Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Aurora wore a short black overall dress, a white T-shirt beneath, and her favorite white Converse. I smiled. This was Aurora, and I hoped she’d never change.
She tapped Fabiano on the shoulder until he finally stepped back to let her pass. She scanned my shirt with raised eyebrows. I wore a black T-shirt with the KISS band logo, black cargo pants, and black Converse. “Since when do you like KISS?”
“I started listening to them in Italy.”
“Be back at ten,” Fabiano interrupted us.
“Midnight is good,” Leona said.
“I’m of age.”
Fabiano scowled at me, not her. “And you live under our roof, so you play by our rules.”
Aurora sighed as she followed me to my truck. I touched her lower back, but she moved away so my hand slid off. Fair enough. I still had a lot of work to do before Aurora would forgive me. I led her to my Ram and opened the door for her, then held out my hand to help her climb inside. She took it with a mumbled thanks and got in. The glimpse of her gorgeous legs immediately quickened my pulse, but with the utmost effort, I kept my comments to myself. Aurora wanted the good-boy version of myself today, and I’d try to give him to her.
When I sat behind the steering wheel, I said, “This is my first date.”
“I know.”
“No,” I said firmly. “I’ve never been on a date with a girl.”
Surprise flashed in Aurora’s eyes and a small smile played across her face, making her even more gorgeous, and making it ten times harder for me not to lean over and kiss her. “I guess then we need to make it count.”
“I’m doing my best,” I said as I started the engine and pulled away. In the rearview mirror I could see Fabiano still in the doorway. I had to admit I had been sure he’d put a bullet in my head but that he actually allowed me to take Aurora on a date made me really want to prove to him and everyone else that even if I was fucked up as hell, I had it in me to be what Aurora deserved.
“Where are you taking me?”
“KISS world mini golf.”
Aurora laughed. “Really?” Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement. “That’s why you’re wearing the shirt?”
“Yep. Trying to get in the mood.” I let my gaze travel over her. “And I really like that our clothes are matching without even trying.”
Her hands rested in her lap and she was playing with her fingers. I put my hand on the center console, palm upward. Usually I would have just taken her hand without asking but I really wanted to give Aurora the time she needed this time even if it went against my nature.
Her gaze darted to my hand but she didn’t take it.
Biting back my disappointment, I kept my palm where it was in case Aurora changed her mind.
Aurora’s eyes lit up when we entered the KISS-themed miniature golf. It glowed in the dark in neon colors.
“I don’t even remember the last time I played miniature golf,” she said.
“I think it was about three years ago with Carlotta, Greta, Massimo, Alessio, and me.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Right. Massimo beat all of us, but you came in second.”
“Tonight, I’ll win.”
“We’ll see,” she said with a smile.
Aurora let out a sigh when she missed the hole again. The ball had to roll up the red tongue of a Gene Simmons figure, but Aurora either used too much force or too little, and she grew frustrated.
“Let me help?” I stepped up behind her and she gave a small nod. Pressing my front to her back, I put my hands over hers, my arms wrapped around her. “You need the right amount of force,” I said close to her ear to be heard over the music. “Not too hard, but not too gentle either.”
Aurora shivered in my hold, and then together we moved and hit the ball with the golf club. The ball shot up the red tongue and dropped into the hole.
Aurora beamed. “Let me try it on my own.”
I stepped back even if it was the last thing I wanted. Behind us a couple of people were waiting but one look from me and they backed off.
Aurora flushed. “Sorry. Just one more try!”
“Take all the time you need,” I said firmly.
But she hit the ball with the right amount of force on the first try this time and hit the hole. She jumped up with a big smile and hugged me. My arms came around her at once, holding her against me. She beamed up at me and then the KISS song came on that had been on repeat in my car when I’d been in Italy.
I was made for loving you.
I leaned down. “Rory, you were made for me, and I was made for you.” Our eyes met and Rory swallowed hard. I forced myself to pull away to give her the space she’d requested, then nodded toward the next hole. Aurora followed me without a word as the next song came on.