Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Well damn you, piece of shit,” she said under her breath.
Joey couldn’t help but smile. She certainly was a spitfire, and her refusal of him was evident of that. “You sure do have a mouth on you. Wonder what Henrietta and Francesco would say about that.”
She snapped her head up and stared at him with the widest, bluest eyes he had ever seen. Joey wasn’t going to lie … he didn’t chase after females, didn’t woo or court them, and certainly didn’t get denied when he wanted one. But Marra was playing hard to get. She wanted him, he could tell by the way her pupils dilated when she looked at him, or how her lips parted just slightly every time he asked her out.
She wanted him, but she was also afraid of him, afraid of who he was and it was clear she was letting her fear control her. Joey didn’t want that shit because he wanted to touch her, kiss her, and be between her legs more than he had ever wanted to do with another woman. It was starting to eat at him, consume him, and he became obsessed with the fact he had to have her.
Her shoulder length black hair was a mass of natural curls round her face. She pushed a few stray strands away with her forearm, and her cheeks turned this gorgeous shade of red.
“I’ve embarrassed you.” He lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile, and saw how her cheeks turned even redder.
She looked toward the backdoor where he knew Henrietta and Francesco were.
“I was just teasing. I wouldn’t tell them.” He grinned wider, and watched as the slender column of her throat moved up and down as she swallowed.
“Please, Henrietta and Francesco might be old, but they have dirty mouths on them.” She smiled softly, and it was quite a sight. Marra set the portafilter in the sink and grabbed a rag to clean off her hands.
Joey noticed a light sprinkling of flour on her cheek, and without thinking because he always reacted first, he reached out and brushed his thumb along her skin. She tensed immediately and moved back a step.
“Why are you so afraid of me?” He stared at her, took in the olive tone of her skin, of the light, nearly invisible sprinkling of freckles along the bridge of her nose, and curled his hands into fists. What would she think if she knew he had looked her up, scoured into her personal business and knew everything about her?
“Because you’re Joey Bacelli,” she said softly and turned to go over to the oven and take out a tray of baked goods.
“And you’re Marra Santos.”
She looked over at him, and then moved to the cooling rack to place the pastries on it. When she turned back around she started twisting her fingers together. He was making her nervous again. On any other occasion, and to any other person, he would have reveled in that fact. But with Marra he didn’t want that reaction from her, and he didn’t quite know why. She had definitely gotten under his skin. When she moved closer to him again the scent of lemon and pastry dough filled his nose. Joey didn’t bother hiding the fact he lowered his gaze to her chest, and he knew she was aware of his blatant look because her nipples hardened under the prim and proper cardigan she wore.
“I know about you.”
He lifted his gaze back to her face. “You know about me?” He cocked an eyebrow. Of course she would know about him. He ran this fucking town, and anyone that was smart knew what kind of man he was. But he was curious and amused as to how she would answer.
She licked her lips and nodded. She didn’t wear makeup, and Joey was pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed that fact. Angie packed on the foundation and eye shadow like it was going out of style, but Marra was all-natural … in every way.
“Yeah, I know who and what you are.”
He was silent for a second, staring at her and waiting to see if she would elaborate. When she didn’t he smirked again. “And what type of man is that?”
She glanced toward the entrance, and then looked at him. “We both know you are not really the type of man that sees a woman for more than a few hours, if you know what I mean.” She was silent for a moment. “And I’m not the type of woman that goes out with a guy that is dangerous, and after he has wined and dined her would only use her for a piece of ass.”
He kept his composure, didn’t show emotion, but the longer he stared at her, and the more he allowed her statement to seep into him, Joey just couldn’t hold it in any longer. He started chuckling, and pushed away from the counter. Marra looked surprised by his reaction, and he was also feeling that emotion, too. He didn’t laugh much, but hearing her put him in his place, knowing that he was dangerous, yet still telling him how it was, had him grinning like a fool.