Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
She furrowed her brow. “If I was worried about something, I would. When my mom was sick, I stayed up with her in the night. She said the dark was the hardest to handle. So I would sit with her. We’d talk or listen to music. Sometimes I would read to her.”
I finished my sandwich. “And where was your sister while this was happening?”
“Off being Marianne. She would drop in, pull some crying stunt, or tell Mom and me all her problems, then leave. She’d tell people how she’d been nursing Mom, which was a joke. But I let her do whatever she wanted as long as she stayed away. Somehow even though it was Mom dying, Marianne made it all about herself. It was exhausting.”
“Selfish narcissists do that. They excel at it.”
“She wasn’t always bad. I remember growing up, she was actually nice. A good big sister. I was somewhat prone to accidents, and she saved me more than once. I fell in the pool, and she rescued me. She pushed me out of the way once when a limb broke off a tree.” She looked sad as she spoke. “Sometimes it felt like something was out to get me, but it seemed to stop as I got older. My dad called me unlucky, but I think I grew out of it.”
“Or you became more adept at avoiding whatever was causing it,” I replied, suspicious.
She nodded and finished her sandwich.
“You miss your mother.”
“Very much.”
“I think you’ll like my nonna,” I offered.
“Will she like me?”
“Definitely.”
“Why?”
I smiled at her. “Because I do.”
“Really?” she whispered.
I stroked her face. “Really.” I stood. “Bath time, then bed.”
“I don’t need a—”
I cut her off. “I’m not asking.”
She piled the plates onto the tray, carefully adding the napkins and her empty glass. I tried not to smile at her actions, but she was so endearing. Nonna was going to love her, which, in some ways, would be great. In others, not so much. I had a feeling she’d be planning a wedding that was never going to happen. Once I made sure Effie was safe, she would return to her life, and I would go back to mine.
It was inevitable. I wasn’t the marrying kind, and she wasn’t the on-and-off affair kind of girl. I found her enchanting and enticing now, but I was certain that would fade. She would find me tedious and unable to make a commitment to her. My attention would wither, and she would cease to care. That was guaranteed.
Yet, the thought alone made my chest burn.
I might have turned the taps on too hard in the bathroom, the water splashing on my chest, dripping down onto my sweats.
I ignored it and the fact that a voice was whispering something I didn’t want to hear.
That maybe, just maybe, I could be wrong.
CHAPTER 14
EFFIE
Iwoke up, the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut waking me. I sat up, looking around confused for a moment. Roman was gone, his side of the bed still slightly warm from where he slept. I knew I had been nestled close to him in the night after our impromptu picnic and bath. We had soaked in the warm water, the heat relaxing my sore muscles. Roman had been gentle as he dried me off, and in bed, he had kissed me, then we made love again. This time, it was slow, soft, incredibly intimate in the dark, with only his voice and touch to ground me. I had never experienced the sensations he caused within me. The pleasure his hands and mouth gave me. And when he was inside me, my body couldn’t get enough. I hadn’t slept with anyone prior to Roman simply because no one captivated me. I hadn’t planned on being a virgin at my age, but I’d never met anyone I felt desire for.
The desire I felt for Roman was overwhelming. He wasn’t the sort of man I would ever have thought I would be interested in, but there was no denying the attraction. He was intense, serious, focused, and driven. Dangerous. I had recognized that the moment I met him. But he was also incredibly gentle, thoughtful, and kind—at least to me. Vi thought the world of him. I knew Aldo was loyal, and Vi insisted they were great friends. But she was honest and admitted they were both dangerous men.
Still, that didn’t stop the feelings that were developing within me.
I scrambled from the bed and rushed into the office, dragging the blanket around me. Roman was just about to walk out the door when he heard me and stopped. He turned, looking bemused as he saw me. He stepped back in, observing me. “Effie?” he asked with a smile. “What is it?”
I had no idea what to say. Why I had rushed out here. Except I hadn’t wanted him to leave without seeing him again. Convincing myself that last night had happened. I gathered the blanket closer. “Um, I just wanted to say, ah, good morning. And have a good day.”