Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“Hey, can we leave? I’ve lost my appetite.”
Joey purses his lips. For a moment, I think he’s going to tell me a deal’s a deal. That I owe him. But he nods. “Yeah, sure.” He lifts his hand to signal the waiter, who seems as disappointed as Joey.
“I’m sorry,” I say when he touches my lower back to lead me out. I have to admit that I’m the one who ruined our date, and I do owe him. Maybe I can shake it off. “I just need some fresh air or something.”
“Sure. You want to go for a walk?” He’s nothing if not accommodating.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
We take the elevator downstairs and step out onto the city sidewalk. After a few deep breaths of air, I do feel better. “You really won’t tell me?”
“No, Sophie.” He sounds sympathetic.
We walk in silence for a stretch, his hand lightly resting on my lower back. My head is a mess of chaotic thoughts, my chest filled with fresh pain as if my father’s death was yesterday and not thirteen years ago. “I’m sorry. I guess seeing you brings it all back. I never had closure.”
He takes my hand. His is warm and large, comforting. “I wish I could give that to you.”
I turn to face him. “Was it quick? Did he suffer? How did he die? Just tell me something. Anything.”
Joey loops an arm behind my shoulders and gently urges me forward until I’m leaning against him, held in his arms. “It was an accident,” he says softly. “Let that knowledge be your closure.”
“Were you there?”
He hesitates a moment before he nods. “I was.” He lowers his face and brushes his lips over mine. “No more questions, bella,” he murmurs.
Joey
Damn. It seems Al was right to keep Sophie on his radar. She hasn’t let it go. Not in the slightest. I get that it’s hard to grieve when you don’t have answers or a body. I assume it also made it easy to blame the Family.
If all she needs is closure, I want to give that to her. But it’s hard when the actual facts might be more incendiary than not knowing.
She melts a bit when I try to distract her with seduction. “I suppose you’re going to demand a do-over on this date.”
“Yeah, I definitely get a do-over.” I wink.
I do appreciate that she got real with me. I want to take away the pain of her father’s death, same as I had that day at his funeral when I took her to the beach.
I hadn’t been attracted to her then–she was just a teen–but I’d been drawn to her. I’d watched her dad die a needless death. Had heard his last words begging us to take care of his girls. So when I saw her trying to escape the funeral, I helped her.
I can’t tell her what happened. Of course, I can’t. But I do wish I could give her peace. I didn’t realize she was still so broken up about it. So unresolved.
My phone rings, and I give an inward curse when I look at the screen. It’s Pauly. Another man who heard Artie Palazzo’s last words. “What’s up?”
“You at your place? A friend of ours got picked up tonight, and I’m short ten grand to post bail.”
“No, I’m on a date, Pauly.”
“Oh really? No kiddin’. Who with?”
I glance at Sophie and give her an apologetic look. “None of your business.”
“Does that mean I know her? Come on, tell me who.”
“Sophie Palazzo.”
Pauly takes a beat. “No shit?” There’s a slightly wary note to his voice. Understandably.
“Yeah.”
“How’d that happen?”
“Can we talk about it later?”
“Oh yeah, right. What about the cash?”
“Hit up Al, or I can get it to you in the morning. This is not my emergency.”
“Yeah, fuck you.”
“Fuck you, too.” I end the call. “That was Pauly,” I explain since Sophie knows him. “Sorry for the interruption.”
We walk a little further, but Sophie’s steps slow. “Well, I feel stupid now, but my feet are killing me.”
I glance down at her strappy heels. “I’m sorry, I should have realized.” I swing her up into my arms, chuckling when she lets out a little shriek.
“Ack! Put me down, I’m too heavy!”
I enjoy the feeling of her in my arms. She’s soft and slight. Her hair smells faintly of citrus. “You’re not too heavy, and I’m not putting you down.” I turn to walk back in the direction of my car.
She squirms in my arms, but I can tell she loves it. “You’re showing off.”
“Yes,” I murmur, enjoying the honeysuckle scent at her pulse and the view of her cleavage.
“You’re looking down my shirt, aren’t you?”
“Paybacks are hell.”
“What’s this payback for?”
“Your little massage torture game.”
“Oh yeah, that.”
“Yeah, that.”
I carry her back to my car and set her down to open the passenger door. “All right, bella. Back to your place? Are you through with me for the night?”