Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“C’mon, Sam. We both know our lives are not exactly picket fences, here. You forget I know who you are too,” I argue, ignoring he called me honey.
He holds his hands up, his elbow hitting the steering wheel of his ostentatious Rolls-Royce. One thing hasn’t changed, Sam definitely still has a taste for the luxurious life he grew up with. “Okay, okay,” he laughs. “I get it. I’ll take you to DeLuca’s.”
“Thank you—”
“On one condition,” he says, interrupting me.
“A condition?” I laugh. He’s being crazy. If he doesn’t take me to Antonio’s, I’ll just drive myself once he drops me off. I’m starting to seriously get fed up with men in general.
“Yep, runt, I have a condition.”
“You know, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly the skinny ragamuffin I was when I first came to live with you and your dad. Runt doesn’t exactly fit now.”
“Oh, believe me, I noticed. You’re drop dead gorgeous now.”
“Please,” I huff, knowing that he’s lying through his teeth now.
“I’m serious. You’re seriously gorgeous.”
“Have a thing for scarred women?”
“Stop that, Angie. Your scar does nothing to mask your beauty,” he says, holding my neck and stroking the scar’s path along my jaw. “All I see when I look at you is a strong woman who is a survivor and holds all the beauty in the world in her eyes and her smile.”
My heart speeds up as I look at Sam. “What’s happening here?” I ask him, confused. He can’t be making a pass at me, right? Sam never saw me like that, ever. He also knows I’m in a relationship—at least of some kind—with Victor.
“I’m about to tell you what my condition is for taking you to DeLuca’s.”
“Okay…”
“You have to agree to go out to dinner with me Friday.”
“What?”
“I come to see you and spend time with you, runt. You’re going to be gone for two nights. I think it’s only fair you agree to have dinner with me to make it up. It’s not as if I live here. You’re the only reason I’m here.”
When he puts it like that, I feel guilty. He’s completely right. If the roles were reversed, I’d be really hurt. “I could cook you dinner,” I suggest.
“Nope. I want to show off my beautiful date.”
“Oh really? Who are you bringing?”
“Very funny. Just be ready Friday at three. Deal?”
“Three?” I gulp. “Isn’t that kind of early?”
“I’ve got a special day planned with you.”
“You better not make me regret this,” I warn, and he gives me a wink.
“I’ll try my best.”
I roll my eyes, but I feel better. The awkwardness between us seems to be lifted. I’ve just been overreacting. My emotions are too out of control over Victor and what I know he’s doing. This is Sam. I know where we stand. We’re best friends, buddies… family.
I relax back into the seat as Sam starts the car and pulls out of the diner’s parking lot. I’m going crazy. For a minute, I almost believed Sam was flirting with me. When he touched my face, it almost felt like he had feelings for me. It was like he wanted to erase my scar and reassure me that I was still pretty. Any girl would like to feel that way, but I don’t want it from Sam. As much as I love him, he’s not Victor.
I close my eyes and picture Victor’s face. When he comes home, we will have a lot to talk about. I also need to get past this fear I have. I’m safe with Victor. He may have hurt me, but it wasn’t intentional. I just need to be more honest with him and let him know when his actions hurt me.
Most of all, I need to stop being afraid…
victorio
. . .
Gia’s phone goes to voicemail, and I curse under my breath. “Kitten, your ass is going to be sore when I get home. You better call me the second you get this. If you don’t check in soon, I will hunt you down and you won’t like what happens.”
“Your woman pissed?” Levi asks as I hang up.
“I didn’t think so,” I grumble. “She does have me jumping through fucking hoops, though.”
“If you decide to let her go, I’m still available,” Zane chimes in.
“Shut the fuck up before I cut out your tongue so you can’t bother me anymore,” I reply sharply. Our gazes lock and I let him see the truth written all over my face. Killing him right now would make me feel a hell of a lot better than I do.
“She could be asleep, you know. There’s a three-hour time difference,” he points out.
I glance at the clock. I guess he’s right. I just thought Gia would check in. Of course, she knows this run could be dangerous. Maybe she’s just giving me time to work. I take a deep breath. That makes me feel a little better. She has been through a lot. It’s entirely possible. I smile as I imagine her waiting on the sofa for me to call her, her face relaxed in sleep, the phone lying beside her.