Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“Mr. Arakas.” My little beauty doesn’t appear at all concerned that she’s all alone in a back room with two unfamiliar men. I can see making sure she’s safe is going to be a full-time job. Dr. Annabelle Girardi is going to keep me on my toes.
“Call me Dante,” I insist as our palms touch and sparks fill the air around us. When she pulls away suddenly, I let go but instantly miss the feel of her soft skin against mine.
“I don’t want to call you anything except history.” My little beauty’s lips might lie, but her expressive eyes are telling a whole different story. “May I leave now?”
Dmitri steps closer to me and whispers, “You are so fucked. I thought Jude was blowing smoke when he warned us that the water in Silver Spoon Falls would be detrimental to our single status, but the fucker was right on in your case.”
Chapter
Two
BELLE
Holy crud on a cracker. My stupid body doesn’t care if the smoking hot older man is one of the biggest mobsters in the country. Even standing several feet away, I can feel my girly parts tingling from his nearness. Frustrated with him for hauling me to this back room, and with myself for my body’s response to his closeness, my hand clenches at my side with the urge to punch the smug, self-assured look right off his handsome face. I need to get the heck out of here before I make a fool of myself over Dante Arakas. Or get myself in a whole lot of trouble.
After a long day working in the Silver Spoon Falls General Hospital ER, all I wanted was a big glass of wine and a long bath to relax me. Instead, I let my roommate, Macy, convince me to take part in this stupid scheme. But no good deed goes unpunished. I should have kept my rear end at home, but I was too soft-hearted to ignore my roommate’s pleading. I wish I’d held my ground and refused when Macy asked me to come to the strip club and spy on her new boyfriend. Instead, I dragged my tired rear-end down here, hoping to either confirm or disprove the fear that she’s being cheated on really fast.
Macy was the first person I met when I moved to the small Texas town. Moving in with her might not have been my brightest idea since she tends to have more drama than a daytime soap opera. In the last few months, she’s had one catastrophe after another, and every time her world falls apart, she expects me to help. I’ve been promising myself I’ll start looking for my own place, and this time, I swear I’m going to keep that vow.
Coming here tonight was a huge mistake. When I realized the strip club was super busy, I almost turned around and left, but I was determined to follow through on my task. Before I even had the chance to look for Tony, some drunk creep tried to assault me, and the well-connected strip club owner came to my rescue. Everyone in town knows all about Dante and Dmitri Arakas. The mafia boss and his nephew caused quite a stir on the Silver Spoon Falls grapevine when they moved to the small Texas town and bought the bar right in the middle of town. The town’s wealthy residents didn’t appreciate them turning the bar into a strip club, either, but no one is brave enough to complain.
Speaking of his power, I should be terrified right now, but I’m not. In my heart, I know that the only threat Dante Arakas poses to me is to my heart. For some reason, my ability to resist him flies right out the window when he stares into my eyes. Telling myself I need to get the heck out of here before I get in too deep with the mob boss, I take a step back and wait for Dante Arakas to tell me what’s going on.
I perk up my ears, trying to hear what the two men are saying, but I can’t quite make it out.
“Annabelle.” Dante Arakas glances up and stares into my eyes, interrupting my inner turmoil. “I’d like to have a private word with you before you leave.”
“Belle,” I correct him. When he calls me “Annabelle,” I feel like I’m back in high school, getting scolded for my tardiness. “I go by Belle,” I clarify before adding, “And I don’t think we have anything to talk about, so I’d like to leave.” My heart squeezes in my chest at the thought of him taking me at my word and showing me the door. I’m losing my freaking mind here. With the two men standing between me and the door, there’s no way I’m leaving unless they allow it. I could probably scream this room down, and no one in the bar would hear me with the loud, pounding beat going on in the main room. For the first time, I realize there’s barely any bar noise in here. Like none.