ribs, I ask, “Then why won’t you show me your face?”
He’s quiet for a while before he explains, “I’m scared you’ll reject me.”
“I won’t.”
He pulls back, and our eyes meet. “What if I’m not who you expect?”
“I’m not expecting anything. I don’t care if you have two noses and purple hair. I want to see what the man I’m falling for looks like. I want to know your name. I want to get to know everything about you.”
I can see he’s thinking about it, then he says, “Can I have a couple more days?”
Seeing the worry in his eyes, I nod. “Okay.”
As my apartment grows dark, we lie on my bed and stare at each other.
“Are you really falling in love with me?” he asks softly.
I scrunch my nose. “Insane, right? Only I would fall for a man whose face I’ve never seen.” I lift my hand and trail my fingers over the ski mask. “Every part of me is drawn to you. The connection I feel to you is unbelievably strong.”
His hand covers mine, and he presses my palm to his chest. “Feel that?”
“Your heartbeat?”
He nods, his eyes staring so deep into mine I’m sure he’s looking at the darkest parts of me. “Every beat is for you. I need you to remember that when I take off the balaclava.”
“Stop worrying.” I give him a reassuring smile. “I don’t care what you look like, or what your name is. I just want to put a face to the man I’m falling for and call you something else besides my mystery man.”
His fingers wrap around mine as he whispers, “No matter what happens, I want you to know I love you.” He wraps his arms around me and hugs me to his chest. “I have to go.”
“Okay.”
When he pulls away from me, we climb off the bed and I follow him to the living room.
My mystery man stops a couple of feet from the window, and wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, he tugs me closer.
“On Wednesday night, I’ll come get you. I’m going to blindfold you and take you to my place, where I’ll take off the balaclava. Are you okay with that?”
I’ll be able to learn more about him if I see where he lives.
“I don’t understand why I’ll be blindfolded, but okay.”
“I don’t want anything to give away my identity until we’re in my house,” he explains.
“What would give away your identity?” My eyes widen. “Are you famous?”
“Something like that,” he chuckles. He closes the distance and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “See you Wednesday night.”
“I look forward to it.”
I watch as he climbs through the window and disappears down the fire escape.
Excitement bubbles in my chest, but then I think about work tomorrow, and the smile drops from my face.
Chapter 26
Samantha
It feels like my stomach is spinning from the anxiety coursing through me.
When I step out of the elevator, my hands begin to tremble, and I keep swallowing hard on the lump of fear stuck in my throat.
I’ve worked for this man for over a year. I’ve been his PA for six weeks.
I’m just going to pretend he’s not a mob boss and do my work.
Reaching my desk, I stare at the mess. There are sticky notes everywhere, a dirty coffee mug, and candy wrappers.
I read the note stuck against my computer’s screen.
Sorry. There was just too much work. Gloria.
Pulling it off, I let out a sigh as I toss it in the trashcan. I place my handbag in the bottom drawer and switch on my computer before I put on the wireless earpiece and take the phone off voicemail.
Taking a seat at my desk, I check all the sticky notes and organize the work into piles.
By the looks of things, Gloria did nothing but eat candy at my desk.
When the phone rings, I quickly answer, “Mr. Vitale’s office, Samantha speaking.”
“The eagle has landed,” Charlotte, from reception whispers. “I repeat. The eagle has landed.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Thanks. I owe you.”
“Anytime.”
Ending the call, I get up and head to the kitchen. When I prepare Mr. Vitale’s coffee, my hands won’t stop trembling.